D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A315
Institutional uses occupy almost 2,300 acres-an area larger than all of the city's retail, office, and hotel uses combined. These uses include colleges and universities, private schools, child care facilities, places of worship and other religious facilities, hospitals, private and nonprofit organizations, and similar entities.
The District is home to about a dozen colleges and universities, enrolling more than 75,000 students. There are also nearly 70 non-local college and university programs that occupy space in the city. The District contains more than a dozen hospitals, some located on the campuses of its universities and others occupying their own campuses or federal enclaves. Hundreds of non-profit and private institutions also operate within the city, ranging from private schools and seminaries to historic home museums and the headquarters of leading international organizations. Major institutional uses are shown on Map 3.6. 315.2
Map 3.6: Colleges, Universities, and Hospitals 315.3
The city's institutions make an important contribution to the District economy and are an integral part of Washington's landscape and history. The colleges and universities alone spend over $1.5 billion dollars annually and employ 21,000 workers. Through partnerships with government and private industry, the city's museums, higher education, and health care institutions provide services and resources to the community that could not possibly be provided by government alone. 315.4
The growth of private institutions has generated significant concern in many of the city's neighborhoods. These concerns relate both to external impacts such as traffic and parking, and to broader concerns about the character of communities where institutions are concentrated or expanding. 315.5
Please see the Educational Facilities Element for additional policies and actions related to colleges and universities.
Policy LU-3.2.1: Transportation Impacts of Institutional Uses
Support ongoing efforts by District institutions to mitigate their traffic and parking impacts by promoting ridesharing, carpooling, public transportation, shuttle service and bicycling; providing on-site parking; and undertaking other transportation demand management measures. 315.6
Policy LU-3.2.2: Corporate Citizenship
Support continued "corporate citizenship" among the city's large institutions, including its colleges, universities, hospitals, private schools, and non-profits. Given the large land area occupied by these uses and their prominence in the community, the city's institutions (along with the District itself) should be encouraged to be role models for smaller employers in efforts to improve the city's physical environment. This should include a continued commitment to high quality architecture and design on local campuses, expanded use of "green building" methods and low impact development, and the adaptive reuse and preservation of historic buildings. 315.7
Policy LU-3.2.3: Non-Profits, Private Schools, and Service Organizations
Ensure that large non-profits, service organizations, private schools, seminaries, colleges and universities, and other institutional uses that occupy large sites within residential areas are planned, designed, and managed in a way that minimizes objectionable impacts on adjacent communities. The zoning regulations should ensure that the expansion of these uses is not permitted if the quality of life in adjacent residential areas is significantly adversely affected. 315.8
Action LU-3.2.A: Zoning Actions for Institutional Uses
Complete a study of residential zoning requirements for institutional uses other than colleges and universities. Determine if additional review by the Board of Zoning Adjustment or Zoning Commission should be required in the event of a change in use. Also determine if the use should be removed as an allowable or special exception use, or made subject to additional requirements. 315.9
Action LU-3.2.B: Special Exception Requirements for Institutional Housing
Amend the zoning regulations to require a special exception for dormitories, rooming houses, boarding houses, fraternities, sororities, and similar uses in the R-4 zoning district. 315.10
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 available www.planning.dc.gov.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10, r. 10-A315