News

Boathouse approved; enrollment cap axed

By the

December 4, 2003


The D.C. Zoning Commission approved plans for a new Georgetown boathouse Thursday evening, giving the University its second significant victory this month.

On Dec. 4, the D.C. Court of Appeals invalidated several controversial conditions that the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment imposed on approval of the University’s campus plan earlier this year.

The Zoning Commission decision to approve the boathouse brought a yearlong series of hearings, delays, and meetings to a close. The three commissioners present at the meeting voted unanimously to approve the University’s plans. One commissioner, a National Park Service representative, recused himself from the case; another was not present.

The commission only briefly discussed the most contentious aspects of the boathouse: its proposed size and its proximity to the popular Capital Crescent Trail and the C&O Canal National Historic Park. There was no discussion of a Nov. 6 National Capital Planning Commission recommendation that the size of the 54-ft.-tall, 35,000-sq. ft. boathouse be reduced, except that a 1995 land-swap agreement with the National Park Service would have to be modified to account for its size.

“The building has significant bulk to it,” said Commissioner Peter May. “But it is an attractive building.”

The commission did impose a number of conditions regarding parking, waterfront access, use of the boathouse, and river traffic. Specifically, the use of the boathouse will be officially restricted to people affiliated with GU and participants in its summer youth camps; social events held by outside groups will be forbidden. Furthermore, vehicular access to the building will be strictly limited to maintenance vehicles and boat trailers.

Ernie Brooks, who opposed the University during the boathouse process as president of the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail, was disappointed by the commission’s decision. “I had hoped that what the [NCPC] had said regarding the size had carried some weight,” he said. “They basically ignored those concerns.”

Fred Mopsik, another boathouse opponent, said he was “despondent.”

“They gave no consideration to the [C&O Canal] park,” he said.

According to University Architect Alan Brangman, once the commission issues its final order, which may take over a month, the University will finalize its design and begin seeking building permits. “We’re just happy that this part of the process is completed,” he said.

Brangman said construction could begin within six to nine months after the order is issued.

The Court of Appeals’ decision continues the battle between the University and its neighbors over approval of its 2000 10-year campus plan. The court’s opinion says that the BZA’s conditions “go far beyond the proper concerns and expertise of the BZA.” The court was highly critical of the board’s requirements that the University strictly regulate off-campus conduct.

Most crucially to the University, the court ruled that a 5,617-student enrollment cap imposed by the board is ” not supported by substantial evidence.”

“Such micromanagement of the University’s disciplinary code and of other educational activities by an agency whose sole expertise is in zoning is, in our view, inappropriate and unreasonable, especially when it can lead to such draconian sanctions,” the opinion read.

While its order was a significant victory for the University, the court did criticize Georgetown for changing its legal positions toward certain aspects of the plan as the case progressed.

The plan will be sent back to the BZA to be redrafted to comply with the court’s order.

The next regular issue of the Voice on Jan. 15 will include further coverage of these decisions.



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