Zoning Commission Decision on Campus Plan 'Not Going to be Easy'

Six hearings later, the fate of the Georgetown University campus plan is in the hands of the Zoning Commission. Commissioners listened to and participated in more than four hours of testimony and questioning Thursday as the University and neighbors in opposition presented their final arguments for and against the 10-year plan. Commissioners will hold a special public meeting Feb. 9, 2012 to deliberate and vote.

At the beginning of the evening, Commissioner Anthony Hood, chair of the Zoning Commission, spoke to the packed room, saying "the issues don't change... we could go back and forth for 20 years."

“I don’t know how its all gonna land, but I can tell you this. We got it” said Hood.

The night included a thorough review of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) of the proposed campus plan. 

The primary concerns with the report on the part of the commission were the speed with which DDOT would be able to respond to any issue with one of their pilot programs, such as the proposed left turn onto Canal Road. Commissioner Hood wanted to ensure that DDOT could respond sooner, rather than later if the change immediately proved problematic.

Commissioner Peter May raised concerns echoed by several ANC commissioners, about the reason for additional trips and adverse impacts in the DDOT analysis. DDOT officials explained that part of the increase is based on the numbers which include expansion at the hospital and not just the university. 

The theme throughout the night from GU was "we listened, we responded and it's working." Officials touted efforts to accommodate the community both before and during the official plan review process.

Neighbors, however, did their part to remind commissioners about the University's failures. They questioned the sticking-power and value of GU's newest programs, such as twice-daily trash collection and the new M Street shuttle.

Georgetown ANC Commissioner Ron Lewis asked the university about "the expected durability, the staying power" of these programs. Would GU guarantee to maintain the increased police presence?

Georgetown officials said they were committed to continuing their programs, but could not gaurantee a certain level of service in perpetuity.

The Zoning Commissioners also pushed the university on their "track record" of following through with meaningful change through their campus plans.

"We’re worried about saturation, we’re worried about density and we’re worried about the impacts, although you’ve said you’ve mitigated them. We’ve heard reports that the last campus plan didn’t really mitigate a lot of those. So there’s a track record that we have to look at and we have to be able to feel that you really have struck a balance," said Commissioner Michael Turnbull.

Commissioner Hood raised similar worries, referencing ANC Commissioner Lewis's concept of the "promised land."

"If you’re on promised land and the results never arrive, then you have a problem," said Hood.

Hood added that he liked many of the new initiatives that the university had rolled out.

"But I’m sorry. I just don’t have anything to measure it with and that’s going to be my dilemma," said Hood.

Todd Olson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Georgetown, tried to qualm the commissioners fears. "We realize we have more work to do, we’ve been committed to continuing to improve, but I do want you to know that here is a track record here that is longer than just this last year," he said.

In a statement release after the hearing, the university reinforced their key points from the hearing.

"We have demonstrated a commitment to match their concerns with financial resources, spending $1 million annually on our voluntary quality of life initiatives. This is a commitment we are prepared to continue in the years to come."

At the conclusion of the evening, Hood advised the remaining community members and representatives, "We need to learn how to coexist and hopefully that’s what we’re going to achieve...it’s not going to be easy."

The Zoning Commission will hold a special public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2012 at which time the commissioners will deliberate and vote.