2309.1 Policy RCW-1.2.1: Urban Design Focus

Focus urban design efforts in the Rock Creek West Planning Area on its commercial centers and major avenues, historic landmarks, historic districts, and areas with significant environmental and topographical features.

See the Urban Design Element for policies on preserving and enhancing architectural character, including guidelines for height, scale, massing, setbacks, and materials.

2309.2 Policy RCW-1.2.2: Scenic Resource Conservation

Conserve the important scenic and visual resources of Rock Creek West, including:

1. Views from Fort Reno National Park, which is the highest point of land in the city and a place of historic significance;
2. The Potomac Palisades, which should be preserved as a low-density, wooded area above the Potomac River and C&O Canal, with future improvements along the river limited to passive open space, trails, and natural parkland;
3. Dalecarlia Reservoir, which is environmentally important because of its large land area and proximity to the Potomac River;
4. The US Naval Observatory Grounds, which contain abundant woodlands, are proximate to parkland, and are vulnerable to light and heat pollution;
5. Stream valleys, including Battery Kemble Park, Rock Creek Park and its tributaries, and Glover Archbold Park;
6. Neighborhoods developed on hilly terrain on or near stream valleys, such as Chain Bridge Road/University Terrace, Barnaby Woods, Forest Hills, Hawthorne, Spring Valley, and Woodland-Normanstone; and
7. The Civil War Defenses of Washington, otherwise known as the Fort Circle Parks, including Battery Kemble Park, Fort Bayard Park, and Whitehaven Parkway.

2309.3 Any future development adjacent to these areas should be designed to respect and maintain their park-like settings and conserve their environmental quality.

2309.4 Policy RCW-1.2.3: NPS Areas

Conserve and improve the more than 2,000 acres of natural open space in the forested neighborhoods that lie between the Potomac River and Rock Creek Park, including Battery Kemble Park, Glover Archbold Park, the Potomac National Heritage Scenic Area, and the Fort Circle Parks. Support efforts to restore water quality and improve natural habitat, along with capital improvements to enhance trails and provide appropriate recreational features.

2309.5

Policy RCW-1.2.4: Cultural and Visitor Attractions

Preserve and enhance the cultural and visitor attractions west of Rock Creek Park, including the National Cathedral, the C&O Canal, the Capital Crescent Trail, Peirce Mill, the Hillwood Estate, and the National Zoo. Encourage broader recognition of other attractions in the area, such as the Naval Observatory and the Fort Circle Parks. Ensure that visitor activity can blend positively with quality of life for nearby residents. Implement and maintain traffic routing, transportation and parking management plans, and reasonable visitation hours.

2309.6

Policy RCW-1.2.5: Historic Resources

Conserve the important historic resources of the neighborhoods west of Rock Creek that are identified in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites, the sites of significance inventoried in the Historic Resources Survey conducted by the DC Historic Preservation Office, the Tenleytown Historical Society, and NPS. Where more intense development is proposed in the vicinity of historic properties, adverse effects should be mitigated through careful siting, massing, and design to respect the character of the historic property and to provide appropriate transitions between the historic property and surrounding areas.

2309.7

Policy RCW-1.2.6: Naval Observatory

Planning decisions in the vicinity of the Naval Observatory should consider the possible effects of light pollution and take appropriate steps to avoid adverse impacts.

2309.8

Policy RCW-1.2.7: Fire and EMS Services

Renovate and enlarge fire stations while remaining sensitive to their historic architectural qualities. The number of fire stations should be sufficient to serve the needs of area residents and businesses.

2309.9

Policy RCW-1.2.8: Schools and Libraries

Place a very high priority on the expansion, renovation, and improvement of schools and libraries. The fact that a majority of the schools in this Planning Area are operating at or above capacity should be considered in DC Public Schools (DCPS) facility planning. Changes to school service boundaries, the expansion of existing school facilities, and/or development of additional school facilities should be aggressively pursued so that school overcrowding is proactively addressed.

2309.10 Policy RCW-1.2.9: Active Outdoor Recreation for All Ages and Abilities Expand recreation grounds where and when feasible, with a particular emphasis on athletic fields for activities such as soccer, softball, and regulation baseball. A skate park, playgrounds, and other outdoor spaces for children and youth of all abilities are needed.2309.11 Policy RCW-1.2.10: Community-based Residential Facilities Encourage the development of small-scale, community-based residential facilities on scattered sites within the Planning Area, and social service counseling and referral facilities on the commercial corridors. Additional group homes and community-based residential facilities should be accommodated. Local religious institutions should be encouraged to host small shelters to provide for persons experiencing homelessness, and to provide other needed social services or housing facilities, taking into consideration issues of liability, security, and adequacy of facilities.See the Environmental Protection Element for additional policies on stream valley parks, limits on impervious surface coverage, expansion of the tree and slope protections in the zoning code, urban forestry, air quality, aircraft noise, and development adjacent to parkland. See the Urban Design Element for policies on conserving natural landform and topography. See the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element for policies discouraging the placement of buildings on parkland.2309.12 Action RCW-1.2.A: Combined Sewer Separation Continue efforts to separate storm and sanitary sewers consistent with Consent Decree requirements and continue to rehabilitate sewers within the area's stream valleys.See the Infrastructure Element and Environmental Protection Element for more information on combined sewers.2309.13 Action RCW-1.2.B: Palisades Open Space Conservation Conserve the historic linear open space that once supported the Palisades/Glen Echo trolley line, with its unique scenic vistas that it provides for public benefit. Consider rehabilitating the trestle bridges to accommodate a walk/bike trail.2309.14 Action RCW-1.2.C: Wellness Center Development Develop a wellness center in the Rock Creek West Planning Area, partnering with existing facilities that serve all ages and community groups to provide decentralized programming, activities, and services to the area's large population of older adults.2309.15 Action RCW-1.2.D: Façade Improvements

Encourage urban design and façade improvements in the established commercial districts along Wisconsin Avenue and Connecticut Avenue NW.

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)).