On December 1, 2025, the D.C. Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on D.C. government’s proposal to allow for more height and density along Connecticut avenue around the Cleveland Park and Woodley Park Metro stations as well as removing the 1980s-era restaurant cap. This page summarizes what is being proposed and how we can get MORE: neighbors, shoppers, transit riders, vitality & fun!
Brief Background
The zoning case stems from action taken by the D.C. Council in 2021 when they amended the District’s Comprehensive Plan to allow for greater residential density for both of these commercial areas. During 2022-2023, the Office of Planning worked with the community to produce the Connecticut Avenue Development Guidelines. The planning document set out the new zoning appropriate for the amended Comprehensive Plan and offered design strategies to achieve the housing goals while being compatible with the areas two historic districts. These design guidelines were approved for use by the Historic Preservation Review Board in 2023.
What’s Changing?
The proposed zoning changes add the capacity to build more housing and affordable housing by:
- Increasing the allowable building heights, not including a setback penthouse (15′ limit) for limited residential or mechanical:
- in the Cleveland Park zone from 40’ to 75’;
- in the Woodley Park zone from 55’ to 90’ on the west side of CT Ave;
- in the Woodley Park zone from 50’ to 75’ on the east side of CT Ave;
- Applying ‘Inclusionary Zoning Plus’ which requires an increased set-aside of permanently affordable homes depending upon the amount of increased density used, raising the set-aside requirement from 8%-10% of the total homes to up to 20%;
The proposed zoning and existing historic preservation protections ensure future building designs that are compatible with the historic districts, respect neighboring residential areas, and activate the retail street frontage by:
- Embedding form-based requirements such as setbacks on upper floors facing residential areas, street-fronting retail with large windows, and frequent entryways along the Avenue;
- Continuing to require approval of the Historic Preservation Review Board for any exterior alterations or new construction;
- Removing the 25% lineal street frontage cap for eating and drinking establishments.
Reach out to Cleveland Park Smart Growth if you would like to learn more about how you can advocate for these changes.
More resources and information about the rezoning:
Zoning Commission Case file 25-09: Where all relevant materials, exhibits, testimonies, transcripts, videos are located.
Office of Planning Setdown Report: OP’s description of the rezoning request and their justification for it.
Connecticut Avenue Development Guidelines: Planning document recommending zoning changes and design guidelines for the Historic Preservation Review Board, which it approved in 2023.
How Cleveland Park’s getting its groove back: Greater Greater Washington article by Bob Ward on Cleveland Park’s progress and support for rezoning, May 2023.
Cleveland Park Smart Growth 