District of Columbia Administrative Code

806 PROS-1.3 PRESERVING THE VALUE OF PARKLAND 806.1 A park often reflects a neighborhood’s vitality and character. However, too often, District parks have not been treated as the resource for revitalization and community empowerment that they should be. Some suffer from deferred …

807 PROS-1.4 MEETING THE NEEDS OF A GROWING DISTRICT 807.1 The addition of thousands of new jobs and households over the next 20 years will increase demand for programmed parks, open space, and recreational activities. Existing parks will accommodate more users, particularly in n…

808 PROS-2 PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES 808.1 While the previous section of this element focused on park planning, this section focuses specifically on park facilities. 808.2 The District currently operates 76 recreation centers with a combined total of approximately one mill…

809 PROS-2.1 ASSESSING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES 809.1 The 2014 Parks Master Plan identified three primary facility types in the District’s parks: Recreation centers, which provide space for the delivery of indoor recreation services and support space for outdoor activities; Aquati…

810 PROS-2.2 PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE TO ALL RESIDENTS 810.1 Maintaining a quality park system requires a high level of facility maintenance, modernization, and repair. A 2009 assessment of 72 DPR facilities found that 10 were in poor condition, 11 were in fair condition, and 51…

811 PROS-3 OPEN SPACE NETWORKS 811.1 Washington, DC, is characterized by four outstanding and distinct networks of open space: The Monumental Core, including the National Mall and adjacent areas in East and West Potomac Parks; Rock Creek Park and the linear parks along its tribut…

812 PROS-3.1 SUSTAINING AND ENHANCING THE FEDERAL OPEN SPACE SYSTEMS 812.1 Although Washington, DC, does not have jurisdiction over the National Mall and the adjoining open spaces in East and West Potomac Parks, these are arguably the most visible and high-profile parklands in th…

813 PROS-3.2 RECLAIMING THE WATERFRONT 813.1 The contrast between the District’s two waterfronts—the Potomac and the Anacostia—has been well documented. Virtually the entire Potomac shoreline north of Hains Point is publicly accessible, with such amenities as the Chesapeake and O…

814 PROS-3.3 OTHER SIGNIFICANT OPEN SPACE NETWORKS 814.1 The District’s formal open space networks are complemented by several smaller open space systems. These networks may be lesser known due to fragmented ownership and multiple functions, but they are no less important—particu…

815 PROS-3.4 CONNECTING THE DISTRICT THROUGH TRAILS 815.1 Trails and linear parks are an important part of the open space network. They link the District’s open spaces to one another and provide access between neighborhoods and nature. In some cases, they provide stream buffers o…

816 PROS-4 MAXIMIZING ASSETS 816.1 The Parks and Recreation Master Plan estimated that meeting the projected parks and recreation needs of the District would require $1.2 billion in capital funds over the next 20 years. The District government has neither the land nor the dollars…

817 PROS-4.1 MAXIMIZING ACCESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS 817.1 The need for joint planning to coordinate federal and District open space planning has been mentioned throughout this element. In 2005, the District, NPS, and NCPC launched the CapitalSpace Initiative to increase access to…

818 PROS-4.2 RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF FUNCTIONAL OPEN SPACE 818.1 Functional open space refers to undeveloped land used for purposes other than parks and conservation. Such space comprises hundreds of acres of public and private land in the District, including sites that are valu…

819 PROS-4.3 OPEN SPACE AND THE CITYSCAPE 819.1 Improving open space is part of the District’s broader vision of building green and healthy communities. The Sustainable DC Plan envisions a District with high-quality, well-connected habitats on land and water providing strong corr…

900 OVERVIEW 900.1 The Urban Design Element addresses the District’s physical design and visual qualities. The element describes the ways in which different aspects of the District’s landscape, especially its buildings, streets, and open spaces, work together to define impression…

901 URBAN DESIGN GOAL 901.1 The overarching goal for urban design in the District is to enhance the beauty, equity, and livability of Washington, DC by reinforcing its historic design legacy and the identity of its neighborhoods and centers, harmoniously integrating new construct…

902 UD-1 SHAPING A SHARED CIVIC IDENTITY 902.1 Washington DC’s civic identity is defined by a particular set of physical features, including the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, the topographic bowl around the original city laid out by L’Enfant and the rolling hills beyond, the open…

903 UD-1.1 BUILDING ON WASHINGTON, DC’S HISTORIC PLAN 903.1 Washington, DC’s historic plans are the backbone of the District’s architectural identity and urban form. As a deliberately planned city, the notion of future growth was built into the original L’Enfant Plan in a way tha…

904 UD-1.2 DESIGNING IN HARMONY WITH NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY AND LANDFORMS 904.1 The escarpments, ridges, hills, plateaus, rivers, and streams of Washington, DC’s topography are major components of the District’s identity. They shape neighborhoods and parks as well as essential elemen…

905 UD-1.3 DESIGNING THE WATERFRONT FOR THE NEXT CENTURY 905.1 The confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers determined Washington, DC’s location, contributing to the design and orientation of the Mall, monuments, central federal institutions, and original port settlements. …

906 UD-1.4 ENHANCING THOROUGHFARES AND GATEWAYS 906.1 Grand and picturesque streets in the form of avenues, gateway corridors, and parkways, and long-established roads are defining elements of Washington, DC’s urban form (See Figure 9.12). They create dramatic points of entry int…

907 UD-2 DESIGNING THE LIVABLE DISTRICT 907.1 The shape of the District profoundly affects the quality of life of its residents, from physical and behavioral health to opportunities for having close friends and neighbors to even how likely it is to find and hold a job. The built …

908 UD-2.1 STREETS FOR PEOPLE 908.1 The District’s streets are more than just spaces for transportation: they are also spaces that the public inhabits, where residents, workers, and visitors alike can participate in urban life. While streets must bring people to their destination…

909 UD-2.2 DESIGNING FOR VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS 909.1 The sense of place in the District’s neighborhoods is a function of their cultural history, physical features, visual qualities, and resident mix. Those neighborhoods with a strong sense of place tend to share certain walkable …

910 UD-2.3 PLAY EVERYWHERE 910.1 Play is a universal experience that brings different people together, helps children learn, and promotes better physical and mental health for all residents. When play is thoughtfully designed into the public realm, it creates enriching, whimsical…

911 UD 2.4 INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY SPACES 911.1 The needs of District residents are changing and becoming more diverse as families have more children, the number of older adults increases, and the population diversifies. As neighborhoods change demographically, new and existing resid…

912 UD-3 FOSTERING A VIBRANT PUBLIC LIFE 912.1 The District’s public realm represents half of Washington, DC’s land area, with street rights-of-way alone accounting for more than 10,000 acres. The public realm provides spaces for residents to experience District life, recreate an…

913 UD-3.1 PUBLIC LIFE FOR ALL 913.1 A varied and vibrant public life is an important part of achieving an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous Washington, DC. Having a vibrant public life for all means that every neighborhood can realize spaces that encourage greater community u…

914 UD-3.2 DESIGNING THE ACTIVE DISTRICT 914.1 The design of a city can influence how its residents use it. Physical activity can be fostered by designing spaces and streets that encourage walking, bicycling, and other forms of active movement and recreation. Active urban design …

915 UD-3.3 PLACES FOR LINGERING 915.1 There are many great spaces for people in Washington, DC, such as Columbia Heights Plaza, Friendship (Turtle) Park, and Yards Park, but the vast majority of small parks and plazas are underused spaces that don’t fully serve the recreational o…

916 UD-4 MAKING GREAT URBAN ARCHITECTURE 916.1 While a city is made up of more than its buildings, its image is often linked to its architectural expression. This is especially true in a capital city like Washington, DC, which must balance its roles as a national emblem and a cit…

917 UD-4.1 THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC SPACES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE 917.1 The design of new civic architecture and infrastructure reinforces the District’s image as a forward-looking city that supports civic engagement and respects historic context while embracing change…

918 UD-4.2 DESIGNING ARCHITECTURE FOR PEOPLE 918.1 Buildings and architecture have a direct impact on comfort, sense of safety, and emotional well-being; they form the physical fabric of the District. The quality of the District’s physical character should be designed to improve …

2000 ANNUAL MEETING 2000.1 The annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Redevelopment Land Agency shall be held on the fifteenth (15th) day of May at 2:00 p.m. at the regular meeting place of the Board of Directors, the office of the Agency. 2000.2 If the annual meeting da…

2001 REGULAR MEETINGS 2001.1 Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice at 10:00 a.m., on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Thursday of each month at the office of the Agency. 2001.2 If the day of a regular meeting falls on a legal holiday, that meeting…

2002 SPECIAL MEETINGS 2002.1 The Chairperson of the Board of Directors may, when deemed expedient, call a special meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of transacting any business designated in the meeting notice. 2002.2 Upon the written request of two (2) other direc…

2003 QUORUM 2003.1 At all meetings of the Board of Directors, one-half (1/2) of the Board members in office shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business and conducting the affairs of the Agency. 2003.2 A smaller number of directors than is required for a quor…

2004 CONDUCT OF MEETINGS 2004.1 Except as otherwise provided in §2000 through §2005, for purposes of rulings from the chair or other parliamentary decisions, Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed. 2004.2 The Secretary shall prepare the agenda for all meetings, subject to appr…

2005 MANNER OF VOTING 2005.1 The voting on all questions coming before the Board of Directors shall be by roll call, and the yeas, nays, and abstentions shall be entered in the written transcript of the meeting. 2005.2 A majority vote of the members present and voting shall be re…

2006 [RESERVED] AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is §4(b) of the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act of 1945, 60 Stat. 793 (D.C. Code §5-803(b)); as amended by §201 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganiza…

2007 [RESERVED] AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is §4(b) of the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act of 1945, 60 Stat. 793 (D.C. Code §5-803(b)); as amended by §201 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganiza…

2008 [RESERVED] AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is §4(b) of the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act of 1945, 60 Stat. 793 (D.C. Code §5-803(b)); as amended by §201 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganiza…

2009 [RESERVED] AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is §4(b) of the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act of 1945, 60 Stat. 793 (D.C. Code §5-803(b)); as amended by §201 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganiza…

2010 LAND DISPOSITION HEARINGS 2010.1 The procedures and definitions contained in. §§2010 through 2027 shall be applicable to the process by which a public hearing is held by the Agency on dispositions of land under D.C. Code §5-806(c) (1981). 2010.2 The Board of Directors may de…

2011 APPEARANCE AND REPRESENTATION 2011.1 In any disposition hearing the following persons may enter an appearance: (a) An individual may appear on his or her own behalf, or may appoint an appropriate delegate; (b) A partner of a partnership may represent the partnership; (c) An …

2012 COMPUTATION OF TIME 2012.1 In computing any period of time specified in §§2010 through 2027, calendar days shall be counted. 2012.2 In computing any period of time specified, the day of the act, event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to run shall …

2013 SERVICE OF PAPERS 2013.1 Any paper required to be served upon a person shall be served upon him or her or upon the representative designated by him or her or by law to receive service of papers. 2013.2 When a person is represented by an attorney who has entered an appearance…

2014 DOCUMENTS 2014.1 A document shall be considered filed in the office where the filing is required only when that document is received in that office during the office hours when filing is permitted and the document is received by a person authorized to receive it. 2014.2 Each…

2015 PARTIES 2015.1 The Applicant Redeveloper shall be a party to the related disposition hearing. 2015.2 Any person may petition the Board of Directors to intervene in a disposition hearing and become a party to the hearing if the Board finds that the petitioner may be affected …