kk GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Seta! — Executive Office of the Mayor = a Office ofthe Deputy Mayer for Planning and Economic Develepment ‘August 20, 2018, Vis Electronic Mai! General Stephen T. Rip3e Me James M. Branham (Chet Executive Offeer ‘Chef Operating Oticer ‘med Forces Retirement Home ‘Armed Forces Rotrament Home 440 Rock Creek Church Road, NW 440 Reck Creek Chureh Road, NW Washingion, DC 20011, ‘Washington. OC 20011 Email: stephen s/ppe@atrh gov Ema: james.branham@efthgov Dear Mr. Rope: ‘Tho Armed Forces Reizment Home (AFRH)i tical institution in the District of Columbia, and the District government stards ready to support AFRH ins goals. The Distt understands a cxiial elemento ‘fnancilstbity equity leveraging the value ofthe existing campus in Ward 5 and shares AFRH"'s goa of seeing successtul development athe aie. The Distt lke forward to integrating the longsolated ele into the _atjacent vibrant neighberhoods by creating 2 new ofc, retall housing, and amenities va a process that fully “engages the community. As you are probably aware, the District has had success in incorporating longsolated ‘Ses into the fatvc four neighborhoods inclcing the former Walter Reed Army Medical etter campus and the SL Elzabeths East camous ‘The District has along history of cooperation with AFRH and ooks forward o contig Such ‘cooperation In 2008 an 2007, the Ofice of Planning (OP) worked closely with AFRH, the General Services Administation (GSA) ard the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) onthe Master Plan for he st. In 2007, AFRH, OP, and NCPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that attempled to combine te Master Plan NCPC appeoval withthe District's Small Area Plan approval processes forthe prvate development, Unfortunately, the plan approval process could not be accomplished through an NOU, as according to Distt law, only the Counc fie District of Columbia (Counc can approve a Smal Area Pian. Nethec OP nor any ear execute ofc stbordinat fo the Mayor can usurp, via an MOU or another document he Counct's legislated authority, Therlore, ts not under te escreton of OP or any ater District agency or executive official to late District lw. In March 2018, €¢ Shaw, the Decor of OP, reached cut to AFRH to share tis nfamation and offer District assistance to AFRH to ensure any development process conforms wih Dstt law. The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (OMPED) fered a numberof poteiial approaches to development, inctudng those success‘uly implemented on a variety of ether Dstt projects, in order to ensure Hat AFRH did ot ase any time ova inthe zoning process, while ensuring any project included communty engagement and ‘met District priorities, DUMPED has signfieant experience wth developments ofthis yee and noted that Uncertainty presented by AFRH inthe zoning approach woul be negatively priced Ini developer submissions. By working eolaboratvely wih the District, AFRH would not just minimize the time to fist revenue bu also ‘maximize the long-term value retuned rom tis eiteal opportu. OMPED has alvaye appreciated thatthe Distict benefit rom a successful redevelopment of the AFRH projec into communt-serving asset that alo contrbutes tothe tax ols ofthe District We raceny share this “View wih Congresswoman Eleanor Hines Norton wien we updated her on the AFRH project. Moreover, the _AFRH project has the opportunity to provide vial afordabe housing, which is ciealy needed in our ey and key priory of Mayor Bowser, The Disvict would tie to reiterate tz previous guidance that a community Bian T Kenner Deputy Mayor * ke * John. Wisen Bling | 1350 Pennyhania ve, NW, Suite 317 | Washinton, DC 29004August 30, 2018 Page 2 of ? Iw, Stephen T. Rippe me. lames Mt. Brant engagement process is crcl to ensure a successful projec plan that adéressos various needs such sfordabie housing, traraporation, and puble space, wile aso achieving area-spectic needs, for example, potential federal or heath facts inthis case. OMPED and OP have extensive experience in community engagement to improve zning an planning ‘decisions. Or inierest iso ensure communty requests ae heard, needs adciressed, and beneis are equlably ‘distributed. Those outcames are best accomplished with the existing zoning and planning processes. DMPED ‘fered o partner wth AERH, whether rough some form of our very siccesful OurRFP process, another formal arrangement, or even an informal partner on the community engagement and zoning process. In May tee OP advised the toam ofthe issues with the MOU's plan approval process and DMPED ‘fered variety of ways to collaborate, AFRH instead chose to move forward with issuing a request for proposals “or private-sector development on ts campus that tated thal intends to move forward wih the development as _a federal action \We have heard rom various stakeholders who are unclear about the implications of AFRH' approach, “especially as itroates tothe entlements process. Whe AFRH has pointed to appeal sk and timing concerns 28, reasons for advancing the development 35 federal action, by choosing not to partner and pursue one of our wel- “understood, reliable, and widely accepted planning processes, AFRH risks growing community constemation and months, rot years, of lanning uncertainty. This uncertainty and risk diminish bot short and long-term value to ARH, ‘The District woud Ike to clay to AFRH thatthe only egal approach to achieving AFRH' goal through @ redevelopment that fellows the District's zoning process and isin cordance wih he Comprehensive Plan. Congress gave the Zoning Commission exclusive zoning authrky over development inthe Disrik. Congress exempted Teeral publi bullngs’ from the Zoning Commission's purview, but not private buildings or redovelopmentslocatedon federal ouned land? Redevelopment ofthis site as a federal acon does net exempt such a private redevelopment rom Distt zoning ‘As we have preiousl state, the Districts eager to work with AFRH to complete allnecessay reviews ‘and support robust community engagement quickly and in'a manner that addresses the important oustanding panning issues at this leation. The District has made great strides to ensure is entlements, and reguatory ‘eview dalver daveloprents and neighberhcods that achieve a high standard of environmental sustainably social equity, design exzelence and economic development. We lok forward to working wth you through he District's entdements process to achieve our mutual gos. “hy tian T. Kenner Ceputy Mayor Ce: Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Congresswoman, Dist of Colurnbia Hon. Kenyan MeDuffe, Councimember, Ward § Me Maroal Acosta, Executive Decor, National Capa Planing Commission Ms, Beverly Perry, Senor Advisor, Execute Office of te Mayor Me Eugene Kiniow, Ovector Mayor's Offes of Federal and Regional Maire We. Erte Shaw, Dredtr, DC Ofc of Planning ‘oc srg6.621.01( 668101 DEST A6SA115;d0USCA $8722). kk ke =