D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1507
1507.1 The following general policies and actions should guide growth and neighborhood conservation decisions in Capitol Hill. These policies and actions should be considered in tandem with those in the District-wide elements of the Comprehensive Plan. The Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Element should be consulted for policies relating to the future of the adjoining Southeast Waterfront Area.
1507.2 Policy CH-1.1.1: Conserving Residential Uses Maintain the integrity and quality of Capitol Hill's residential uses and recognize the importance of its historic architecture and housing stock to the entire District. Ensure that Comprehensive Plan and zoning designations for Capitol Hill neighborhoods sustain its moderate density land use pattern.
1507.3 Policy CH-1.1.2: Renovation of Housing Stock Encourage the rehabilitation and renovation of the building stock throughout the Capitol Hill Planning Area, taking steps to acknowledge and enhance its unique neighborhood character both within and outside historic districts. Where infill development occurs, its scale and character should be compatible with prevailing neighborhood densities, and its design should contribute to neighborhood continuity and quality. When evaluating compatibility of improvements designed to either enhance energy efficiency or to create more affordable housing, consideration should be given to weighing the benefits to the community and District against the benefits of preserving historic features.
1507.4 Policy CH-1.1.3: Upgrading Commercial Districts Reinforce and upgrade the major commercial districts of Capitol Hill, including the H Street NE and Benning Road NE corridors, the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor, 7th Street SE, 8th Street SE, and Massachusetts Avenue NE between Union Station and Stanton Park. Support the further development of these areas with corridor-appropriate retail services, provided that such uses are compatible with surrounding land uses and the historic architecture and scale of the shopping districts themselves. Support the retention of existing neighborhood-serving businesses in these areas through programs that provide technical and financial assistance to small, locally owned establishments.
1507.5 Policy CH-1.1.4: Directing Growth Direct growth in the Capitol Hill Planning Area to commercially zoned land, with a particular emphasis on the H Street NE/Benning Road NE corridor and to infill opportunities in residential zones. Along the commercial corridors in this area, mixed-use development combining ground floor retail and upper story residential uses should be supported, along with streetscape improvements that improve
visual and urban design qualities and enhance pedestrian, bus, and auto circulation. In the residential zones, the scale of development should be sensitive to adjacent buildings and uses. All development should reflect the capacity of roads, infrastructure, and services to absorb additional growth.
1507.6 Policy CH-1.1.5: North of Massachusetts Avenue/Capitol Hill Transition Areas Improve buffering and urban design transitions between the emerging office and high-density residential corridor north of Union Station (North of Massachusetts Avenue, or NoMa) and the adjacent row house neighborhoods of Capitol Hill. Use zoning, design guidelines, historic preservation review, and other measures to avoid sharp contrasts in scale and character where high-density and moderate-density areas abut one another.
1507.7 Policy CH-1.1.6: Inappropriate Commercial Uses Prevent the proliferation of fast-food outlets, self-service gas stations, convenience mini-marts, and other drive-through businesses along Capitol Hill's commercial corridors. The commercial corridors of Capitol Hill are part of the historic L'Enfant Plan, and they contribute to the national image of the nation's capital and provide a walkable neighborhood environment; inappropriate and automobile-oriented uses should be prohibited.
1507.8 Policy CH-1.1.7: Alleys Preserve Capitol Hill's system of historic alleys and develop plans for the use of large block interior spaces where appropriate. These plans should be developed in coordination with the affected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), residents, and community groups.
1507.9 Policy CH-1.1.8: Encroachment of Non-Residential Uses Strictly limit and enforce the conversion of housing to non-residential uses and the replacement of housing with non-residential uses in the Capitol Hill Planning Area. This includes the development of private clubs, museums, colleges, and universities within the Capitol Hill Historic District.
1507.10 Policy CH-1.1.9: Conversion of Non-Residential Structures Allow the conversion of obsolete or vacant non-residential structures (including schools, places of worship, warehouses, and institutional uses) to housing, provided that important architectural resources are conserved.
1507.11 Policy CH-1.1.10: Public Housing Rehabilitate public housing projects on Capitol Hill, ensuring that any units that are removed are replaced in-kind by new public housing units within the community. Where feasible, rehabilitation projects should provide home ownership opportunities for public housing residents.
1507.12 Policy CH-1.1.11: 15th Street SE Commercial District Encourage the preservation and moderate expansion of commercial uses along 15th Street SE that are primarily neighborhood serving. This corridor should retain its mix of light commercial and moderate-density residential to allow it to retain the existing corner stores and small businesses that serve the community.
1507.13 Policy CH-1.1.12: RFK Stadium Area Provide improved buffering and landscaping screening along 19th Street NE/SE and elsewhere in the vicinity of RFK Stadium in order to reduce the effects of noise, dust, vibration, and air pollution on the adjacent Hill East community. Work collaboratively with the National Park Service (NPS), District agencies, EventsDC, National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), and the community on long-range plans and through a future planning analysis for the stadium and adjacent parkland and parking lots. Waterfront open space in this area should be retained and improved for the benefit of Hill East, Kingman Park, and Rosedale residents. Improvements should include the creation and maintenance of a pedestrian and cyclist shoreline access path and well-designed public spaces. Recreational and green spaces should include features for people with disabilities and older adults. Reduce the amount of land occupied by surface parking and maximize activity along the waterfront. See the Urban Design Element for additional policies related to parks and open spaces.
1507.14 Policy CH-1.1.13: Traffic Management Strategies Establish traffic management strategies to reduce commuter traffic on East Capitol Street NE, Independence Avenue SE, C Street NE, 17th Street SE, and other predominantly residential streets that also function as through-streets. These strategies should include limiting additional one-way streets on Capitol Hill (and possibly restoring existing one-way streets to two-way traffic), improving signal timing on Benning Road NE and Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. Measures should also be implemented to route through-traffic around residential neighborhoods and to restrict trucks and heavy vehicles on local streets.
1507.15 Policy CH-1.1.14: Southeast Boulevard Continue to evaluate the transportation and land use opportunities and impacts associated with the freeway's redesign of the Southeast Boulevard as an at-grade boulevard to better connect Capitol Hill residents to the Anacostia waterfront by reconnecting parts of the street grid to the north. Add new residential development, where possible, along a newly designed boulevard. New pathways should safely serve both pedestrians and cyclists. Future planning efforts should reflect the importance of connecting neighborhoods to the river.
1507.16 Policy CH-1.1.15: Transit Service Maintain and improve mass transit service in the Near Northeast section of the
Planning Area, particularly along the corridor extending from Union Station along H Street NE to Hechinger Mall and continuing on Benning Road NE to the Minnesota Avenue Metro station.
Support urban design and façade improvements along H Street NE, Benning Road NE, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and Barracks Row. Such improvements should preserve and enhance the historic features, scale, and texture of existing structures. Urban design improvements should be applied to 11th Street SE as it approaches the 11th Street Bridge in order to accommodate increased pedestrian traffic toward the 11th Street Bridge Park.
Rezone the 15th Street SE commercial district for residential uses, consistent with the corridor’s designation on the Comprehensive Plan.
Continue to implement the DC Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) Capitol Hill Transportation Study and implement its major recommendations. Also, implement the Middle Anacostia and H Street transportation study recommendations, aimed at reducing through-traffic on neighborhood streets within Capitol Hill, limiting truck traffic, and improving conditions for Capitol Hill pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. Ongoing livability studies should continue to be implemented at the neighborhood level.
Implement proposed streetscape improvements for the H Street NE/Benning Road NE corridor, including the development of a streetcar line between the Minnesota Avenue Metro station and Oklahoma Avenue NE.
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)).