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the petiton to the Department of Public Works and the District of Columbia

Excerpts from the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Assessment Report

“The Home Rule Act required the District government to develop a Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a general policy document that provides overall guidance for future planning and development of the city. The first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1984 and 1985, and it has been updated periodically, most recently in 1998 and 1999.”

Chapter 4: Environmental Protection Element

405.2 -	The policies established in support of the protecting the quality of the land areas objectives are as follows:
	405.2.e -	Maintain street trees, promptly replace trees that have died or been destroyed, and encourage community groups and individual residents to assist the program of protecting and maintaining street trees;
	405.2.h –	Encourage the planting and retention of private trees through planning, zoning and building regulation; and any discretionary governmental action…;
	405.2.i –	Encourage flexibility by District government officials in the standards required for street/gutter/curb/sidewalk improvements. The flexibility should meet the need for the improvements while respecting the environment.

Chapter 7: Urban Design Element

709.1 –	The streetscape objective is to establish a clear classification of streets and sidewalks that is functionally efficient and visually coherent, enhances the pedestrian environment, and provides for the orderly movement of foods and services.

709.2 –	The policies established in support of the streetscape objective area are as follows:
	709.2.b –	Reduce conflicts between pedestrians and vehicular traffic in order to increase pedestrian safety and comfort;
	709.2.d –	Create an environment in the public space that attracts people and stimulates redevelopment and commerce;
	709.2.j –	Encourage the planting and maintenance of street trees as the single most important streetscape element along commercial and residential streets to provide shade, design continuity, spatial relief, and a juxtaposition of the natural and built environments.

Chapter 13: Ward 2 Plan

	1307.1.f –	(Among the objectives for environmental protection is to) continue to support DPW’s upgrade of its street tree maintenance program.
	1309.13 –	Pedestrian movement is the largest and most efficient means of transportation in Ward 2…Improvement of the safety and attractiveness of the pedestrian environment would encourage additional walking, a very worthwhile transportation investment.

	1311.1.e.3 -	(Among the objectives for transportation is to) improve special connecting pedestrian routes such as M Street between Connecticut Avenue and Georgetown.
	1317.1.a.3 -	(Among the objectives for urban design is to) enforce the present law on the size of the public passageways and increase the minimum size of public passageways in crowded areas.
	1317.1.b.4 -	The city shall find ways to protect and enhance the special character of neighborhood commercial centers, such as…M Street in Georgetown.