Author Archives: Committee

Statement on the Federal Height Act

By news, Uncategorized

In a statement submitted today to the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform regarding the federal Height of Buildings Act, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said:

“Citizens of the District do not support any change to the federal Height of Buildings Act of 1910. The clear and deeply felt support for preserving the Height of Buildings Act is due in part to the complete lack of specificity as to where heights would be raised or by how much. Residents across the city are afraid that if the Height Act is changed now, the city’s unique skyline and human scale will be lost irretrievably.

“…the District’s experience over the past decade demonstrates that factors other than the Height Act influence economic development and population growth. The city’s population has grown significantly, and development is far outpacing virtually all other U.S. cities. It is clear that the Height Act is not a factor in deterring development.

“…The features that make this a capital city are features we want to protect. That is why we ask that the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 be left alone. ”

The full text of Chairman Mendelson’s statement is available: Testimony on Height Act for House OGR.

 

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Legislative Meeting Media Briefing Dec. 2

By news

WHO:       DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson

WHAT:     Legislative Meeting Media Briefing

WHEN:     Monday, December 2, 2013

                 10:00 am

WHERE:  John A. Wilson Building, Room 412

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC

Background:

Chairman Mendelson will hold a media briefing to   preview major actions to be taken at the upcoming legislative meeting, which   will be held on Tuesday, December 4,   2013 at 10 am.

For additional information, please call: (202) 724-8032.

Chairman’s Statement on the Death of Ron Kirby

By news

Residents of the Washington area were shocked to learn today that Ron Kirby, director of transportation for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), was found victim of a homicide in his home. He had served with MWCOG for several decades, tackling the range of transportation issues confronting the region.

DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has issued the following statement regarding the tragic news:

=&0=&I worked with Ron Kirby for more than 14 years. He was an expert on transportation and respected by transportation leaders across the nation.  Few people understood our transportation problems and needs as well as Ron — he was the go-to guy for transportation.  His untimely death is not only a personal loss, but an enormous loss for our region.”

Hearing on the District’s Recommendations on the Height Act (Oct. 28)

By committee update, , , ,

CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT HEARING

The District of Columbia’s Recommendations on the Federal Height of Buildings Act of 1910

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public oversight hearing of the Committee of the Whole on the District of Columbia’s Recommendations on the Federal Height of Buildings Act of 1910.  The public oversight hearing will be held Monday, October 28, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The purpose of the oversight hearing is to receive testimony on the District of Columbia’s recommendations to Congress on potential modifications to the federal Height of Buildings Act of 1910 (Height Act).  Since the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requested a joint study in October 2012, the District of Columbia has been jointly conducting a Height Master Plan with the National Capital Planning Commission in order to assess how the Height Act continues to serve federal and local interests.  In its preliminary findings and recommendations, the National Capital Planning Commission did not recommend substantial changes to the Height Act; its recommendations included allowing for human occupancy of penthouses.  The District of Columbia, however, in separate draft recommendations, proposed increasing the height limits within the L’Enfant City and that Congress should allow the District to determine the maximum height of buildings outside the L’Enfant City.  The Committee invites residents to share their views on the recommendations.

Those who wish to testify are asked to telephone the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or e-mail Jessica Jacobs, Legislative Counsel, at jjacobs@dccouncil.us and provide their name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business Thursday, October 24, 2013.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on October 24, 2013, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to four minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2013.

Roundtable on Shutdown Impact (Oct. 25)

By committee update, ,

CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE

The Impact of the Government Shutdown on the District of Columbia

Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public roundtable of the Committee of the Whole on the impact of the recent government shutdown on the District of Columbia.  The public roundtable will be held Friday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m. in Hearing Room 412 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The purpose of the oversight roundtable is to receive testimony on the impact on the District of Columbia of the federal appropriations lapse that occurred between October 1, 2013 and October 16, 2013, and how the District can be prepared in the future. Issues to be explored include the following: an itemization of the shutdown’s financial cost to the District; the source and amount of funds that the District obligated or expended during the shutdown; the plan for paying back the reserve accounts; how the District could be affected by future lapses in federal appropriations; what, if any, limitations remain on fiscal year 2014 following the enactment of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014; and any other recommendations that may be presented by the Chief Financial Officer or the Executive.

Testimony for this roundtable is by invitation only by the Committee.  Questions about the hearing may be directed to the Committee of the Whole, at (202) 724-8196, or e-mail Evan Cash, Committee Director, at ecash@dccouncil.us.

Written statements may be submitted and will be made a part of the official record.  Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2013.

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