Norton to Introduce Bill to Give D.C. Authority to Appoint All Members of Board that Deals Exclusively with Local D.C. Zoning Variances

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As part of her continuing work to maximize home rule for the District of Columbia, pending statehood, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she will introduce a bill to give the District the authority to appoint all members of the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment (Board), except when the Board is performing functions regarding an application by a foreign mission with respect to a chancery. On Monday, Norton introduced a bill to give the District the authority to appoint all members of the D.C. Zoning Commission (Commission). The Board issues special exceptions, or variances, to the regulations issued by the Commission. The bills do not alter the authority of the Board or Commission.

"Like every other jurisdiction in the United States, the District of Columbia should be free to set its own land-use policies," Norton said. "As the District continues to contend with rapid population growth and economic development, it is more important than ever that the members of the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment are accountable to District residents and local elected officials."

Under current law, in general, the Board consists of a representative of each of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission, each of whom may be a federal official, and three mayoral appointees, subject to D.C. Council approval. The Board has no authority over federal property.

Under current law, when the Board is performing functions regarding an application by a foreign mission with respect to the location, expansion, or replacement of a chancery, the Board consists of the Executive Director of NCPC; the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, or the Administrator of General Services, as designated by the President; and the three mayoral appointees. The bill does not change this composition.

Norton's Commission bill removes the two federal officials (the Architect of the Capitol and the Director of NPS, or their designees) on the Commission and allows the District to appoint all members of the Commission. The Commission has no authority over federal property.