D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1214
1214.1 The growth of colleges and universities, while supported by the District, has generated concerns in some Washington, DC neighborhoods. Most of the universities have limited land area for expansion and are located immediately adjacent to residential neighborhoods. While neighborhood concerns relate to impacts such as traffic and parking, and to broader issues about the changing character of communities where universities are located or expanding, universities contribute unique offerings to their host neighborhoods, such as access to educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. These opportunities include access to campus green spaces, culturally enriching offerings (including concerts and lectures), and a variety of programs for continuing education and very low-cost programming for seniors.
1214.2 Zoning regulations require the preparation of campus plans that show the location, height, and bulk of present and future improvements for all colleges located in residential zone districts. In addition to serving as physical site plans, the campus plans set floor area ratio (FAR) limits for the campus as a whole and, in some cases, establish enrollment and employment caps. Campus plans are subject to approval by the Zoning Commission.
1214.3 The campus plan requirement provides a formal process for community input on a range of growth-related issues. They are an important tool to proactively address issues that may be of concern to the neighborhood and limit campus expansion into residential areas. However, most of Washington, DC's colleges and universities are engaged in ongoing discussions with the communities around them. Frequently raised issues include the need for student housing, the loss of historic buildings, the compatibility of proposed campus structures with nearby residential areas, and the loss of taxable land associated with university growth. Campus plans have responded to these concerns in a number of ways, such as increasing building intensity on-site to avoid the need for land acquisition, development of new dormitories, and implementation of numerous programs to manage parking, traffic, noise, and other environmental impacts.
1214.4 The post-secondary student population is significant, and local colleges and universities are powerful drivers of employment and innovation, as well as significant contributors to making Washington, DC one of the nation's leading technology hubs. As a tech hub, the District is uniquely positioned to generate innovations that can help spawn new companies, create new jobs, and increase its economic competitiveness within and beyond the greater capital region. The District should continue to explore ways to help universities and their students meet their needs while encouraging compatibility of campus development with surrounding communities. Graduate students in particular play a vital role in
university research and in helping universities to secure federal grants.
1214.5 Looking forward, the development of satellite campuses is strongly encouraged to relieve growth pressure around existing campuses. In addition to accommodating university growth, satellite campuses can provide new job and educational opportunities for District residents and help revitalize local shopping areas. Continued efforts to improve the campus planning process and promote an open dialogue between colleges and the neighborhoods around them should be strongly supported.
1214.5a Text box: Satellite Campuses
The development of satellite campuses is strongly encouraged to relieve growth pressure around existing campuses. In addition to accommodating university growth, satellite campuses can provide access to new job and educational opportunities for District residents and help revitalize local shopping areas.
1214.6 Policy EDU-3.3.1: Satellite Campuses
Promote the development of satellite campuses to accommodate university growth, relieve growth pressure on neighborhoods adjacent to existing campuses, spur economic development and revitalization in underinvested neighborhoods, and create additional lifelong learning opportunities for District residents.
1214.7 Policy EDU-3.3.2: Balancing University Growth and Neighborhood Needs
Encourage the growth and development of local colleges and universities in a manner that recognizes the role these institutions play in contributing to the District's character, culture, and economy, and that is also consistent with and supports community improvement and neighborhood conservation objectives. Discourage university actions that would adversely affect the character or quality of life in surrounding residential areas.
1214.8 Policy EDU-3.3.3: Universities as Large Landowners and Campus Plan Requirements
Continue to require campus plans for colleges and universities located in residential and mixed-use zone districts. These plans should be prepared by the institutions themselves, subject to District review and approval, and should address issues raised by the surrounding communities. Each campus plan should include provisions that respect neighbors and neighboring property and ensure that potentially objectionable impacts such as noise, traffic, number of students, or other similar conditions are addressed.
1214.9 Policy EDU-3.3.4: Student Housing
Encourage the provision of on-campus student housing in order to reduce college and university impacts on the housing stock, especially the affordable housing stock, in adjacent neighborhoods. Consider measures to address the demand for
student housing generated by non-District institutions with local branches.
1214.10 Policy EDU-3.3.5: Transportation Impacts of Colleges and Universities
Support ongoing efforts by colleges and universities to mitigate their traffic and parking impacts by promoting ridesharing, carpooling, shuttle service, bicycling, scooters, skateboarding, and other transportation demand management measures. The provision of adequate on-site parking for institutional uses also should be encouraged.1214.11 Policy EDU-3.3.6: Faculty Housing
Support faculty and staff housing within campus plans. Encourage the housing to be created through partnerships and dedicated university programs. Provide program opportunities to persons from a wide range of incomes.1214.12 Policy EDU-3.3.7: Inter-University Partnerships
Support partnerships and development of facilities that can enable sector-based innovations, such as inclusive incubators, which are technology incubators that offer enhanced opportunities for historically underserved residents.1214.13 Policy EDU-3.3.8: Innovative Approaches for Augmented Educational Opportunities
Support the growth of the District's learning landscape, including, but not limited to, that of universities, museums, and public facilities that offer innovative approaches for providing learning opportunities to augment in-classroom education.1214.14 Policy EDU-3.3.9: Educational Facilities and Large Site Development
Explore the role educational institutions can play in activating targeted large sites in a manner that can catalyze growth, fulfill place-based physical and economic development goals, and expand educational access to District residents.1214.15 Policy EDU-3.3.10: University-Community Task Force
Encourage universities and communities to establish a Task Force comprised of college and university representatives, neighborhood representatives, local businesses, and other non-university community stakeholders to address a range of physical planning issues relating to the college or university's growth and operation. Among other topics, the Task Force should address community concerns regarding the enforcement of campus plans and monitoring procedures, university concerns regarding enrollment and employment caps, modifications or further processing related to the approved campus plan, and potentially, proposals for amendments to the zoning regulations as they relate to campus plans and higher education facilities.
Support continued access by local neighborhoods to university offerings, such as concerts and lectures, campus green space, continuing education, and low-cost programming for older adults. Encourage residents to learn about and appreciate campus culture.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).