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A RESOLUTION
21-170
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
July 14, 2015
To approve as a small area action plan the proposed Southwest Neighborhood Plan.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Southwest Neighborhood Plan Approval Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 2. Pursuant to section 4(c)(4) of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of the 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; D.C. Official Code § 1-306.03(c)(4)), the Mayor transmitted to the Council the proposed Southwest Neighborhood Plan, dated March 27, 2015 (“Plan”).
Sec. 3. The Council finds that:
(1) The Plan area, located in Ward 6, is bordered on the north by I-395, to the west by Maine Avenue, S.W., to the east by South Capitol Street, and to the south by P Street, S.W.
(2) Several of the recommendations for the Plan area contained in the Comprehensive Plan have been completed or are underway, including the restoration of 4th Street, S.W., and the replacement of Waterside Mall. In addition, significant change has happened in and around Southwest since the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in 2006, necessitating the creation of a small area action plan to guide both growth and preservation at the neighborhood level in the Southwest community.
(3) The Office of Planning commenced the process of developing the Plan with a public kickoff in September of 2013. The proposed Plan was published and made available to the public on November 21, 2014, and a Mayoral hearing was conducted on January 28, 2015.
(4) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a community-based strategy and an urban-design, land-use, and neighborhood-preservation framework to enhance parks and pedestrian and street connections, integrate community amenities, enhance transportation choices, and accommodate and guide the direction of future growth in the Southwest neighborhood. The Plan also provides land-use guidance, as well as design guidelines for new development throughout the neighborhood. The Plan envisions creating a thriving, active environment that preserves and enhances the Southwest Neighborhood’s culture and character.
(5) The Plan documents the community-based process and records the shared vision and guiding principles that were collectively developed to serve as the foundation for the Plan’s key opportunity areas and recommendations.
(6) The Plan is informed by existing conditions, land use, and market analysis, and incorporates a broad range of planning techniques and practical solutions to achieve the District’s goals and objectives.
(7) The Plan outlines strategies under 7 core concepts, as follows:
(A) Model Community – remain an exemplary model of equity and inclusion that retains diversity of races, ages, and income levels as the neighborhood continues to grow and change;
(B) Modernist Gem – promote the preservation of Southwest’s unique architectural legacy and support new development that reflects the form and rhythm of the historic fabric, reinforcing the neighborhood’s architectural legacy;
(C) Green Oasis – improve and enhance existing parks and green spaces, incorporating sustainable best practices and improved environmental performance;
(D) Arts and Culture – position Southwest to flourish as a premier arts and cultural destination, creating synergies between existing cultural assets and attracting new and creative uses and arts-related activities;
(E) Thriving Town Center – develop 4th Street, S.W., as the town center of neighborhood-serving retail and high-quality public realm;
(F) Optimized District Parcels – anticipate future demands on District-controlled parcels, allowing for the use of public resources to benefit the greater community and encouraging high-quality design, while meeting District needs; and
(G) Vibrant Connections – create vibrant connections that support an active and attractive environment, accommodate multiple transportation modes, increase mobility and safety within the community, and provide ease of access to adjacent neighborhoods and the Waterfront.
(8) The Plan includes an implementation table to define each recommendation as near-, mid-, or long-term, and to identify the agency, community partner, or civic organization primarily responsible for the implementation of each recommendation.
(9) Once approved, the Plan will provide supplemental guidance to the Zoning Commission and other District agencies in carrying out the policies of the Comprehensive Plan.
(10) These findings are further explained in the committee report accompanying this resolution.
Sec. 4. The Plan, as submitted, is approved by the Council as a small area action plan.
Sec. 5. The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).
Sec. 6. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
