Photo by Andrew Wiseman.

If you have opinions about land use, development, transportation, or other planning issues in D.C., the city wants to hear from you. The Office of Planning has launched what it’s calling [PLAN]DC to get feedback for revisions to the city’s 20-year comprehensive plan.

That plan, required by the city’s home rule law, was written in 2006 with amendments in 2011—but a lot has changed in the city since then. On the [PLAN]DC site the city’s Office of Planning says changes in neighborhoods have been quicker than the Comprehensive Plan had anticipated. OP staff said the city is expected to grow to 800,000 people over the next 15 years and to a population of almost 1 million by 2045.

Another reason for the amendment process is to incorporate the other planning efforts undertaken in the city since 2006, like MoveDC focused on transportation, SustainableDC, which zeroes in on livability and the environment.

To solicit resident feedback, the Office of Planning is holding seven public meetings this fall where residents can hear from OP staff and talk to planners responsible for geographic areas about specific topics like transportation, land use, long-term planning, and others. There’s also an online survey and email list, and they’ll be asking people to submit amendments in 2017 as well.

The plan itself is divided into “area elements” related to specific areas of the city and “citywide elements” like transportation, housing, parks, and so on.

The first meeting happened Wednesday evening at the Columbia Heights Education Campus at 16th and Irving. About 70 residents attended, mostly from the surrounding areas based on hands raised and a map where residents marked where they lived.

After a brief presentation, residents walked around and talked to planners at different stations who were responsible for the various elements. Attendees were encouraged to add their ideas and feedback to sticky notes on the boards at each station, and OP staff said they’d read them all and take them into consideration.

Post-its had broad comments about ensuring diversity in D.C., creating more affordable housing, and fixing Metro. I wrote a few of my own suggestions, including the creation of more mental health and substance abuse programs, support for the McMillan Plan, and increased local independent retail and shopping options.

Other post-its were more location-based, related to the two area elements represented yesterday: “Mid-City” which includes most of Ward 1 plus parts of Bloomingdale and Eckington, and “Rock Creek East” which includes Petworth, Brightwood, and other areas up to the northern corner of the city.

These geographical categories sparked some griping, as dividing neighborhoods in D.C. often does. For instance, there were complaints that Park View was listed as part of “Rock Creek East” when it was actually in the boundary for “Mid-City.” Otherwise, people were fairly positive at the meeting.

The process itself will last into at least 2017. Staff from various city agencies will review all the amendments submitted by the public based on yet-to-be-released criteria and decide if the should be incorporated into the plan. Staff from OP and other agencies will also write amendments, which will go through the same criteria. Then in summer 2017, the draft of all approved amendments will be released for public comments before going to the D.C. Council as legislation in early 2018.

Upcoming meetings:

• October 22 (9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.) – Thurgood Marshall Public Charter School, 2427 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE (Nearest Metro: Anacostia) – Presentation at 9:30 a.m.
• October 25 (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) – Wilson High School, 3950 Chesapeake Street NW (Nearest Metro: Tenleytown) – Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• October 27 (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) – Department of Employment Services Headquarters, 4058 Minnesota Avenue NE (Nearest Metro: Minnesota Avenue) – Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• November 1 (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) – School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens, 2425 N Street NW (Nearest Metro: Foggy Bottom) – Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• November 3 (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) – Jefferson Middle School Academy, 801 7th Street SW (Nearest Metro: L’Enfant Plaza) – Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
• November 14 (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.) – Luke C. Moore High School, 1001 Monroe Street NE (Nearest Metro: Brookland) – Presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to indicate the legislation would go to the D.C. Council in early 2018, note 2017.