Section 10-A100. PLANNING AN INCLUSIVE CITY

 

100.1Washington, D.C. is one of the great cities of the world. It is the nation’s capital, a global center of knowledge and power, and the central city of one of America’s largest and most prosperous metropolitan areas. It is also our home-a city of great neighborhoods, a vibrant downtown, historic buildings, diverse shopping, renowned institutions, and magnificent parks and natural areas. 100.1

 

100.2Our city bears the imprints of many past plans, each a reflection of the goals and visions of its era. The influence of these plans can be seen all around us-they affect the way we live and work, the way we travel, and the design of our communities. Planning is part of our heritage. It has shaped the District’s identity for more than two centuries and has made us the place we are today. 100.2

 

100.3The fact that we are a mature city does not mean it is time to stop planning and just let the future happen. In fact, the need for planning has never been greater than it is today. 100.3

 

100.4The District is changing. At this moment, more housing is under construction in the District of Columbia than was built during the entire decade of the 1990s. Enough office space to replicate downtown Denver is on the drawing boards. Federal properties-some larger in land area than all of Georgetown or Anacostia-are being studied for new uses. These changes generate excitement and tension at the same time. Issues of race, class, and equity rise to the surface as the city grows. We strive to be a more “inclusive” city-to ensure that economic opportunities reach all of our residents, and to protect and conserve the things we value most about our communities. 100.4

 

100.5As we think about our future, other issues arise. How will people get around the city in 20 years? Where will our children go to school? Will police and fire services be adequate? Will our rivers be clean? Will our air be healthy? How will we resolve the affordable housing crisis and ensure that housing choices are available for all residents? How can we ensure that District residents have access to the thousands of new jobs we are expecting? How will the character of our neighborhoods be conserved and improved? How will federal and local interests be balanced? 100.5

 

100.6This Comprehensive Plan provides our response to these important questions and a framework to achieve our goals. 100.6

 

100.7Washington, D.C. is widely known as a city steeped in American history. This reputation extends to city planning too, and starts with the very origin of the District of Columbia in 1791. 100.7

 

100.8More than two centuries ago, George Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant to plan a new national capital on the banks of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. L’Enfant and surveyor Benjamin Banneker designed Washington’s unique diagonal and grid system and sited some of America’s most important landmarks, including the U.S. Capitol and the White House. 100.8

 

100.9A century later, the US Congress asked the McMillan Commission to transform Washington into a world-class capital city. The Commission responded with a grand plan to beautify the District with the National Mall, many neighborhood parks, and an expanded Rock Creek Park. 100.9

 

100.10Today, the L’Enfant and McMillan Plans are regarded as major milestones in Washington’s history. The plans of the mid- to late- 20th century are less celebrated, but are no less important. In 1924, federal legislation created the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Its initial focus was on city parks and playgrounds but soon expanded to include land use, transportation, and public facilities. The Commission produced a Comprehensive Plan in 1950, another in 1961, and another in 1967. These plans proposed radical changes to the city’s landscape, including freeways and “urban renewal.” The mid-century Comprehensive Plans were largely driven by federal interests and a desire to retain the beauty and functionality of Washington as a capital city. 100.10

 

100.11In 1973, the federal Home Rule Act designated the Mayor of the District of Columbia as the city’s principal planner. The Comprehensive Plan was divided into “District” Elements to be prepared by the District’s Office of Planning, and “Federal” Elements to be prepared by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The first Comprehensive Plan of the post-Home Rule era, containing both District and Federal Elements, was completed in 1984. 100.11

 

100.12Between 1984 and 2005, the District Elements were amended four times. A 1985 amendment added the Land Use Element and Maps. The 1989 and 1994 amendments added Ward Plans to the document, roughly tripling its size. The 1998 amendments included a variety of map and text changes to reflect then current conditions. A new version of the Federal Elements, meanwhile, was prepared by NCPC in the early 2000s and approved in 2004. 100.12

 

100.13During the past six years, the District has moved into a new era of urban planning, headlined by neighborhood plans, corridor studies, the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, and the citywide “Vision for Growing an Inclusive City.” The Vision is emblematic of a new philosophy about planning in the city, which has been carried forward into this Comprehensive Plan. The plan’s overriding emphasis is on improving the quality of life for current and future residents of the District of Columbia. 100.13

 

100.14The Comprehensive Plan includes detailed maps and policies for the physical development of the District of Columbia. The Plan also addresses social and economic issues that affect and are linked to the development of the city and our citizens. It allows the community to predict and understand the course of future public actions and shape private sector investment and actions too. It allows the District to ensure that its resources are used wisely and efficiently and that public investment is focused in the areas where it is needed most. 100.14

 

100.15The Comprehensive Plan provides guidance on the choices necessary to make the District a better city. No single person or organization is in a position to make these decisions alone. Many residents, governmental agencies, businesses, institutions, and leaders have helped shape this plan. Their continued commitment will be needed to carry it out in the coming years. 100.15

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.