The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is an independent executive agency charged with oversight of the development of federal property within the National Capital Region. Its fundamental authority derives from the National Capital Planning Act of 1952, as amended. This legislation created the National Capital Planning Commission as it exists today. While the National Capital Planning Act defines and authorizes NCPC’s core mission, other authorities serve as the basis for additional Commission activities.

National Capital Planning Act

40 U.S.C. §§ 8701 et seq.

This law establishes the Commission, defines its membership, and outlines the Commission’s core responsibilities: preparation of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital's Federal Elements, review of plans and projects for federal property, and preparation of the Federal Capital Improvements Program.

The Comprehensive Plan consists of two parts, a plan addressing federal development and facilities in Washington, DC and the environs (Federal Elements) and a plan addressing local development in the District of Columbia (District Elements). NCPC staff prepares and the Commission adopts the Federal Elements. The Federal Elements consist of broad-based policies intended to ensure consistent, coordinated development of federal facilities within the National Capital Region. The Commission uses the Federal Elements as the criteria by which it evaluates specific federal development plans and projects to either approve or provide recommendations on the plans and projects. The Mayor’s planning office (the District Office of Planning) prepares the District Elements for adoption by the Council of the District of Columbia. NCPC reviews the District Elements to ensure they don't negatively impact the federal government’s interests or functions in Washington. The Commission returns to the Council those policies that adversely impact federal interests with comments, and the Council may either revise the returned policies in accordance with Commission comments or prepare new, modified policies.

The broad-based policy nature of the Federal Elements frequently leads to further, in-depth analysis of a particular federal issue that culminates in an issue-specific plan. Examples of plans of this type include, without limitation, the Monumental Core Framework Plan, the Memorials and Museums Master Plan, and the SW Ecodistrict Plan.

Federal Agencies (40 U.S.C. §§ 8722(a), (b)(1) and (d))

The National Capital Planning Act requires federal agencies to submit project plans and development proposals for federal property to the Commission for review. Depending upon the project’s location (within or outside the District), the Commission either approves the project or provides recommendations (advisory authority). The Commission’s approval authority extends to review of federal agency projects that include, without limitation, buildings, uses, structures, and signage on federally owned-land in Washington, DC.

The Commission’s approval authority also extends to projects undertaken by non-federal agency applicants on federal land within the District of Columbia. Examples of non-federal agency applicants include, without limitation, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center, and the National Gallery of Art. The Commission’s advisory authority extends to federal agency projects located on federally-owned land in the environs.

District Agencies (40 U.S.C. §§ 8722(b)(1) and (e))

In 1974, in recognition that development of District-owned land is not subject to local zoning, Congress amended the National Capital Planning Act to require Commission review of projects to include, without limitation, buildings, uses, structures, and signage on District-owned land, and depending upon the project’s location, to either approve or provide recommendations applicable to the project.

The Commission’s approval authority extends to projects within a geographic area known as the “central area.” The National Capital Planning Act requires NCPC and the District of Columbia to mutually agree on the definition of the central area. As currently defined, the central area consists of the Downtown and Shaw Urban Renewal Areas. Outside the central area, the Commission exercises advisory authority.

NCPC prepares and approves a six-year program of federal capital projects for consideration by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in its preparation of the President’s budget. Federal agency capital improvement projects are basically long-term projects requiring a relatively large sum of money, frequently invested over time, to acquire, develop, improve, and/or maintain an asset (such as land, buildings, security improvements, and roads).

To prepare the FCIP, NCPC solicits project proposals from federal agencies and evaluates proposals received for consistency with the Federal Elements, other NCPC plans and initiatives, approved installation master plans and policies, and local jurisdictions plans and policies. Based on this evaluation, staff compiles a list of projects and submits them to the Commission. The Commission approves the FCIP and authorizes its transmission to OMB.
NCPC reviews and provides recommendations to the District of Columbia Zoning Commission on the consistency of proposed text and map amendments with the Federal Elements.
NCPC possess several authorities related to the acquisition and disposal of land. These include acquisition of land for park, parkway, or playground purposes (40 U.S.C. § 8731); acquisition of land subject to limited rights reserved to the grantor (40 U.S.C. § 8732(a)); acquisition of land subject to permanent rights in the land adjoining park property to prevent use of the adjoining property in a manner detrimental to park use (40 U.S.C. § 8732(b)); approval of short term leases by the Secretary of the Interior of land acquired for park, parkway, and playground purposes when needed immediately for another public purpose (40 U.S.C. § 8733); and approval of the sale of land by the Secretary of Interior when the land is no longer needed for a public purpose (40 U.S.C. § 8735(a)).