The District of Columbia Zoning Commission unanimously approved last night university plans for three university construction projects.

The Commission gave its stamp of approval to the new science center, athletic training facility and Multi-Sport Facility expansion. The committee granted special exceptions for the height of the science center’s roof, which would be higher than permitted by ordinance, and the construction of the practice facility, which is not including in the university’s 10-year campus plan.

The Zoning Commission is a quasi-judicial board that approves building projects and grants zoning variances in the District. Major university construction projects must be approved by the Commission.

Several members of the Georgetown community attended the meeting to testify in support of the university’s construction plans, including men’s basketball Head Coach John Thompson III and center Roy Hibbert (COL ’08), Athletic Director Bernard Muir and men’s lacrosse Head Coach Dave Urick.

Much of the meeting focused around the need for improved athletic facilities.

Thompson lamented the outdated condition and crowding of the McDonough Gymnasium facilities. “For us to remain competitive in the Big East, we need more space, we need our own space,” he said. “The current facility is very similar to, and probably worse in many ways, than [the facilities at] many high schools in this area. Also, there is so much time when we can’t get on the court at all, because of other teams’ practices,” he said.

The new athletic training facility is slated to house two basketball courts, weight training facilities, physical therapy and rehabilitation areas. In addition, the building will feature separate locker rooms for each team.

Men’s lacrosse captain Miles Kass (MSB ’08) said at the meeting that he chose to attend Georgetown because of its “commitment … to exemplify excellence. There was an intangible quality of supreme importance, namely the commitment of the university to exemplify excellence in whatever endeavor it took part in,” Kass said. “The fulfillment of this vision, during my tenure at Georgetown with respect to athletic programs, has not been met. Our facilities need to meet minimum standards. They don’t.”

After hearing student testimony, Anthony Hood, vice-chair of the five-member commission, said the students sounded like they were talking about conditions present in D.C. public schools, not a major university.

Other Georgetown students were on hand to testify to the need for a new science building, “The need for the [new science] building is monumental,” Christopher Williams (GRD ’11) said. “Some of the undergraduate classes are so cramped, students have to write with books on their laps, not on a desk.”

The plans for the new science building include a roof that is somewhat higher than originally proposed, and higher than the legal limit, requiring the Commission to grant an exception. The inclusion of equipment that will make the building more environmentally friendly mandated the higher roof. The building is expected to open no earlier than 2011.

Plans to improve the Multi-Sport Facility include a renovation of the bleachers and press box, and the construction of permanent lights, concession stands and restrooms. The university has not established a timetable for the completion of this project, as major fundraising is still needed.

Barbara Zartman, a director of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, expressed concern during the meeting that the new buildings would increase traffic on Prospect Street, and stressed the association’s desire to be informed of any new architectural developments on campus.

The design plans for the athletic training facility must still be approved by the Old Georgetown Board, which rejected the university’s original plans earlier this month. The OGB will next meet on Nov. 1.