Section 10-A2408. UNE-1.1 GUIDING GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION

 

2408.1The following general policies and actions should guide growth and neighborhood conservation decisions in Upper Northeast. These policies and actions should be considered in tandem with those in the citywide elements of the Comprehensive Plan. 2408.1

 

2408.2Policy UNE-1.1.1: Neighborhood Conservation

 

Protect and enhance the stable neighborhoods of Upper Northeast, such as Michigan Park, North Michigan Park, University Heights, Woodridge, Brookland, Queens Chapel, South Central, Lamond Riggs, and Arboretum. The residential character of these areas shall be conserved, and places of historic significance, gateways, parks, and special places shall be enhanced. 2408.2

 

2408.3Policy UNE-1.1.2: Compatible Infill

 

Encourage compatible residential infill development throughout Upper Northeast neighborhoods, especially in Brentwood, Ivy City, and Trinidad, where numerous scattered vacant residentially-zoned properties exist. Such development should be consistent with the designations on the Future Land Use Map. New and rehabilitated housing in these areas should meet the needs of a diverse community that includes renters and owners; seniors, young adults, and families; and persons of low and very low income as well as those of moderate and higher incomes. 2408.3

 

2408.4Policy UNE-1.1.3: Metro Station Development

 

Capitalize on the presence of the Metro stations at Rhode Island Avenue, Brookland/CUA, and Fort Totten, to provide new transit-oriented housing, community services, and jobs. New development around each of these three stations is strongly supported. The District will coordinate with WMATA to ensure that the design, density, and type of housing or other proposed development at these stations is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods; respects community concerns and feedback; serves a variety of household incomes; and mitigates impacts on parking, traffic, and public services. Development shall comply with other provisions of the Comprehensive Plan regarding the compatibility of new land uses with established development, the provision of appropriate open space, and mitigation of impacts on traffic, parking, and public services. 2408.4

 

2408.5Policy UNE-1.1.4: Reinvestment in Assisted Housing

 

Continue to reinvest in Upper Northeast’s publicly-assisted housing stock. As public housing complexes are modernized or reconstructed, actions should be taken to minimize displacement and to create homeownership opportunities for current residents. 2408.5

 

2408.6Policy UNE-1.1.5: Vacant and Abandoned Structures

 

Reduce the number of vacant, abandoned, and boarded up structures in Upper Northeast, particularly in the Ivy City and Trinidad areas. 2408.6

 

2408.7Policy UNE-1.1.6: Neighborhood Shopping

 

Improve neighborhood shopping areas throughout Upper Northeast. Continue to enhance 12th Street NE in Brookland as a walkable neighborhood shopping street and encourage similar pedestrian-oriented retail development along Rhode Island Avenue, Bladensburg Road, South Dakota Avenue, West Virginia Avenue, Florida Avenue, and Benning Road. New pedestrian-oriented retail activity also should be encouraged around the area’s Metro stations. 2408.7

 

2408.8Policy UNE-1.1.7: Larger-Scale Retail Development

 

Encourage additional community-serving retail development at the existing Brentwood Shopping Center (Home Depot-Giant), the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center (4th and Rhode Island NE), and Hechinger Mall. Encourage new large-scale retail development at Fort Lincoln. Design such development to complement, rather than compete with, the neighborhood-oriented business districts in the area. 2408.8

 

2408.9Policy UNE-1.1.8: Untapped Economic Development Potential

 

Recognize the significant potential of the area’s commercially and industrially-zoned lands, particularly along the New York Avenue corridor, V Street NE, and Bladensburg Road, and around the Capital City Market, to generate jobs, provide new shopping opportunities, enhance existing businesses, create new business ownership opportunities, and promote the vitality and economic well-being of the Upper Northeast community. The uses, height, and bulk permitted under the existing M and CM-1 zones are expected to remain for the foreseeable future. 2408.9

 

2408.10Policy UNE-1.1.9: Production, Distribution, and Repair Uses

 

Retain the existing concentration of production, distribution, and repair (PDR) uses in Upper Northeast, but encourage the upgrading of these uses through higher design standards, landscaping, and improved screening and buffering. Emphasize new uses, including retail and office space, that create jobs for Upper Northeast area residents, and that minimize off-site impacts on the surrounding residential areas. 2408.10

 

2408.11Policy UNE-1.1.10: High Impact Industrial Uses

 

Strongly discourage the further proliferation of junkyards, scrap yards, and other high impact industrial uses within the area, since these activities do not enhance the quality of life in either the city as a whole or the surrounding CSX Rail corridor residential areas of Upper Northeast. Take appropriate action to reduce the potential for these uses to encroach into established residential and commercial areas within Upper Northeast, and to address environmental health and safety issues for employees and for those who live or work nearby. 2408.11

 

2408.12Policy UNE-1.1.11: Buffering

 

Improve the interface between residential neighborhoods, industrial/ commercial areas, and the railroad and Metro rail lines. Protect neighborhoods such as Gateway, South Central, Ivy City, North Michigan Park, and Brentwood from noise, truck traffic, commuter traffic, odor and compromised infrastructure; and take steps to reduce the damaging effects of excessive noise and vibration from Metrorail and commercial train traffic for homes along the CSX and Metro lines in Brookland, Queens Chapel, North Michigan Park, Brentwood and Gateway. 2408.12

 

2408.13Policy UNE-1.1.12: Truck Traffic

 

Continue to work with the community and area businesses to reduce heavy truck traffic on residential streets, particularly along W Street, West Virginia Avenue, Taylor Street NE, and 8th Street NE. Assess the circulation needs of businesses in these areas to determine if there are alternate means of access that would reduce impacts on adjacent neighborhoods. 2408.13

 

2408.14Action UNE-1.1.A: Industrial/Residential Buffers

 

Develop additional solutions to buffer residential and industrial areas from one another. One possibility is to consider extending the Langdon Overlay (L-O) zone, which prohibits certain types of industrial uses in immediate proximity to residential uses and which requires screening to protect residential areas. Other approaches to buffering, such as design guidelines, also should be considered. 2408.14

 

2408.15Action UNE-1.1.B: Industrial Land Use Study

 

Implement the applicable recommendations of the 2006 Industrial Land Use Study for Upper Northeast (see the Land Use and Economic Development Elements for a description of this Study). 2408.15

 

2408.16Action UNE-1.1.C: Traffic Safety Improvements

 

Improve traffic safety throughout the Upper Northeast area, particularly along Eastern Avenue, Franklin Street, Monroe Street, Brentwood Road, Bladensburg Road, Rhode Island Avenue, South Dakota Avenue, and New York Avenue. 2408.16

 

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.