District Considers Coronavirus-Related Extension On Zoning Approvals

D.C. zoning officials could soon offer a six-month extensions for projects that are facing key deadlines amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

The D.C. Office of Zoning wants to apply the extension to any project with zoning approvals that expire between April 27 and Dec. 31. The move is a bid to give developers more time to secure building permits or certificates of occupancy for ongoing projects.

The deadline extension would apply to any project approved by either the Zoning Commission or the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Zoning officials are asking the Zoning Commission to approve the change at its April 27 meeting.

“This pandemic has kept businesses from operating as usual, with many having to cease operating altogether,” zoning staffers wrote in a memo to the commission Tuesday. “This text amendment would avoid potential expiration of orders and approvals of the commission and BZA caused by administrative disruptions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the associated risk to the District’s economic state.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser has thus far allowed construction on commercial and residential projects to proceed despite her stay-at-home order for the city. Nevertheless, some developers have slowed work in order to avoid having too many workers present in confined spaces at the same time.

Click here to read the rest of the article written by Alex Koma over at the Washington Business Journal