Public Meeting on Proposed New Policies for Memorial in the Nation's Capital.

NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Public Meeting on Proposed New Policies for Memorial in the

Nation's Capital.

AGENCY: National Capital Planning Commission.

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ACTION: Notice of public meetings on proposed new policies for

memorials in the Nation's Capital.

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Background

The National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine

Arts, and the National Capital Memorial Commission (Joint Task Force on

Memorials) will hold public hearings on Wednesday, September 29, 1999

in Washington, DC at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, 901 G

Street, NW in Room A-5 (lower level). The meeting will be held in

afternoon and evening sessions. The afternoon session will run from

2:00 PM to 4:30 PM and the evening session will run from 6:00 PM to

8:30 PM. The purpose of the hearings is to receive public testimony on

proposed new policies for monuments, memorials, and museums in the

Nation's Capital. The 60-day public comment period on the proposed

policies ends on November 8, 1999.

The Joint Task Force, whose parent agencies are responsible for

reviewing and approving the placement and design of commemorative works

in the National Capital, have been meeting since fall 1997 to forge a

consensus on new policies for commemorative works in the Mall area. The

three commissions have agreed to seek public comments on a draft policy

statement and map, which establish a protected area in the central

cross-axis of the Mall (the Reserve) in which no new commemorative

sites would be approved. The proposed policy also calls for the

creation of a zone adjacent to the Reserve where new monuments,

memorials, and museums, meeting certain predetermined criteria, would

be permitted to locate (Area A). Finally, the proposal creates an area

outside Area A where new commemorative works would be encouraged to

locate (Area B) (See Illustration 1).

SUMMARY: The Proposed Policy Statement reads as follows:

The Reserve

The great cross-axis of the Mall forms one of the world's

premier examples of civic art, which itself is a monument to

democracy. Here the nation commemorates its history, and citizens

can join in celebration, congregation, contemplation, and the

exercise of their rights of free speech and assembly.

The Reserve is a unique national space, an embodiment of our

democratic ideals and achievements, and must be preserved as an

indispensable, nationally significant cultural resource. This

setting has matured as the nation has matured. The cross-axis,

framed by monuments and museums, constitutes the historic urban

design framework of the capital established by the L'Enfant and

McMillan Plans-open spaces, long axes, and dramatic vistas. It must

be rigorously protected. No new memorial sites will be approved in

this area.*

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* Within both the Reserve and Area A, the proposed restrictions

are not applicable to commemorative works that received site

approval prior to September 8, 1999 from the Commission of Fine

Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Secretary of

the Interior or the Administrator of the General Services

Administration, as appropriate. These memorials are the World War II

Memorial in the Reserve, and the following in Area A: the Black

Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, and

the U.S. Air Force Memorial. In addition, the Martin Luther King,

Jr. Memorial has been approved for a location within the proposed

Area A, but a specific site has not yet been approved.

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The Mall is a historic, monumental open space and a

substantially completed work of public urban design. The east-west

axis extends from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. The

north-south axis stretches from the White House to the Jefferson

Memorial. The L'Enfant Plan established the central greensward that

was extended to the west a century later by the McMillan Plan. This

latter plan created the great cross-axis that dominates the Mall

Complex well known to American and world visitors alike. The area is

defined primarily by monuments, memorials, and museums contained by

a carefully designed landscape that is extended by water and the

monumental skyline. This vast open space enhances public and

individual gatherings and recreation. The Mall's sweeping vistas and

reciprocal views contribute greatly to the power and beauty of the

Nation's Capital.

Area A

Area A, immediately adjacent to the Reserve, comprises the rest

of the Monumental Core of the Nation's Capital. The importance of

Area A accrues from its proximity to the Reserve and from its own

significance as an area of commemoration and historic and scenic

vistas. This area also serves as an important recreation area under

the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Memorials may be

approved for this area subject to restrictive criteria and design

guidelines that ensure that memorials will not intrude on the

significance of the setting.*

The Commemorative Works Act of 1986 recognizes the importance of

protecting much of this area by limiting future memorials to those

of preeminent historical significance. The Task Force's current

proposal would slightly enlarge the boundary of this zone to extend

this protection, primarily to federal lands on the Virginia shore of

the Potomac River.

Area B

Area B is the rest of the city of Washington with emphasis on

the important North, South, and East Capitol Street axes, as well as

circles and squares on major avenues, waterfronts, urban gateways

and scenic overlooks. The idea of encouraging the placement of

memorials in strategic locations beyond the traditional Monumental

Core is a key premise of the National Capital Planning Commission's

framework plan, Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for

the 21st Century.

The Joint Task Force on Memorials strongly encourages the siting

of commemorative works in the National Capital in Area B. Monuments

and memorials have the power to encourage civic beauty and pride.

Memorial sponsors should consider appropriate sites throughout the

Nation's Capital and its environs, especially in association with

federal facilities on Special Streets and Gateways, on circles,

squares, and other parkland, and along the waterfront where the

presence of memorials will reinforce the L'Enfant and McMillan

Plans.

In some cases, commemorative works can impart extra meaning to

or be enhanced by museums. The Task Force encourages the siting of

such works in Area B, which provides many appropriate areas for

locating memorials and their associated museums in proximity to each

other. This commemorative and planning activity would encourage

tourism, educational opportunities, and good urban design, as well

as civic, cultural, and economic development throughout the

Washington area.

The development of memorials in urban areas may entail unusual

cost and complexity for land acquisition and infrastructure. Federal

assistance should be used to encourage the establishment of

memorials in Area B, in recognition of the valuable federal land

otherwise contributed to memorial sites in Area A.

Public Comment Period

Public testimony will be taken at the public meetings on September

29, 1999. Individuals interested in testifying at the meetings should

call the National Capital Planning Commission at (202) 482-7200 no

later than 12:00 noon, Eastern Time, the day before the public meeting

to register in advance. Members of the public who wish to testify and

have not signed up in advance may sign up at the meeting before the

start of the session. Public testimony will be limited to five minutes

each, and will generally be scheduled on a first-come basis.

Written comments may be submitted before, during, or after the

meetings. Comments should be mailed to the attention of the Joint Task

Force on Memorials, c/o Ronald Wilson, National Capital Planning

Commission, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC

20576. Comments may also be sent by e-mail to [email protected]. All

written and oral comments will become part of the public record.

Comments should be received no later than COB, November 8, 1999, the

end of the 60-day public comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joint Task Force on Memorials, c/o

Ronald Wilson, National Capital Planning Commission, at (202) 482-7242.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability of Copies and Electronic

Access. Single copies of the draft memorials policy statement and map

may be obtained at no cost from the Joint Task Force on Memorials by

writing the National Capital Planning Commission, 801 Pennsylvania

Avenue, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20576 or by calling NCPC at (202)

482-7200. The documents are also available on NCPC's Internet site

http://www.ncpc.gov.

Dated: September 1, 1999.

Lise L. Wineland,

Attorney Advisor

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