D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A103
The Comprehensive Plan can be thought of as the centerpiece of a "Family of Plans" that guide public policy in the District (See Figure 1.1). In the past, there has been a lack of clarity over the relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and the many other plans prepared by District agencies. This has reduced the Plan's effectiveness and even resulted in internal inconsistencies between agency plans. 103.1
Under the DC Code, the Comprehensive Plan is the one plan that guides the District's development, both broadly and in detail. Thus it carries special importance in that it provides overall direction and shapes all other physical plans that District government adopts. In fact, all plans relating to the city's physical development should take their lead from the Comprehensive Plan, building on common goals and shared assumptions about the future. For example, the growth projections contained in the Comprehensive Plan should be incorporated by reference in other plans that rely on such forecasts. 103.2
As the guide for all District planning, the Comprehensive Plan establishes the priorities and key actions that other plans address in greater detail. The broad direction it provides may be implemented through agency strategic plans, operational plans, long-range plans on specific topics (such as parks or housing), and focused plans for small areas of the city. 103.3
The Family of Plans
The Comprehensive Plan is not intended to be a substitute for more detailed plans nor dictate precisely what other plans must cover. Rather it is the one document that bridges all topics and its crosscutting in its focus. It alone is the Plan that looks at the "big picture" of how change will be managed in the years ahead. 103.5
Where appropriate, this Comprehensive Plan includes cross-references and text boxes to highlight other documents in the "Family of Plans." Some examples include the federally-mandated State Transportation Plan (known as the "Transportation Vision Plan"), the Historic Preservation Plan, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and the Public Facilities Plan. Other agency plans may be guided by Comprehensive Plan policies but are outside of the city government's direct control. These include the District of Columbia Public Schools Master Facilities Plan. 103.6
The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9 a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is availablewww.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A103