[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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