Dear Supporters:
We need your help.
We’ve reached another critical moment in the Gray Administration’s plan to destroy historic landmark McMillan Park and replace it with a plan designed by Vision McMillan Partners (VMP). The DC Zoning Commission will consider the Mayor’s latest development plans and request to re-zone the the Park for high rise buildings and massive development in a set of public hearings beginning on Thursday, May 1st at 6:30 PM.
To see VMP’s latest concrete box nightmare, click here.
Like we did back in October with the Historic Preservation Review Board, we now need to flood the Zoning Commission with public comments in opposition to the lame duck Mayor’s plan. Let the Commission know that converting this historic Olmsted park into the proposed concrete monstrosity would cripple the surrounding communities with completely unacceptable impacts on traffic, parking, flooding, open space, and the environment. Please send your written testimony to the Zoning Commission by May 27th and attend the hearings to testify in person if possible.
Below we’ve included two sample letters as guidance for your letter to the Zoning Commission plus a list of points that you can use to tailor your draft.
Help us send the message to the Zoning Commission that this development plan is unacceptable for a Park that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—our great city, the surrounding communities, and our historic landmark deserve better!
Are you available to testify in person at the Zoning Commission hearings on May 1st, 5th, 8th, 13th or 27th? Here’s what you need to know: The hearings will take place at 441 4th Street NW, Room 220 South (Metro: Red line, Judiciary Square station). The zoning Case # is 13-14. Please bring printed copies of your testimony for the Commission if possible. If you have any questions, please contact restoremcmillan@gmail.com or 202.234.0427.
Here are two sample letters to the Zoning Commission plus additional points:
- ZC Sample Letter 1 – Opposition to VMP
- ZC Sample Letter 2 – Opposition to VMP
- Points for your McMillan Park Zoning Testimony
Please see instructions below on how to present your views to the Zoning Commission for these important hearings.
To see all documents submitted for the hearings online:
Go to this web page:
Enter 13-14 in the ‘Search Term’ box, and click ‘Go.’ (13-14 is the “zoning case number” for the proposed VMP development). At the bottom of the page, beside information about case 13-14, click ‘View Details.’ On this page, under the ‘Case Documents,’ click ‘View Full Log’ and all the documents filed concerning this case will be visible, currently about 5 pages of them. To view any of these documents, click on ‘View’ on the far right side of any document.
To present oral testimony at the hearings:
Submit a copy of your written testimony before the hearing (see below) OR bring 12 copies with you to the hearing. Only 3 minutes are allowed for each speaker, 5 minutes for organizations, so submitting longer written testimony that you can refer to in your 3 minutes may help. The hearings will all take place at 441 4th St NW, Suite 220 South, all at 6:30PM. (Metro rail to the Judiciary Square station)
To submit written testimony:
Go to this web page to create an “IZIS Account” (necessary to submit any documents):
Then go to this page and log in with the login/password you created above: http://app.dcoz.dc.gov/Login.aspx . Click on “file documents in an existing case,” and then specify case number 13-14, and ‘select’ that case in the next window. Click ‘choose file’ to select the document on your computer that you wish to submit as your written testimony, then select ‘document type.’ If you oppose the current development plan, you would select ‘Letter in Opposition.’ Your letter should explain your position and why you think McMillan Park should not be zoned to permit high-rise buildings. Then hit ‘Submit’ and your document should soon be visible in the list of documents for case 13-14 (see instructions above for how to see all documents for these hearings).
Please call or email us if you need help: 202.234.0427 or restoremcmillan@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support!
