The Board's design and construction standards are intended to promote the clear understanding and use of responsible historic preservation methods and practices. They are not intended as rigid and unyielding rules for all situations, but rather as a general means of promoting equity of treatment among applicants and consistency to the directions given by the Board and staff.
The Board's standards shall be used with discretion, considering the context in which they are applied. Their application shall involve a careful assessment of the characteristics of affected historic properties, the nature of the proposed project, and other practical considerations.
The burden shall be on an applicant to show that an exception to the normal rule in the Board's standards is appropriate.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-C2001