Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D on Jan. 14 unanimously adopted a resolution asking the District of Columbia not to take any substantial action regarding the use of public lands in Southwestuntil a Small Area Plan is completed by the DC Office of Planning.
The commission action asks that Mayor Vincent Gray and his administration take no substantial action related to public land uses – in particular, to possible development of public lands at or adjacent to the Randall Recreation Center – until the Southwest community has been fully engaged in the discussion and until aSouthwest Small Area Action Plan has been completed.
The resolution reads, in part, “the Small Area Action Plan seeks to ensure an organized, inclusive and thoughtful planning process is completed for the Southwest Neighborhood – an area with substantial public-owned land assets and that such land is not developed absent community benefit.”
The commission resolution seeks “a coordinated approach to public park and space improvements, placement and integration of community amenities and effective multi-modal transportation options.” It concludes, “the Small Area Plan will be a useful tool to organize community and stakeholders in order to increase the efficient delivery and coordination of necessary neighborhood improvements and minimize conflict between stakeholders amidst significant neighborhood change.”
For more information about the resolution, contact Andy Litsky, ANC 6D Chairman, Southwest & Near SE, at 202-554-8070 or alitsky@aol.com. The full text of the resolution is included below.
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TAKING NO SUBSTANTIAL ACTION REGARDING USE OF PUBLIC LANDS IN SOUTHWEST UNTIL A SMALL AREA PLAN IS COMPLETED BY THE DC OFFICE OF PLANNING
WHEREAS, ANC-6D is dedicated to ensuring the best possible use of public property and land to serve the residents of Southwest DC, and
WHEREAS, we look forward to having the DC Office of Planning engage Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D and the Southwest community in a Small Area Action Plan, and
WHEREAS, this is a planning effort that will help our neighborhood review, evaluate and set shared goals for future development of public assets that will bring about a coordinated approach to public park and space improvements, placement and integration of community amenities and effective multi-modal transportation options, and
WHEREAS, the Small Area Action Plan seeks to ensure an organized, inclusive and thoughtful planning process is completed for the Southwest Neighborhood – an area with substantial public-owned land assets and that such land is not developed absent community benefit, and
WHEREAS, the Small Area Plan will be a useful tool to organize community and stakeholders in order to increase the efficient delivery and coordination of necessary neighborhood improvements and minimize conflict between stakeholders amidst significant neighborhood change,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; that at a regularly scheduled meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D held on January 14, 2013 and by a 7-0 unanimous vote the Commissioners supported petitioning Mayor Vincent Gray and his administration to take no substantial action related to public land uses – in particular, to possible development of public lands at or adjacent to the Randall Recreation Center – until such time as the Southwest Community has been fully engaged in the discussion and until a Southwest Small Area Action Plan has been completed.