D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 905
905.1 The confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers determined Washington, DC’s location, contributing to the design and orientation of the Mall, monuments, central federal institutions, and original port settlements. Subsequently, the development of industry, the construction of railroads and highways, and the reservation of much of the shoreline for military and other federal uses eroded the District’s connection to the water. Restoring an urban design emphasis that embraces and reestablishes access to the water is key to strengthening the District’s civic identity. Over the last 15 years, both the Potomac and Anacostia rivers have seen dramatic progress toward connected, accessible waterfronts, with destination public spaces such as the Yards Park, the Wharf promenade, and Georgetown Park; a renewed connection to riparian ecology through the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail system and the restoration of Kingman Island; and the redevelopment of new and existing neighborhoods, including Historic Anacostia, Capitol Riverfront/Navy Yard, Southwest Waterfront, and Buzzard Point.
905.2 Realizing a waterfront that is diverse, resilient, and integrated with established neighborhoods requires continued effort. It is critical to provide equitable access to the waterfront. Riverfront access must also reflect protection of sensitive habitat, and safety and security considerations. Currently, 30 percent of the Potomac and 31 percent of the Anacostia shorelines lack riverfront trails, and only 22 percent of streets physically connect to the water’s edge or waterfront public spaces, leaving many low-income neighborhoods along the Anacostia with sparse access to the river (as shown in Figure 9.9).
905.3 Figure 9.9: Waterfront Trails and Shoreline Access
905.4 Continuing the revitalization of the waterfront also means managing the growing challenges of coastal flooding, riverine flooding, and storm surge that threaten development along the waterfront as well as interior low-lying areas and areas developed along stream valleys. By 2080, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predict up to 3.4 feet of additional sea level rise in Washington, DC. These trends threaten not only completed Anacostia waterfront development but also projects underway and planned in areas such as Poplar Point. Resilient and climate-adaptive design will be necessary to protect people and infrastructure in sensitive areas.
905.5 Policy UD-1.3.1: Diverse Waterfront Experiences along the Anacostia River Strengthen Washington, DC's civic identity as a waterfront city by promoting public and private investment along the Anacostia River waterfront and creating equitable and publicly accessible amenities for existing and new residents. Design
a mix of new public parks and other natural areas to provide diverse waterfront experiences and help residents use the water as a community asset though programming and recreational amenities. Create continuous public access along both sides of the shoreline, integrate historic features and structures into new developments, preserve or restore habitat areas, and implement other design interventions to improve the physical and visual connections between the waterfront and adjacent neighborhoods.
Develop public gathering spaces along the Potomac and Anacostia waterfronts, including promenades, viewpoints, boating and swimming facilities, and parks. Such space should be designed to promote continuous public access along the rivers and to take full advantage of site topography and waterfront views. Design treatments should vary from hardscape plazas in urban settings to greener open spaces that are more natural in character, and spaces that provide access to outdoor recreation. Encourage the density and mix of land uses that enliven waterfront sites with pedestrian activity, provide a sense of safety, create visual interest, and draw people to the water.
See also the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element and the Lower Anacostia Waterfront/Near Southwest Area Element for additional actions and policies related to providing continuous public access to the water’s edge and removing barriers to waterfront access.
The design of new waterfront development projects should respond to the unique opportunities and challenges of being on the water. Incorporate nature-based design and flood-resilient building and site design methods. New buildings should be carefully designed to consider their appearance from multiple public vantage points along the Anacostia and Potomac shorelines, including from the shoreline and from the water.
The design of each waterfront site should respond to its natural context and work with the natural processes of tidal rivers to be resilient to flooding from storm surge, sea level rise, and other sources. Design all buildings, structures, infrastructure, outdoor spaces, and shorelines to accommodate and mitigate flooding and to restore ecological systems and natural shorelines.
905.10
Protect and enhance street view corridors to the Potomac and Anacostia rivers by shaping the design of buildings to frame views and by encouraging sensitive tree planting and landscaping that preserves an open sky and strong visual access to the water. Public river views on bridges and piers should be enhanced through features such as lighting, seating, and strong pedestrian and bicycle connections. Design buildings and public spaces along the waterfront to provide accessible, pedestrian friendly environments that protect views from important sites. Figure 9.10 illustrates preservation of river views on waterfront development sites.
905.11
Improve the physical connections between neighborhoods and nearby waterfronts. Where feasible, extend the existing urban grid into large waterfront sites to better connect nearby developed areas to the shoreline. Greater access to the waterfront should also be achieved by reconfiguring roadways and other infrastructure along the waterfront to reduce access impediments for neighborhoods with limited access, and for pedestrians and bicyclists. Provide a consistent design treatment for waterfront trails (see Figure 9.11).
905.12 Figure 9.11: Neighborhood Street Connections to Rivers
Improve visual design qualities and pedestrian access of the gateways to and from Wards 7 and 8 neighborhoods from the Anacostia River crossings, with landscape and transportation improvements along Howard Road, Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, Randle Circle (Minnesota and Massachusetts SE), Benning Road, East Capitol Street, and Kenilworth Avenue.
Use the Buzzard Point Vision Framework + Design Review Guide to guide and review both public and private investments in Buzzard Point, in partnership with District agencies, the adjacent Southwest and Capitol Riverfront neighborhoods,
the development community, Fort McNair, NPS, and other stakeholders.
Continue to implement the Framework Plan for the Anacostia River, restoring Washington, DC’s identity as a waterfront city and bridging the east and west sides of the river. Continue community and public engagement and pursue equitable development outcomes that provide opportunities and benefits for underserved neighborhoods.
See Section UD-1.3 for information about barriers to shoreline access.
Continue to explore ways to address freeway and highway barriers along the Anacostia and Potomac waterfronts. Study options for addressing the visual barrier presented by the Whitehurst Freeway, the physical barrier presented by the waterfront CSX rail line, and I-295’s physical and visual barriers.
Identify and map waterfront areas with potential to be converted to natural shorelines.
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)).