A Proposed Bill Would Give DC More Autonomy Over Development in the City

• August 31st 2021

by Nena Perry-Brown

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DC's long-time (and non-voting) Congressional representative wants to give the city more autonomy over its development.

Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton re-introduced the National Capital Planning Commission District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which would rescind the commission's oversight of development on city-owned land. If the bill passes, NCPC would no longer have authority to review or approve the sale or development of DC property.

Currently, NCPC must approve development of city-owned land and buildings in DC's "central area", which includes the Downtown and Shaw Urban Renewal Areas. The commission also acts in an advisory capacity concerning development of city-owned land and buildings outside the central area.

“The federal government has no business in local land-use policies and decisions," Congresswoman Norton said in a statement. "Not only is the federal government’s authority over D.C property anti-democratic, it delays and increases the cost of development in the District.” 

The bill was first introduced in 2019 as part of a slate of bills the Congresswoman introduced to advance DC's autonomy from federal oversight.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a-proposed-bill-would-give-dc-more-autonomy-over-development/18648.