February 4, 2010
The National Capital Planning Commission commented favorably on concept plans to locate a 175-foot-tall, two million gallon water tower on the St. Elizabeths East Campus with two exceptions. The Commission did not support an architectural screen structure surrounding the water tower, nor did it support an underground 2,200-square-foot District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Museum at the site.
The proposed composite tower will serve both the East and West campuses of St. Elizabeths, as well as Lower Ward 8, which currently has insufficient water pressure for residents and fire and public safety measures. After analyzing viewshed impacts on four potential sites on the St. Elizabeths East Campus, the DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) chose a location adjacent to the John Howard pavilion site that is away from Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and the historic buildings on the campus. The proposed plans also include rain gardens, a scenic overlook, a walking path, and a solar panel array.
See the Commission Action and Staff Recommendation
Delegated Decisions: Projects for which the Commission delegated decision-making authority to the Chairman, Executive Committee, or Executive Director.