Comprehensive Plans #2

The Comprehensive Plan process in DC has educated me somewhat about "gaps" in such plans.

One such gap is the difference between "economic development" and "building a local economy."

Another is the need for a capital improvements plan.

I was one of the people who advocated for an arts and culture plan. I should have been careful. I don't think that the relevant element in the Comprehensive Plan is much beyond a random collection of ideas and thoughts. When I complained about the lack of quality of the final product, see the Arts and Culture Element, to certain people in the arts community, my sense is that they were so happy to be acknowledged, that the quality or comprehensiveness of the element didn't matter to them so much.

My recent comments that the Recreation Center building and expansion plan for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation should have included planning for arts and culture needs is reinforced by planning underway in Fairfax County. The headline and subhead in this Post article from Fairfax Extra illustrates the point: "More Arts Centers Urged In County: Variety of Venues Needed, Panel Says."

The article calls for four expanded arts centers. Fairfax County is about 400 square miles and has a bit over 1 million in population. DC is 61 square miles and with 580,000+ residents, and many visitors.

Speaking of visitors, another missing element in the DC Comprehensive plan is on tourism-destination development and management.