Comprehensive Plan Community Engagement

Ward 5 Meeting Summary

Overview

On Saturday, November 23, the Office of Planning (OP) hosted its sixth of eight community
meetings planned for the fall of 2019, coordinated in partnership with LINK Strategic Partners
(LINK). The purpose of this series of meetings is to present an overview on the Draft
Comprehensive Plan Update, including the major themes and any area elements specific to
the meeting location. The meetings also intend to share an overview of the community
engagement process to date and close the loop on feedback collected from District
stakeholders thus far. The central question posed to attendees during the discussion period
following an overview presentation is, “What would you like OP to share with your Advisory
Neighborhood Commission (ANC)?”
Location and Attendance
The meeting took place at Luke C. Moore High School, located in the Brookland
neighborhood within Ward 5. The event was held in the auditorium, where a presentation was
shared with attendees, as well as adjacent hallway space which accommodated five Gallery
Walk stations. Representatives from the DC Census and the Department of Housing and
Community Development were also tabling on site. The event sign-in sheet registered 65
attendees. Of those 65, one identified as a resident of ANC 5A, ten identified as residents of
ANC 5B, three identified as residents of ANC 5C, one identified as a resident of ANC 5D,
four identified as residents of ANC 5E, one identified as a resident of Ward 5, and one
identified as a resident of Ward 4. The other registered attendees did not identify their ANC
or Ward of residence.
Run of Show
ANC 5A Chairperson Ronnie Edwards provided greetings to attendees and demonstrated a
depth of understanding of the Comprehensive Plan and a commitment to facilitate feedback
from constituents. LINK Managing Director Josh Lasky acknowledged representatives of the
Executive Office of the Mayor, staff from DC Councilmembers’ offices, and additional ANC
Commissioners in attendance. OP Director Andrew Trueblood provided welcome remarks
and introduced OP Deputy Director Anita Cozart, who presented a thorough update on the
Comprehensive Plan. LINK Managing Director Josh Lasky facilitated a 10-minute question and
answer (Q&A) session and directed attendees to join OP and LINK staff for discussion at the
Gallery Walk stations.
Major Themes and Key Takeaways from Feedback

§ Many attendees voiced a preference for more affordable housing and a diversification
of the types of housing available in Ward 5.
§ Several attendees shared their interest in increased density within neighborhoods of
Ward 5, specifically around existing transit hubs and retail corridors.
§ A number of attendees had questions about the amendment process and public
review period, seeking clarity on how they could best provide feedback in the coming
months.
§ Multiple attendees expressed a desire for more age-friendly measures to ensure that
areas of Ward 5 are livable, walkable, and accessible at all age and ability levels.
Feedback for ANCs

Date Ward ANC What feedback to the Draft Comprehensive

Plan will you take to your ANC?
Ineffective. Community/Stakeholders Feedback was absent.
Deadline doesn't allow sufficient time for adequate response.
11/23/19 5 - No transparency. ANC Rep. McDuffie not present. As a
resident, I feel marginalized and that my concerns were not
addressed/included in the comprehensive plan which needs
to be broken down.
11/23/19 5 5B I think the strip along 12th in Brookland, east of Brookland
Metro, could be moderate density commercial/residential.
Why not recharacterize 12th St as moderate density
11/23/19 5 5B commercial/mixed use? Seems like a missed opportunity to
create housing near metro that would not impinge on SFH.
11/23/19 5 5B TBD. Need to review draft plan.
I plan to encourage 5B to support the mixed use and greater
11/23/19 5 5B residential density proposed in the FLUM for the Brookland,
McMillan, Michigan Park areas. We need greater density
where it makes most sense.
11/23/19 5 5B Don't know yet, NGOs + public need more time to review and
develop comments! Extend deadline to January 31st.
11/23/19 5 5B Need better transparency
11/22/19 5 5B Need for support by ANC of targeted affordable housing in
wards...
 I absolutely support increasing the amount and diversity of
the housing stock in Brookland. Too often we have older
residents sitting on property making sure no one else has the
11/23/19 5 5B opportunity to move to the neighborhood. We're full of
million dollar houses but few mid and low income apartments.
We have giant yards but no parks. Renovated row houses but
no public or deeply affordable houses.
11/23/19 5 5C No changes in 5C
Language for changes to the Comp Plan and Crummel School,
11/23/19 5 5C submitted 11 years ago, have been totally slated for removal
w/o justification
11/23/19 5 5C Collecting & responding to public comment and advancing
purpose/intent.
11/23/19 5 5D I'd like to engage on NY Ave corridor, small area plans in the
future.
11/23/19 5 5E Draft a resolution to request more time
11/23/19 5 5E Senior first focused development, restoring the inequities that
have already been acted upon.
11/23/19 5 5E Extend comment deadline to April 1st because the Council
will take action on this with the budget in June