Author: Cheryl Cort

Testimony: Support for Z.C. Case No. 13-14E, modification to Parcels 2 and 4 (Reservoir District formerly known as McMillan)  (DC)

Testimony: Support for Z.C. Case No. 13-14E, modification to Parcels 2 and 4 (Reservoir District formerly known as McMillan) (DC)

July 17, 2025

Mr. Anthony Hood

Chairman, Zoning Commission of the District of Columbia

441 4th Street, NW, Suite 210S

Washington, DC 20001

RE: Support for Z.C. Case No. 13-14E, modification to Parcels 2 and 4 (Reservoir District formerly known as McMillan)

Dear Chairman Hood:

Please accept this testimony on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. CSG advocates for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all.

We wish to express our support for the proposed modifications to this PUD (13-14E) for the Reservoir District to allow for greater flexibility given changing conditions over the decade that this proposal has been waiting to move forward. The changes also include increased affordable housing, and more housing overall. These modifications will help ensure this long sought after project will be able to be completed and fulfill the promise of this major development.

We are pleased to see that the proposal now includes 30% MFI affordable housing — something that we called for in our 2014 testimony. We ask that the affordable units be committed to in perpetuity, which is the standard for public land dispositions under law. I note that Inclusionary Zoning retains the affordable units for the life of the development. Thus either way, DC regulations set a permanent term as the standard for publicly-supported affordable housing. 

The proposed senior units are 39 30% MFI, 86 50% MFI, and 16 60% MFI. We are also pleased to see an increase in affordable senior homes at the site. We remain hopeful that the project will also receive a HANTA program tax abatement to include more 80% MFI units (with a term of 40 years). This will be an important contribution to housing equity for the neighborhood and city.

We support the other modifications and flexibility to secure a grocery store. The proposed changes are within reasonable parameters. We recognize that the commitment of a full scale grocery store like Harris Teeter cannot be necessarily sustained for 10 years, and that the market economics have changed significantly in that time. We are hopeful that the developer can keep the current smaller format grocer commitment for the site. DC has several high quality smaller grocers like Streets that are essentially full service. These kinds of smaller grocery stores are great assets to their communities. 

We hope the plan can continue to retain sufficient ground floor retail uses to animate the street and provide services to residents, along with visitors and workers at the nearby hospitals. The request for lodging makes sense given the world-class hospital and health services across the street. The retail, lodging and public spaces are a way to enhance the hospital district, which is a major center for private employment in DC. 

We, of course, support the proposed reduction in parking — which is still far above what is required. Oversupply of parking is a cost burden. We support enhanced bus service to the site, along with better walk and bike access. 

We note that the Reservoir District is rapidly becoming a reality with a major new park, recreation center, playground, and indoor swimming pool. This was first to deliver, and now the townhouses are coming on line. The preservation of historic structures and integration of these structures into the site and the recreation center stands out as a distinctive feature for the neighborhood. Providing the flexibility to secure the buildout of the hundreds of mixed income homes with ground floor retail, including a grocery store, is needed to realize the promise of this major new neighborhood district. We ask the Zoning Commission to approve this modification without delay. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Cort

Policy Director

Event Materials: Prince George’s vision for safer streets, more choices, better communities

Event Materials: Prince George’s vision for safer streets, more choices, better communities

Veronica O. Davis speaking on Zoom screenshot.

On June 5, 2025, an all-star panel discussed county efforts to create more walkable, bikeable, transit-accessible communities with new county and state plans. 

Speakers: Prince George’s County Planning Director Lakisha Hull; Carm Saimbre, Maryland State Highway Administration; Prince George’s District 3 County Council Member Eric Olson; and chair of TIEE; Veronica O. Davis, national transportation expert, and author of Inclusive Transportation; moderator: Bernard Holloway, RISE Prince George’s. 

View the video recording here.

View Planning Director Hull’s presentation:

The discussion featured Go Prince George’s, a new draft master plan for transportation in the county.  This plan implements the newly adopted Urban Street Design Standards for activity and transit centers, and shifts focus to transforming the county’s transportation network by creating more travel options, focusing on the movement of people versus solely the movement of vehicles. A joint hearing by the County Council and Planning Board will be convened in fall 2025. Residents and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments on the draft. 

The June 5 discussion also included progress by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) to elevate its focus on addressing pedestrian and bicycle safety. Documents about the Complete Streets policy, statewide progress on implementation of the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, and other safety plans can be found here

Prince George’s new draft Transit Vision Plan is also open for review. To learn more click here

Learn about Prince George’s Transit Vision Plan

Learn about Prince George’s Transit Vision Plan

Image by Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation

On May 22, 2025, RISE Prince George’s and CSG hosted a discussion on the county draft Transit Vision Plan (TVP), which seeks to create a more vibrant and connected county for all. The Transit Vision Plan is a five-year strategic framework for improving the county’s public transportation, developed through extensive public input. The county is seeking input from the public – go to an upcoming public meeting and check out the website.

Event materials – click here to view the presentation and video recording.

Transit Vision Plan video recording on CSG YouTube channel

Transit Vision Plan website

Event: Zoning for Positive Change in DC

Event: Zoning for Positive Change in DC

How can plans and zoning regulations shape vibrant, mixed-use, walkable communities? On April 23, 2025 we hosted a discussion with Code Studio, one of the national leaders on using innovative form-based approaches to zoning to guide change and protect what’s best about our neighborhoods. 

Speakers: Colin Scarff and Rene Biberstein, Code Studio; Moderated by Ellen McCarthy, Ward3Vision

This event is part of our informational series as the District kicks off DC 2050 — the Comprehensive Plan rewrite in spring of 2025.

Review the recording on YouTube here.

cover slide
Code Studio

Co-sponsored by Coalition for Smarter Growth and Ward3Vision

Take action: Support passage of MD transportation reforms!

Take action: Support passage of MD transportation reforms!

Thanks to you and other advocates, we have advanced a set of transportation reform bills through the Maryland House of Delegates. Now we need to do a final push to win adoption in the Maryland Senate so Governor Moore can sign them into law! 

This legislation to guide Maryland’s transportation priorities is especially important if the state adds new revenues and spending. Key bills in the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee that CSG supports are:

Transit-Oriented Development (HB 80) – MDOT’s amended bill relieves parking mandates and allows mixed use development in proximity to Metrorail, Purple Line, and most MARC stations. It also removes potential obstacles to transit-oriented development plans on state-owned land. 

Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (HB 84) – MDOT is supporting this bill that would require the agency to evaluate its transportation projects to ensure they help Maryland meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets and provide alternatives to driving. 

Metro Funding Modification Act (HB 467) – Maryland, DC and Virginia came together in 2018 to successfully fund Metro’s capital needs. As a result, Metro service today is faster, more frequent, and more reliable. However, the $500M in annual funding was not indexed to inflation, risking future funding shortfalls and declining reliability and safety. This bill would index the funding to inflation. 

Work Group on Reorganization of MTA (HB 517) – Creates a study group to separate the MARC, Purple Line, and Commuter Bus systems from MTA’s local Baltimore transit focus. This would better ensure a focus on modernization and improved operations for MARC and a successful Purple Line service.

More transportation funding – The just released joint Senate/House budget proposal would increase transportation funding by $500 million per year using an increase in the state tax on capital gains and other measures.

Thanks for helping build a better Maryland!