D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 911
911.1 The needs of District residents are changing and becoming more diverse as families have more children, the number of older adults increases, and the population diversifies. As neighborhoods change demographically, new and existing residents may differ in how they use and appreciate community space. Design can be a crucial tool to make Washington, DC an open, inviting, safe, and delightful place for children, families, seniors, communities of color, and persons with disabilities. However, the design of new neighborhoods and buildings does not entirely meet the needs of a growing and diverse population. Ninety-one percent of new housing growth between 2006 and 2018 has been in multi-family buildings that add considerable supply but tend to have units that are smaller in size and amenities and spaces that reflected tenant, rather than neighborhood, needs. Creating accessible, racially equitable, and inclusive spaces means examining the amenities that new and existing buildings and neighborhoods have, the way they relate to open space, and how they provide places for residents of all backgrounds to participate in a rich and full public life.
Provide for neighborhood spaces that support a diverse array of users, particularly spaces that can be designed and inhabited by people who have typically been marginalized. Inclusive neighborhood spaces should be designed to enable social interaction among neighbors and to allow for community and cultural expression as the community’s needs evolve. These spaces should be inclusive for racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ populations, women, persons with disabilities, older adults, youth, immigrants/refugees, and pregnant women.
Design public spaces for use by all ages and abilities, through the use of universal wayfinding and the highest standards of accessible design. During processes for designing public spaces, community involvement is critical, and teenagers, older adults, and persons with disabilities should be intentionally engaged and included in the design process.
Incorporate family and toddler/youth-oriented uses and accommodations into existing and new mixed-use projects, commercial projects, and public facilities. These may include special-purpose facilities, family bathrooms, and play-friendly waiting rooms.
Design large sites to facilitate good connections to District-wide and regional destinations by public transportation. Design streets and other aspects of the public realm to enable residents, workers, and visitors of all abilities the same
level of access to public destinations.
911.6 Action UD-2.4.A: Design Guidelines for Higher-Density, Family-Sized Housing Develop design guidelines for higher-density, family-sized housing with the intent to address key design issues at the scale of the neighborhood, site, building, and unit that relate to residential livability for families with children.
911.7 Action UD-2.4.B: Design Standards for Universal Wayfinding Develop a standard template to enhance universal wayfinding integrated into public art, buildings, and streetscapes as well as signage. The template should be designed to be employed District-wide, yet customizable to showcase or promote the individual needs and character of various neighborhoods across the District.
911.8 Action UD-2.4.C: Toolkit for Inclusive and Intergenerational Public Space Design Research, prepare, and implement a set of engagement strategies and design guidelines for inclusive and intergenerational public spaces in neighborhoods. These guidelines should include best practices for how to encourage community-led design efforts, successful ways to encourage community and cultural self-expression in the public realm (which includes streets, sidewalks, parks, plazas, and other public spaces), and incorporate accessible design principles, such as deaf space.
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)).