About NCPC

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is the federal government’s central planning agency for federal land and buildings in the National Capital Region. NCPC’s jurisdiction covers 2,500 square miles, including the District of Columbia and surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia.

NCPC develops planning policies and makes decisions that protect and enhance the extraordinary historical, cultural, and natural resources of the nation's capital. Through four principal activities, NCPC helps ensure that Washington remains one of the most admired capitals in the world.

The twelve-member Commission represents a variety of constituencies, ensuring a balance between local and federal interests. At monthly meetings held on the first Thursday of each month, members discuss regional planning policy and review federal plans and development projects. The Commission considers staff recommendations and public testimony before voting on projects. The current chairman is John V. Cogbill, III of Virginia.

The agency has a staff of 45 professionals, including architects, urban planners, and specialists in the fields of GIS/CAD, communications, technology, and human resources. Marcel Acosta is the executive director.

You can read more about the agency in NCPC's 2009-2014 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan lays out the agency’s strategic goals and performance objectives that will guide NCPC over the next six years in fulfilling its mission as the federal planning agency for the National Capital Region.