H.R. 4378: District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment Home Rule Act

This bill, titled the District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment Home Rule Act, proposes changes to the composition and functioning of the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for the District of Columbia (D.C.). Here are the key elements of the bill:

Revision of Board Composition

The bill aims to revise the structure of the BZA, which is responsible for making decisions about zoning variances and special exceptions in D.C. Specifically, it stipulates that:

• The BZA will consist of 5 members who are appointed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
• These members must be residents of the District of Columbia.
• The appointments will be made with the advice and consent of the D.C. Council.

Foreign Mission Applications

In situations where the BZA is dealing with applications related to foreign missions—such as the location, expansion, or replacement of a chancery (the building that houses a diplomatic mission)—the following provisions will apply:

• A member designated by the President, which could include the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator of General Services, or the Director of the National Park Service, will serve in place of one of the appointed members.
• The Executive Director of the National Capital Planning Commission will also serve on the Board during these specific applications, replacing one of the regular members appointed by the Mayor.

Effective Date

The changes proposed in this bill will take effect 90 days after the bill is enacted into law.

Summary of Changes

In summary, the bill primarily seeks to establish a locally appointed BZA composed solely of members selected through D.C. governance processes, while also allowing for federal representation in cases related to foreign missions. This aims to better align the BZA's operations with local governance and regulation standards in D.C.

Relevant Companies

None found.