602.1 With the exception of buildings devoted entirely to residential uses, or to theaters, historically designated buildings, or places of worship, the following design requirements shall apply to the portion of a building or structure with frontage on a primary or secondary designated street segment unless otherwise modified by the design requirements of this section or the requirements for a designated street segment in a sub-area:

1. (a) The ground floor shall have a minimum clear height of fourteen feet (14 ft.) for a continuous depth of at least thirty-six feet (36 ft.) from the building line on a designated primary, but not a designated secondary, street segment;
2. (b) The ground story shall devote at least fifty percent (50%) of the surface area facing a designated primary or secondary street segment to display windows or pedestrian entrances having clear low-emissivity glass, and ensure that the view through the display windows and pedestrian entrances is not blocked for at least ten feet (10 ft.) in from the building face; and
3. (c) Ground floor pedestrian entrances, or areas where a future ground floor entrance could be installed without structural changes, shall be located no more than an average distance of forty feet (40 ft.) apart on the façade facing the designated primary or secondary street segment. In no case shall there be less than one (1) door.

602.2 No vehicular garage or loading entrance or exit shall be permitted in the portions of façades adjacent to a designated primary street, unless it is:

1. (d) On a designated primary street segment listed in the Mount Vernon Triangle Sub-Area pursuant to Subtitle I § 611, for which vehicular garage or loading entrances and exits are governed by Subtitle I §§ 611.6 through 611.10;
2. (e) Required by DDOT; or
3. (f) Permitted by the Board of Zoning Adjustment as a special exception evaluated by the criteria in Subtitle I § 602.3.

602.3 Exceptions from the prohibitions and limitations of

Subtitle I § 602.2 shall be permitted if granted by the Board of Zoning Adjustment as a special exception, provided the applicant demonstrates that:

(g) There is no practical alternative means of serving the parking, loading, or drop-off needs of the building to be served by the proposed driveway, such as signage approved by DDOT, that would direct vehicles to an alternative entrance point within the same square;

(h) The vehicular entrance will not impede the flow of pedestrian traffic on designated primary street frontage; and

(i) The driveway that would access the proposed parking or loading entrance or exit is not inconsistent with DDOT landscape plans for the public rights of way on the designated street frontage, to the extent that such plans exist at the time of the special exception application.

602.4 Exceptions from the prohibitions and limitations of Subtitle I § 602.1(a) shall be permitted for structures existing prior to the effective date of this title if the Zoning Administrator determines that the slab-to-slab height of the existing structure's first or second floor would have to be structurally altered in order to meet the requirement.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 2447, 3041 (March 4, 2016 – Part 2).