GU Plan Agreement Must Wait One More Week for Zoning Commission

A small group of dedicated Georgetown University Campus Plan leaders came into a Zoning Commission meeting Monday night with smiles, but left with bewildered expressions. Instead of making a final rule Monday as the community had expected, commissioners moved to make their final decision on the agreement next Monday, July 16.

Though the meeting last night was listed as the "Final Action" on the campus plan, the finality of that action was limited to determining whether an additional hearing on the agreement was needed. Commissioners decided that another hearing was unnecessary.

Next week's meeting is listed on the Zoning Commission calendar as "FINAL ACTION: Georgetown University - 2011 Campus Plan." After next Monday, the campus plan hearings will really be finished.

"Things seem to have gelled and conformed so nicely" said Chairman Anthony Hood, in deciding that no additional public testimony was needed. Commissioners Peter May and Michael Turnbull agreed.

In June the University and the community after years of discussions between community leaders and university officials. The sides that runs from 2011-2017 and they agreed to develop a 20-year plan for GU together.

In the 2011-2017 plan GU will move many undergraduate students out of off-campus housing and into on-campus rooms. GU also will begin the search for a large satellite campus to allow growth in the long-term.

The university and the community also agreed to create a new Georgetown Community Partnership to develop better ties and communication so that future campus plans can avoid the fractious discussions and hearings of the past year and a half.

"I'm not going to make any accolades, I'm not going to say anything. I want to get to the 16th first. And then I'll do it," said Hood.

The final meeting on the Georgetown University Campus Plan will be July 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Zoning Commission offices downtown (441 4th St., NW #200).