President Donald Trump’s plans to build a 250-foot arch in the nation’s capital are getting another review from the National Capital Planning Commission. The commission’s staff recommends that the design be revised to comply with a federal law that limits building heights in downtown Washington to preserve the city’s famous skyline.
Design Revisions
The staff suggests that the commission request the applicant revise the project design to comply with the Height of Buildings Act and return to the commission for final approval. The revisions would require redistributing the height between the main structure, habitable roof structure, and statuary.
The arch, a public observation deck, and three gilded topper statues would still reach Trump’s desired 250-foot height, even with the recommended revisions. The staff is also recommending that commissioners seek additional information about vehicular traffic around the arch, the proposed granite exterior, and other aspects of the project before the Interior Department returns for final approval.
Opposition and Support
Opponents of the project argue that the arch is too big for the skyline and would disrupt carefully designed views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. However, the opposition has done little to influence the members of the commission, which includes some of Trump’s closest allies.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
