D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, r. 11-X603
As part of the Design Review process, the Zoning Commission may grant relief from the development standards for height, setbacks, yards, lot occupancy, courts, and building transitions; as well as any specific design standards of a specific zone. Except as allowed pursuant to Subtitle X § 603.2, the Design Review process shall not be used to vary other building development standards including FAR, Inclusionary Zoning, or Green Area Ratio.
The FAR of all buildings within a Voluntary Design Review (VDR) boundary shall not exceed the aggregate of the FARs as permitted in the zone included within the VDR boundary.
Except for height, the amount of relief from the standards authorized by Subtitle X § 603.1 is at the discretion of the Zoning Commission, provided that the relief is required to enable the applicant to meet all of the standards of Subtitle X § 604. The Zoning Commission may grant no greater height than that permitted if the application were for a PUD.
An application for a special exception or variance that would otherwise require the approval of the Board of Zoning Adjustment may be heard simultaneously with a Design Review application, and shall be subject to all applicable special exception criteria and variance standards and the payment of all applicable fees.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, r. 11-X603