• By Stephen Staudigl
• September 06, 2018

NCPC Postpones National Zoo Perimeter Fence Review

Washington, DC—At its September 6 meeting, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) voted to postpone review of supplemental perimeter fencing at the National Zoo until a later date, per the Smithsonian Institution’s request. The Smithsonian seeks more time to address both Commission and public comments and questions. They anticipate submitting updated plans for NCPC review later this fall.

NCPC approved the U.S. Department of State’s preliminary and final site development plans to install and evaluate five temporary fencing alternatives at the Potomac Annex and Navy Hill installation, located at 2300 E Street, NW. The temporary fence alternatives will evaluate locations for a final, permanent fence between the Department of State installation and the United States Institute of Peace. The Commission requested that the Department of State submit a recommendation to NCPC for a preferred permanent fence location within nine months.

The Commission then approved preliminary site and building plans for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Education and Research Building located at the Naval Support Activity Bethesda. Submitted by U.S. Department of the Navy, plans include a 477,966 square-foot, multi-story education and research laboratory with 250 underground parking spaces. The NCPC commended the applicant for working around development constraints, including an underground radiobiology facility that limits planting options on the plaza above. The Commission encouraged the applicant to further refine the design to address solar gain, pedestrian access, and provide more extensive plaza landscaping and amenities. The building will be a connector between the Armed Forces Radiology Research Institute and the main Uniformed Services University.

Before adjourning, NCPC staff presented an information presentation on the Monumental Core Streetscape Project, an interagency initiative to update the 1992 Streetscape Manual. The updated manual will include an urban design framework for streetscapes, including a lighting plan for the monumental core. Staff anticipates returning in December to ask the Commission to release the draft urban design streetscape framework and a conceptual lighting framework for public review and comment.

This month’s agenda also included four consent calendar items (no presentations given):
1. Preliminary and final site and building plans for the National Guard Readiness Center 91st Cyber Brigade Building at Fort Belvoir's North Post, Fort Belvoir, VA. (7991)
2. Preliminary building plans for refurbishment of a Defense Intelligence Agency Parking Garage, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, 20 MacDill Boulevard, SE. (8004)
3. Comments on the Marine Corps Base Quantico Master Plan update, 3250 Caitlin Avenue, Quantico, Virginia. (MP67)
4. Final site and building plans for multiuse fields on the RFK Campus, 2400 East Capitol Street, SE. (7972)

The Executive Director approved five items, under authority delegated by the Commission.
1. Preliminary and final site and building plans for rehabilitation of the Building 245 Radiation Physics Laboratory and addition of a D Wing, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland. (7893)
2. Preliminary and final site and building plans for a lithium battery storage facility at the Naval Support Facility Carderock, 9500 MacArthur Boulevard, Bethesda, Maryland. (7999)
3. Preliminary and final site and building plans for a new cell therapy unit production facility at the National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland. (8000)
4. Approval of a report to the Zoning Commission of the District of Columbia about a Text Amendment to Subtitle A, Sections 209.2 and 301.3, regarding construction of playing fields and accessory structures at the RFK Stadium Campus, 2400 East Capitol Street, SE. (ZC 18-04)
5. Approval of a report to the Zoning Commission of the District of Columbia about a Text Amendment to create a new MU-4A Zone, DC Office of Planning. (ZC 18-06)