Norton Urges Gray and Mendelson to have Discussions on Height Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) yesterday sent a letter to District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson requesting that they engage with other city leaders in discussions in order to reach a consensus on whether there should be changes in building height limitations in the District, and if so, how such changes should be accomplished, in light of active interest in Congress in updating the Height Act. Norton, a senior member of the Committee on Oversight and Government reform, echoed this sentiment on Monday at the Committee's hearing, entitled "Changes to The Heights Act: Shaping Washington, D.C. for the Future, Part II."

"Serious conversations among city leaders should be able to take into account the understandable concerns of some residents who want more certainty against undesirable changes," Norton wrote in her letter. "Considering our continuous efforts to defend and expand home rule, I caution against indications that local elected officials cannot reach agreement on matters affecting the city's own governance."

Norton's full letter follows.

December 4, 2013

Dear Mayor Gray and Chairman Mendelson:

As you are aware, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on Monday, entitled "Changes to the Heights Act: Shaping Washington, DC for the Future Part II," to consider the recommendations of the D.C. Office of Planning and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) from the Height Act study requested by Chairman Darrell Issa. Although the positions of the D.C. Office of Planning and the NCPC differ, I do not believe that their positions are irreconcilable if city leaders engage in appropriate discussions. Serious conversations among city leaders should be able to take into account the understandable concerns of some residents who want more certainty against undesirable changes. Considering our continuous efforts to defend and expand home rule, I caution against indications that local elected officials cannot reach agreement on matters affecting the city's own governance.

Please let me know if I can be at all helpful.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton