Opinion ID: 2075958
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: The Commission's Recent Acts to Downzone the Area.

Text: Petitioners contend that the Commission's rezoning order contradicts its recent acts to downzone the area. Although it is true that the Commission rezoned the area from R-5-C to R-5-B to stabilize the neighborhood, it did so in May 1974. This can hardly be called recent. It is not unreasonable that the Commission could decide that after fifteen years the neighborhood had been sufficiently stabilized to permit the upzoning of one parcel. Again, we can infer from the Commission's general findings, the underlying reasons supporting the Commission's final decision. Id.
Fourways filed a covenant restricting the use, height, bulk, and set back of its property, naming the District of Columbia, J. Phillip Sherwood, and all residential property owners within 75 feet of its property as beneficiaries. Later, Fourways twice amended this covenant, removing the District as beneficiary and adding additional restrictions. Petitioners contend that this covenant is inadequate to restrict improper commercial development in the area and that the Commission's reliance on it is misplaced because interested parties have not executed the covenant. Specifically, Petitioner points to J. Phillip Sherwood, who has since sold his property and moved from the District, and all residential property owners within 75 feet of the property, and the property's tax lienholders, the District of Columbia and the United States. With respect to the latter, Petitioners argue that if foreclosure and a tax sale were to occur, any subsequent purchaser of the property would not be bound by the covenant and could erect a structure twice the size of the one proposed by Fourways. On remand, we ordered the Commission to specify the terms, conditions and legal effect of the covenant. In Z.C. Order No. 555-A, the Commission did so. We are now satisfied that the record supports the Commission's reliance on the covenant with respect to both issues raised by Petitioners.