D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 904
904.1 The escarpments, ridges, hills, plateaus, rivers, and streams of Washington, DC’s topography are major components of the District’s identity. They shape neighborhoods and parks as well as essential elements of the District’s skyline, as shown in Map 9.1. This is particularly true for framing views of iconic buildings in the L’Enfant City. Natural features are also important for neighborhoods located on the hills, slopes, and ridges beyond the L’Enfant City, where the natural features frame views of grand prospects toward the Capitol building, panoramic vistas of the District from high elevations like Fort Reno, and street-level views of forested parks and stream valleys in many neighborhoods in Wards 7 and 8 and in Northwest DC.
904.2 Map 9.1: Topographic Bowl
904.3
Respect and perpetuate the natural features of Washington, DC’s landscape as part of new development. In wooded or hilly areas, new construction should preserve
natural features rather than alter them to accommodate development. Development in such areas should be clustered to protect topography and provide setbacks as needed to protect natural features, such as large trees, rock outcroppings, streams, and wetlands.
904.4 Policy UD-1.2.2: Protecting the Topographic Bowl Consistent with the Federal Elements of the Comprehensive Plan, maintain the prominence of the topographic bowl formed by lowland and rim features of the L'Enfant City (see text box). This protective effort should include preserving the green setting of the Anacostia hills and maintaining the visual prominence of the Florida Avenue escarpment.
904.5 Policy UD-1.2.3: Ridgeline Protection Protect views of prominent ridgelines from the monumental core, so as to maintain and enhance the District's physical image and identity.
904.6 Policy UD-1.2.4: Significant View Protection Recognize and protect significant views within the District, particularly characteristic views of landmarks and views from important vantage points (as shown in Figure 9.8). Recognize the importance of views to the quality of life in the District and the identity of Washington, DC and its neighborhoods.
904.7 Figure 9.8: Key Public Places with Panoramic Views
904.8 The historic center of Washington, DC occupies a low-lying bowl of river flats formed by the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. The bowl is surrounded by a ring of hills, ridges, and upland areas.
The flat topography of the area within the original L'Enfant City lends itself to radial boulevards terminating on monuments or far-reaching vistas. Such geometric road patterns would have been less effective on rolling hills. In outlying areas, where the topography is more varied, important landmarks are often closely related to features of the natural setting. The National Cathedral, for example, is sited on one of the highest ridgelines in the District, affording great visibility of the structure from many points in Washington, DC and beyond. Similar promontories exist in Wards 7 and 8 on sites such as St. Elizabeths Hospital and along the Civil War Defenses of Washington, DC, also known as the Fort Circle Parks that offer viewing opportunities. As the District continues to develop, significant public landmarks may be built, contributing to Washington, DC's varied and dramatic vistas.
904.9 Action UD-1.2.A: Public Space Regulations for Grading Conduct a review of public space regulations and standards to assess limits and
design requirements for protecting natural landforms, including changes to grade, retaining walls, fences, and landscaping. Recommend changes to these regulations as necessary to respect and enhance view corridors and the natural topography and landform.
Conduct a study of significant views from key public spaces in the District, in coordination with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). Identify public view locations, key components that define them, and recommendations for protecting and enhancing them. Create view plane diagrams and design guidelines.
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)).