[United States Government Manual]
[May 31, 1996]
[Pages 596-599]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION
Suite 301, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20576
Phone, 202-724-0174
Chairman Harvey B. Gantt
Members Arrington Dixon,
Patricia Elwood,
Robert A. Gaines,
Margaret G.
Vanderhye
Ex Officio:
(Secretary of the Interior) Bruce Babbitt
(Secretary of Defense) William J. Perry
(Administrator of General David J. Barram, Acting
Services)
(Chairman, Senate Committee on Ted Stevens
Governmental Affairs)
(Chairman, Committee on William F. Clinger
Government Reform and
Oversight)
(Mayor of the District of Marion S. Barry, Jr.
Columbia)
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(Chairman, Council of the David A. Clarke
District of Columbia)
Staff:
Executive Director Reginald W. Griffith
Executive Assistant Priscilla A. Brown
Deputy Executive Director Robert E. Gresham
Assistant Executive Director for Robert W. Marriott, Jr.
Special Projects
Director for Intergovernmental David Julyan
and Public Affairs
Executive Officer Connie M. Harshaw
General Counsel Sandra H. Shapiro
Secretariat Rae N. Allen
Director, Long-Range Planning Edward C. Hromanik
Division
Director, Technical Planning Ronald E. Wilson
Services Division
Director, Planning, Review, and George H.F. Oberlander
Implementation Division
Director, Planning Information Nyambi A. Nyambi,
and Technology Division Acting
[For the National Capital Planning Commission statement of organization,
see the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 1, Part 456.2]
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The National Capital Planning Commission is the central agency for
conducting planning and development activities for Federal lands and
facilities in the National Capital region. The region includes the
District of Columbia and all land areas within the boundaries of
Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland and Fairfax, Loudoun,
Prince William, and Arlington Counties in Virginia.
The National Capital Planning Commission was established as a park
planning agency by act of June 6, 1924, as amended (40 U.S.C. 71 et
seq.). Two years later its role was expanded to include comprehensive
planning. In 1952, under the National Capital Planning Act, the
Commission was designated the central planning agency for the Federal
and District of Columbia governments.
In 1973, the National Capital Planning Act was amended by the
District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which made the Mayor of the District
of Columbia the chief planner for the District; however, the Commission
continues to serve as the central planning agency for the Federal
Government in the National Capital region.
The Commission is composed of five appointed and seven ex officio
members. Three citizen members, including the Chairman, are appointed by
the President and two by the mayor of the District of Columbia.
Presidential appointees include one resident each from Maryland and
Virginia and one from anywhere in the United States; however, the two
mayoral appointees must be District of Columbia residents.
Activities
The Commission has three primary functions: comprehensive planning to
ensure the orderly development of the Federal Establishment and
protection of Federal interests in the National Capital region, plan and
program review, and preparation of the Federal Capital Improvements
Program.
Comprehensive Planning The Comprehensive Plan is a statement of
policies dealing with the growth and development of the National Capital
and consists of both Federal and District elements. It is an important
planning tool that provides a framework for policy decisions regarding
physical
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development proposed by Federal, State, local, and regional agencies.
Plan and Program Review The Commission's plan and program review
function consists of reviewing plans and programs proposed by Federal,
State, regional, and local agencies or jurisdictions in the National
Capital region. This function provides the Commission with an
opportunity to coordinate plan and program proposals.
Following this review the Commission, with regard to certain types
of projects, provides the sponsoring agency with comments and
recommendations. Approval by the Commission must be obtained prior to
construction of Federal public buildings in the District of Columbia and
District of Columbia buildings in the central area of the District.
Each Federal or District project comes to the Commission for review
at several stages. The first submission by an agency may be a master
plan for an entire installation or facility. Plans for construction of
individual projects implementing a master plan are submitted to the
Commission at both the preliminary and the final stages.
Federal Capital Improvements Programming Another comprehensive planning
activity is the preparation, adoption, and updating of the Five-Year
Federal Capital Improvements Program, a ``budget'' schedule for Federal
physical improvements throughout the National Capital region. It is
prepared by the Commission in order to systematically review proposed
Federal agency projects with regard to timing, location, and financing,
and to coordinate agency development plans throughout the region.
A Federal Capital budget represents the first year of the 5-year
program and consists of capital outlay requests for the region contained
in the President's fiscal year Federal budget transmitted to Congress.
The program for the second through fifth years incorporates Commission
recommendations to Federal agencies and the Office of Management and
Budget for subsequent budget submissions to Congress.
Additional Activities Other Commission responsibilities include review
of all proposed zoning regulations, map changes, and amendments to the
District of Columbia zoning ordinance in order to ensure consistency of
zoning regulations with Federal interests and with the Comprehensive
Plan.
The Commission also:
--adopts urban renewal area boundaries;
--prepares, adopts, and modifies urban renewal plans;
--approves the Permanent System of Highways Plan;
--recommends proposed street and alley closings;
--approves transfers of jurisdiction between Federal and District
agencies;
--approves the sale of surplus property and park land; and
--acquires land for parks and parkways in the National Capital
region.
The Commission serves the entire National Capital region by
coordinating Federal planning and development with the planning
activities of State, local, and regional agencies and jurisdictions.
For further information, contact the Public Affairs Officer, National
Capital Planning Commission, Suite 301, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20576. Phone, 202-724-0174. Fax, 202-724-0195.
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