Councilmember Charles Allen sent the following letter to the Zoning Commission on Jan. 9, 2026:

District of Columbia Zoning Commission
441 4th Street, NW Suite 200S
Washington, DC 20001
Sent via electronic mail

Re: ZC Case No. 25-06

Dear Members of the Zoning Commission:

This letter supersedes my November 3, 2025 letter to the Zoning Commission on this case.

I am writing to express my support for the proposed text amendment in ZC Case No. 25-06 and ask that the Commission eliminate the parking requirements as proposed. Ward 6 has the highest number of alley lots in the District and I have seen firsthand how alley homes can provide additional housing in an otherwise dense and transit-accessible neighborhood. In my view, the proposed text amendment in ZC Case No. 25-06 will encourage property owners with alley lots to make improvements on their property, which will aid in the District’s mission to create more housing.

I respectfully request that the Commission eliminate the requirement that alley homes have parking spaces, as it is contrary to the spirit of the proposed text amendment, and including a parking requirement on these lots would have the effect of discouraging property owners from building housing units. Furthermore, it is worth noting that alley lots are predominantly located in walkable communities like Capitol Hill, where a high percentage of residents do not own a car. Removing the parking requirements as proposed will encourage property owners to build housing that is transit-accessible and more environmentally friendly. Development of these types of homes is what the District should be encouraging.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Charles Allen