Master Public Facilities Planning

In the summer of 2007 the D.C. Council approved emergency legislation to sell the West End library, a neighborhood fire station, and a special operations police station to a developer. The Committee of 100 joined the public outcry that needed public facilities could so easily be sold for private use. A 3-year campaign to amend the process for determining the best use of public property assets and incorporating public program needs into the discussion was undertaken. In December 2009 the D.C.Council approved the creation of the District Facilities Plan Advisory Committee, which would report directly to the Council on the implementation of a District Public Facilities Plan. In the summer of 2010 the D.C. Council enacted legislation to require the Mayor to develop a Master Public Facilities Plan by February 2013 and to update the plan every 5 years.

The plan must incorporate facilities plans from every District agency based on each agency’s anticipated short and long-term program needs. The directives of the Comprehensive Plan must be incorporated into the plan and opportunities to limit the expense of leasing property by using public facilities, including those facilities proposed for demolition, surplus, or disposition, must be identified. There is a public participation component required in development of the plans and Department of Real Estate Services is required to report annually to the Council on the status of implementation of the plan.

Documents

 Testimony Submitted by Nancy MacWood, Vice-Chair, The Committee of 100 on the Federal City

February 3, 2010,, 
Hearing on B 18-592, a Bill to Authorize a District Facilities Plan, February 3, 2010, Council of the District of Columbia, Committee on Government Operations and the Environment.

 Testimony of Nancy MacWood On Behalf of The Committee of 100 On The Federal City

May 29, 2009, 
Public Hearing on B18-76: Public Land Surplus Standards Amendment Act of 2009.