Following a burst of new coverage highlighting the outrage directed at the “middle fingers” of D.C., it seems the end of extreme pop-ups in residential rowhouse areas could be coming.

As part of a watered down proposal to the Zoning Commission, the Office of Planning is recommending that buildings zoned R-4 be limited in height to 35 feet, as opposed to 40, with the opportunity for a special exemption. “Our research found that the overwhelming majority of rowhouses in R-4 are less than 35’ feet in height,” an OP blog post states. OP is also recommending changing the definition of mezzanine and mandating a special exception for non-commercial buildings in R-4 (schools, churches) to become residential “to allow for neighborhood input.”

So, in a time when the demand for housing is great in D.C., why would OP propose this? In addition to being inconsistent with the intent of the R-4 zone and sometimes the character of the neighborhood, this is having an impact on the diversity and the relative affordability of our family housing stock. The Comprehensive Plan provides substantial policy guidance directed at providing a diversity of housing options including family housing and protecting single-family neighborhoods.

Would these regulations have prevented the famed V Street pop-up? Nope. The rowhouse-turned-condo building is zoned C-2-B, where the maximum height is 65 feet.