Opinion ID: 2355946
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Timeliness of Petitioner's Appeal on the Lot Occupancy and Side-Yard Setback Issues

Text: We address first petitioners' argument that a remand is necessary because the BZA failed to make a finding as to whether petitioners' appeal to the BZA was timely with respect to their challenge to the lot occupancy and side-yard setback issues. Petitioners are correct that the BZA made no finding as to these issues, but the record makes clear that it was the first building permit, issued on September 9, 2004, that allowed intervenors to increase the Irving Street building's footprint, i.e., its size and lot occupancy (and also permitted the expansion from three to four units). Petitioners have not claimed that the first building permit contained confusing or ambiguous language that impaired their ability to appeal, but they do assert that DCRA did not respond to their requests for a copy of the approved building plans, and that this prevented them from recognizing the alleged violations in time to meet the appeal deadline established by 11 DCMR § 3112.2. That may have kept petitioners from appealing within sixty days after the first building permit was issued, [14] but petitioners have cited no reason why they could not have recognized the alleged zoning violations by the time the new construction was under roof (January 15, 2005), and could not have appealed within a short time thereafter. See 11 DCMR § 3112.2(b)(1) (No appeal shall be filed later than ten (10) days after the date on which the structure or part thereof in question is under roof). Accordingly, we reject their argument that a remand is required as to the lot occupancy percentage and side-yard setback issues. It is plain from the present record that petitioners' August 5, 2005 appeal was not timely as to these issues. [15] The timeliness issue that remains is whether petitioners waited too long to appeal the DCRA zoning decision that petitioners assert erroneously approved seven units for the Irving Street building.