BZA grants special exception for screened rear porch at 4250 Fordham Road NW

The Board of Zoning Adjustment approved a special exception on May 20 to allow a one‑story, 408‑square‑foot screened porch addition at 4250 Fordham Road NW after finding that the proposal met the relevant Subtitle D rear‑yard relief standards.

The applicants, trustees Joseph Catlett and John K. Jenkins, sought relief from the Subtitle D rear‑yard requirement for their R‑1A lot at Square 1467, Lot 898. The existing rear yard measured 22.96 feet; the addition would reduce a portion of the required rear yard to 4.6 feet but leave other yard areas unchanged. The Office of Planning recommended approval and the affected ANC (3D) filed a letter of support. The board took this matter on the expedited calendar, found no undue adverse impact to neighboring properties, gave great weight to the Office of Planning recommendation, and approved the application 3–0–2.

Vice Chair Carl Blake moved to approve the application and Board Member Krishan Smith seconded; staff recorded the motion as approved. Chairman Anthony Hood did not participate in that vote.

The board indicated it would issue an order consistent with the finding that landscaping, orientation of neighboring structures and existing mature vegetation would mitigate any privacy, light or air impacts.