Photo by RolenzCity officials expect the D.C. Office of Planning will submit by the end of this month its final recommendations to loosen restrictions on the number of eating and drinking establishments allowed to operate in the U Street and Logan Circle neighborhoods.
In a letter to officials, business owners and residents Tuesday, Dept. of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Director Linda Argo noted that the proposed amendments will be submitted to the Zoning Commission by April 26. Argo sent the letter in an attempt to clear up confusion about her department’s role in enforcing restrictions inside what’s referred to as the Uptown Arts Overlay District.
Controversy over the limitation broke out last week, after the office of the DCRA Zoning Administrator found that the overlay was just about to surpass its 25 percent cap on bars, restaurants and cafes. Zoning Administrator Matt LeGrant then declared that his office would not be able to approve new building permits or certificate of occupancy applications for additional eating and drinking establishments within the overlay. Businesses seeking a permit would therefore have to apply for a special exception from the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
The Office of Planning is expected to recommend to the Zoning Commission that the cap be increased to somewhere between 40 and 50 percent, the figure proposed by a coalition of neighborhood business groups, residents and ANCs.
The limit increase also has the unsurprising support of Ward 2 D.C. Council member Jack Evans, who is known for being friendly to business and is currently running for Council Chair.
“We must ensure that this corridor remains lively and a destination for residents around the city,” Evans said in a statement Tuesday. “In this economy, we must do all we can to support and promote local business and neighborhood development. We have already lost several small businesses in this area and we must act now.”
