DC Comprehensive Plan Director's Letter February 2018

February 2, 2018

Dear District Stakeholders,

As promised in my January 9th letter, the DC Office of Planning (OP) has posted all amendment proposals to the District’s Comprehensive Plan that OP received during the Open Call period last year.  From March 24 to June 23, 2017, community stakeholders, local organizations and District agencies proposed 3,064 amendments via the [PLAN]DC website and paper forms.  This is more than ten times the number of proposed amendments OP received during the 2010 amendment cycle. 

We are delighted with the unprecedented response and quality of amendments we have received.  Part of this success is due to broad-based, community-led engagement and more than a year of dedicated outreach that OP led throughout the city.  We appreciate the time and effort that community members have invested in the Comp Plan amendment process. 

More than 2,100 amendment proposals came from District residents, neighborhood associations, community and non-profit groups, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), Business Improvement Districts and Main Streets, law firms, public utilities, universities and federal agencies.  We received proposed amendments from 185 individuals and 106 organizations, representing every ward in the city.  

In addition, the Office of Planning worked with District agencies to incorporate into the Comprehensive Plan the data, policies and strategies of recently completed agency plans, including the Department of Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan, Healthy People 2020 and Sustainable DC.  As a result, twenty-one District agencies submitted proposed amendments during the Open Call period.  A list of the agency plans being incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan can be found here.  OP has also created an infographic that summarizes who submitted proposed amendments and for which Elements here.

The Office of Planning received proposed text amendments for the Framework, Citywide and Area Elements; these propose a change or addition to an existing narrative, policy or action.  OP also received map amendments; these amend an existing land use designation on the Future Land Use Map or a policy category for an area on the Generalized Policy Map.  

You can review the table of proposed text amendments here; the table of proposed map amendments can be found here.  Both tables are organized by tracking number and include the name and organization of the submitter; the text or description of the proposed change; and if the proposed amendment was associated with an ANC resolution.  Many proposed amendments also included attachments of supporting documents.  Attachments for proposed amendments, organized by tracking number, can be found here.   Printed copies of the amendment proposals and supporting attachments will also be made available for review at the Office of Planning, located at 1100 4^th St SW, Suite E650.

Since the Open Call closed in summer 2017, Office of Planning staff have been evaluating proposed amendments, using the criteria laid out in the [PLAN]DC Evaluation Framework released last summer.  Concurrently, OP is drafting proposed amendments to the Citywide and Area Elements and the maps.  These amendments will incorporate small area and other plans OP has completed since the 2010 amendment cycle; update population and demographic data; add new policies and actions that will incorporate resilience as a new cross-cutting policy framework throughout the Comp Plan; and identify those areas of the city where OP, in partnership with community members, will need to conduct additional planning in the near future to respond to changing conditions, development pressures and other needs in District neighborhoods.

The Office of Planning will post its evaluation determinations for the full set of amendments at a later date.  In the meantime, please send any questions or comments to the [PLAN]DC project team at plandc@dc.gov or contact OP at (202) 442-7600.

Finally, thank you again for your sustained interest and participation in this Comprehensive Plan amendment process.  OP looks forward to advancing critical amendments to the Comprehensive Plan that help ensure the District achieves the Plan’s vision of “Planning an Inclusive City.”

 

Sincerely

 

 

Eric D. Shaw

 

 

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Posted by :

Bruce Yarnall • Historic Preservation Operations Manager DC Office of Planning 1100 4th Street SW, Suite E650 • Washington, DC 20024 202.442.8835 bruce.yarnall@dc.gov planning.dc.gov