N. Cleveland Park Cit. v. D.C. Bd. of Zon. Adj. D. C. 913, 86-1541.

Decision Date25 May 1988
Docket NumberNo. 86-1541.,86-1541.
Citation541 A.2d 912
PartiesNORTH CLEVELAND PARK CITIZENS ASSOCIATION, et al., Petitioners, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT, Respondent, and the McDonald's Corporation, Intervenor.
CourtD.C. Court of Appeals

Charles R. Braun, Washington, D.C., for petitioners.

Charles L. Reischel, Deputy Corp. Counsel, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

George R. Keys, Jr., Washington, D.C., for intervenor.

Before MACK, NEWMAN and BELSON, Associate Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Intervenor, McDonald's Corporation, by motion to dismiss, has raised the question whether the Petition for Review filed on November 19, 1986 was timely in light of Glenwood Cemetery v. District of Columbia Zoning Commission, 448 A.2d 241 (D.C. 1982) (per curiam). We hold that the petition was not timely filed and we thus lack jurisdiction. We grant McDonald's motion to dismiss for want of jurisdiction.

Petitioners contend that their petition was filed within the thirty days mandated by D.C.App.R. 15(a) since the Board of Zoning Adjustment's (BZA) order — dated October 10, 1986, and received by them on October 16, 1986 — explicitly stated: "Under sub-section 8204.3 of the zoning regulations, `no decision or order of the Board shall take effect until ten days after having become final pursuant to the supplemental rules of practice and procedure before the Board of Zoning Adjustment.'" Citing 11 DCMR 3103.2 (December 1985), Petitioners contend that the Order did not become final until October 20, 1986, i.e., when the tenday period in which the Zoning Commission could sua sponte exercise its discretionary authority to review the BZA action had elapsed. However, 11 DCMR 3103.6 expressly provides that "[t]he sua sponte review process shall not grant [a party] any rights of appeal to the Zoning Commission." Consequently, we reject petitioners' argument. See 11 DCMR 3331.6;1 see also Glenwood Cemetery, supra.

We publish our ruling in this case for two reasons. First, we wish to call to the attention of the Bar that Glenwood Cemetery is alive and well as a precedent. See Jackson v. District of Columbia Employees' Compensation Appeals Board, 537 A.2d 576 (D.C. 1988). Second, we take this opportunity to urge the administrative agencies of the District of Columbia to modify the notices they give to make clear when an order is final for the purpose of judicial review.

Dismissed.

1. 11 DCMR 3331.6 (December 1985 and June 1986) provides that "a decision or order of the Board is final upon filing in the record and service upon the parties." See Supplemental Rules of Practice and Procedure Before the Board of Zoning Adjustment § 502.5 (August 27, 1982). 11 DCMR 3103.1 (December 1985 and June 1986) states that "[n]o decision or order of the Board shall take effect until ten (10) days after having...

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2 cases
  • YORK APARTMENTS v. DIST. OF COL. ZONING
    • United States
    • D.C. Court of Appeals
    • July 29, 2004
    ...thirty days later when the order became "final" under the Board's rules); accord, North Cleveland Park Citizens Ass'n v. District of Columbia Bd. of Zoning Adjustment, 541 A.2d 912 (D.C. 1988) (per curiam) (holding that the time for filing a petition for review starts to run when the order ......
  • Capitol Hill Restoration Soc'y v. Dist. of Columbia Mayor's Agent for Historic Pres., No. 09–AA–1262.
    • United States
    • D.C. Court of Appeals
    • May 24, 2012
    ...thirty days later when the order became “final” under the Board's rules); accord North Cleveland Park Citizens Ass'n v. District of Columbia Bd. of Zoning Adjustment, 541 A.2d 912 (D.C.1988) (per curiam) (holding that the time for filing a petition for review starts to run when the order is......

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