Section 10-A2514. IM- 3.2.1 THE AMENDMENT TIMELINE

 

2514.1It is recommended that the Comprehensive Plan be amended at least every four years and that a major revision/update of the Comprehensive Plan be completed every 12 years. The review of the practices of other major cities completed as part of the Comprehensive Plan Assessment suggests that a 10 to 15 year cycle for major revisions to the Comprehensive Plan is appropriate. The major revision would reassess all Comprehensive Plan policies, including citywide and area element policies. It would not necessarily include a total re-write of each Element but would focus instead on deleting outdated or irrelevant policies and actions, and editing or adding policies and actions to reflect emerging issues. The current provision that the Mayor can also submit amendments at other times should be retained. 2514.1

 

2514.2It is further recommended that the first amendment cycle be initiated in 2008, two years after this Comprehensive Plan is adopted. There are two reasons for this: 1) amendments may be necessary soon after the revision to address unanticipated issues associated with new language in the Comprehensive Plan, and 2) to make the amendment cycle fall appropriately between election cycles. Amendment cycles are thus recommended in 2008-2009 and then again four years later in 2012-2013 with a major update/revision envisioned in 2016-2018. 2514.2

 

2514.3It is recommended that amendments be sent by the Mayor to the City Council in May of the amendment year (2009, 2013, etc.), to avoid delays related to budget hearings that usually are completed by April. The details of the recommended timeline for the amendment process are as follows for 2008-

2009 as an example: 2514.3

 

2514.4April-Aug 2008: The Office of Planning conducts extensive public outreach to inform the public of the opportunity to submit amendments. At least one meeting in each Ward should take place to describe the amendment process, answer questions pertaining to the Comprehensive Plan or amendment submission and review process, encourage appropriately documented submissions, and ensure public participation in the amendment process. During this time period, the Office of Planning itself would consider proposed amendments to reflect emerging issues, new small area plans, outdated actions, map changes, etc.

 

Sept 15, 2008:Deadline for submitting proposed amendments to the Office of Planning.

 

Sept-Nov 2008:Initial screening of the proposed amendments by the Office of Planning to ascertain whether or not they are issues that can be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. The Office of Planning would hold a public meeting to publicize what proposed amendments had been submitted.

 

Dec 2008-Feb 2009:The Office of Planning coordinates the technical/policy analysis of the proposed amendments. The Office of Planning then prepares an “Amendment Report and Recommendations”.

 

Mar-April 2009:Mayor forwards recommendations to the Council.

 

May-Sept 2009:Council holds public hearings in June and takes final action by September. If new amendments are proposed as a result of public hearings, these are forwarded to The Office of Planning for analysis during Council’s summer recess.

 

Oct 2009:After Council action, the Mayor may approve or veto the Council-approved Comprehensive Plan amendments.

 

Nov-Dec 2009:After Mayoral approval, Congressional review (30 days) and NCPC review (60 days) run concurrently. If no changes are requested, then the amended Comprehensive Plan is formally adopted. 2514.4

 

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.

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