Federal Elements of the DC Comprehensive Plan and Urban Design

DC's Comprehensive Plan is comprised of two major sections, one is produced by the city and the other section, the Federal Elements, is produced by the National Capital Planning Commission. NCPC is supposed to coordinate federal land use policy within the city.

It happens that in testimony a few years ago to the National Capital Planning Commission, I mentioned the necessity of adding an urban design element to the Federal Elements as well as making the Transportation Element more robust in terms of requirements that federal facilities be located in close proximity to high capacity transit, and the provision of funds for the expansion of transit facilities in order to accomplish this.

In my opinion, Urban design and Transportation are the most important elements of the Comprehensive Plan (along with Economic Development), and I believe that (1) these elements should be designated the "leading" or guiding elements of the plan, superior to the other elements, and (2) that the Land Use element, which is typically considered the most important, is more a derivative of the other elements, which is why Land Use shouldn't be considered the leading element of the plan.

After all, as it says in the "introduction" to this blog (a quote from the Smart Growth Network publication Getting To Smart Growth 2):

A community’s physical form, rather than its land uses, is its most intrinsic and enduring characteristic.

That's why urban design is so important. DC's Urban Design element is very good. It's too bad that it is overshadowed by the Land Use Element.

Tomorrow there is an online chat by NCPC on the Federal Elements:

LIVE ONLINE CHAT: Discussion of the Comprehensive Plan with NCPC Sr. Urban Planner David Zaidain

• WHEN: Thursday, July 22, 2010 | 12:00 p.m. | Noon
• WHERE: Online and hosted by local blog DCMud

Join NCPC Sr. Urban Planner David Zaidain as he discusses the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital: Federal Elements and how they impact the region. NCPC is beginning to update these elements and you can learn how to become involved in this important planning effort. The discussion will focus on the following topics:

• How the Comp Plan serves the region and why it matters to you
• The elements of the Plan
• The Plan's role in guiding federal facility location, transportation, etc.
• The Plan's policy impact on local/regional development
• Why the Plan is being updated
• The addition of an Urban Design Element
• Opportunities for public involvement

Event Details

• NCPC website
• Facebook