D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1907
1907.1 The following general policies and actions should guide growth and neighborhood conservation decisions in the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Planning Area. These policies and actions should be considered in tandem with those in the Citywide Elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
1907.2 Policy AW-1.1.1: Conservation of Established Waterfront Neighborhoods Revitalize and preserve established neighborhoods in the Waterfront Planning Area a while promoting infill development to provide new housing opportunities, including accessory dwelling units, to meet a range of affordability levels and housing needs. Continued investment in the existing housing stock and in established local commercial areas should be strongly encouraged.
1907.3 Policy AW-1.1.2: New Waterfront Neighborhoods Create new mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods on vacant or underused waterfront lands, particularly on large contiguous publicly owned waterfront sites. Within the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Planning Area, new neighborhoods should continue to be developed at the Southwest Waterfront, Buzzard Point, Poplar Point, and Navy Yard/Capitol Riverfront. These neighborhoods should be linked to new neighborhoods upriver at Reservation 13, and Kenilworth-Parkside via trails, additional water recreation opportunities, and improved park access points along the Anacostia shoreline. A substantial amount of new housing and commercial space should be developed in these areas, reaching households of all incomes, types, sizes, and needs. Opportunities for grid interconnected neighborhood-scale energy utilities systems as part of the development of these areas should be evaluated, using renewable energy sources to provide greater environmental benefits for the community. The new waterfront neighborhoods should integrate new parks and amenities, enhance public access to the waterfront, and incorporate resilient design to mitigate flooding.
1907.4 Policy AW-1.1.3: Lower Anacostia Waterfront Infrastructure for Flood Mitigation Identify locations of future development that are at risk of flooding to help prioritize infrastructure improvements to mitigate flooding. Encourage the inclusion of parks, open space, and other improvements around denser development that preserve or enhance the natural function of floodplains.
1907.5 Policy AW-1.1.4: Lower Anacostia Waterfront Flood Modeling Prioritize the Lower Anacostia Waterfront area for comprehensive flood modeling of projected sea level rise and future flood hazard conditions because the area's flooding potential is not accounted for in the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Local studies that are not currently accounted for in the District's currently
effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps should be used in tandem with Policy AW-R. 3 (below) for encouraging climate-adaptive development.
1907.6
Provide guidelines and promote the planning, design, construction, and management of resilient buildings in flood hazard areas within the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Planning Area. Design and construct developments to be adaptive to future flood hazard conditions due to storm surge and sea level rise.
See the Urban Design Element for additional guidance on flood resilience.
1907.7
Incorporate climate resilience measures into the rehabilitation of existing and creation of new affordable housing located in the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Planning Area to protect these units against current and projected future flood conditions.
1907.8
Encourage commercial development in the waterfront area in a manner that is consistent with the Future Land Use Map. Such development should bring more retail services and choices to the Anacostia waterfront, as well as space for government and private sector activities, such as offices and hotels. A mix of high-density commercial and residential development should be focused along key corridors, particularly along Maine Avenue and M Street SE and SW, along South Capitol Street, and near the Waterfront and Navy Yard Metro stations. Maritime activities, such as cruise ship operations, should be maintained and supported as the waterfront redevelops.
1907.9
Leverage new development in the Waterfront Planning Area to create amenities and benefits that serve existing and new residents. These amenities should include parks, job training and educational opportunities, new community services, and transportation and infrastructure improvements.
1907.10
Recognize and be responsive to the distinct settings and environments created by varying conditions along the shoreline. Consistent with the Anacostia Framework Plan, the river should be viewed as a series of basins, each defined by its unique physical and visual characteristics. In general, there should be a progression from a more urban environment on the lower basins (Washington Channel and the river gateway) to a more natural environment on the upper basins, such as Kingman and Heritage Islands, and the Arboretum.
1907.11 Policy A W-1.1.10: Pedestrian Orientation of Waterfront Uses Provide a high level of pedestrian and cyclist amenities along the shoreline, including informational and interpretive signs, benches and street furniture, and public art. Pedestrian and cyclist facilities should be designed to accommodate the greatest number of users with varying abilities. Where possible, trail design should support the safe use of the trail in the evenings. Continue to coordinate with federal agencies to ensure the continuity of character and wayfinding and explore additional opportunities for public access on federally owned waterfront properties.
1907.12 Policy A W-1.1.11: Multimodal Waterfront Streets Design streets along the waterfront to be truly multimodal, meeting the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, as well as motor vehicles. Safe pedestrian crossings, including overpasses and underpasses, should be provided to improve waterfront access.
1907.13 Policy A W-1.1.12: Barriers to Shoreline Access Minimize the visual and accessibility impacts of railroad and highway infrastructure, surface parking, access roads, and industrial uses along the Anacostia River shoreline. In particular, the impacts of freeways on waterfront access should be mitigated by supporting the redesign of these facilities as tunnels or landscaped boulevards. Explore ways to mitigate the impacts of highway infrastructure on shoreline access for neighborhoods in Wards 7 and 8. Continue to increase the number of boat slips, waterside amenities, and water recreation options, such as kayaking and paddle boarding along the Anacostia shoreline.
1907.14 Policy A W 1.1.13: Southwest Ecodistrict Plan Implementation Explore ways to jointly fund the implementation of recommendations of the Southwest Ecodistrict Plan in coordination with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to improve the aesthetic quality, identity, and pedestrian character of Near Southwest and strengthen connections between the Wharf and the National Mall. Identify and implement design guidelines for new or renovated buildings, streetscape and signage improvements, pedestrian circulation changes, and measures to mitigate the scale of the area's monolithic buildings. Promote new residential, cultural and/or retail uses if federal properties transfer from federal use, or pursuant to any new arrangements with the NCPC, such as 99-year ground leases.
1907.15 Policy A W-1.1.14: Upgrading the Bridges Upgrade the bridges across the Anacostia River to better manage transportation flows, ensure their safety for decades to come, facilitate pedestrian and bicycle travel across the river, and provide attractive and distinctive civic landmarks.
1907.16 Action A W-1.1.A: Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan
Implement the recommendations of the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan through coordination among District and federal agencies, community stakeholders, business improvement districts (BIDs), private property owners, and environmental, philanthropic, and community-based organizations.
1907.17
Implement the recommendations of the Middle Anacostia River Transportation Crossings Study that seek to improve local and regional traffic mobility.
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)).