Frequently Asked Questions What is the current population of the District of Columbia? What does the Office of Planning do? Where can I get demographic data for the city and for my ward? What is the Comprehensive Plan for the District of Columbia and where can I get a copy? Where can I get a copy of the city's plans for my ward? Does the Office of Planning have maps of the city? Where can I find out what types of development projects are planned for my ward? What is an enterprise zone and where are they located? What is a census tract? What is the current population of the District of Columbia? The Bureau of the Census population estimate for the District of Columbia as of July 1, 2006 was 581,530. What does the Office of Planning do? The Home Rule Act (PL 93-198) designates the Mayor as the chief planner for the District of Columbia. The Mayor has delegated this authority to the District's Office of Planning. The Office of Planning is responsible for the preparation of three types of plans. The Comprehensive Plan is a broad public document that provides general guidance for future planning and development across the entire District for a large time frame (20 years). Ward Plans are designed to interpret and apply those objectives of the Comprehensive Plan as appropriate for each of the eight legally defined geographic areas of the city. Small Area Plans are designed to focus on a few blocks, a neighborhood or a cluster of neighborhoods and prepare planning, development initiatives, and implementation strategies appropriate and beneficial to these neighborhoods. The Office of Planning is responsible for developing initiatives to revitalize neglected neighborhoods across the city. Additionally, Planning is responsible for working with developers and community groups to ensure that projects proposed are beneficial to both the immediate neighborhood and the District. The State Data Center within the Office of Planning serves as the repository for all census data on the District of Columbia. Where can I get demographic data for the city and for my ward? The Office of Planning's State Data Center has a variety of demographic data available for the city, wards, and census tracts here. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Office of Planning at (202) 442-7600. What is the Comprehensive Plan for the District of Columbia and where can I get a copy? The Home Rule Act requires the District government to develop a Comprehensive Plan.  This Plan is a general policy document that provides overall guidance for future planning and development of the city.  The first Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1984 and 1985.  The Plan is updated periodically. The Comprehensive Plan of the National Capital is comprised of two parts, the District Elements and the Federal Elements.  The District's Comprehensive Plan constitutes the District Elements.  The National Capital Planning Commission develops the Federal Elements. The District Elements contain 11 citywide elements that provide goals, objectives and policies for land use issues that impact the whole city, e.g. transportation, environment, parks and open space, arts and culture.  There are also 10 Area Elements which provide goals, objectives and policies that are specific to geographic areas of the city.  The Office of Planning completed a three-year process of revising the (District Elements of) the Comprehensive Plan in 2006.  The process included 24 large public meetings attended by more that 1,500 residents and stakeholders, 24 meetings of a Council and Mayor-appointed Comprehensive Plan Revision Task Force, over 100 briefings with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, a Mayor's hearing and two Council hearings.  The DC Council unanimously adopted the revised (District Elements of) the Comprehensive Plan on December 19, 2006.  To review the 2006 Comprehensive Plan click here.  The 2006 Comprehensive Plan is available for sale at the Office of Documents, 441 4th Street NW, room 520S in hard copy ($80) or searchable CD ($10). Both the hard copy and the CD come with the large-size Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use and the Comprehensive Plan Generalized Policy Maps. Call (202) 727-5090. Where can I get a copy of the city's plans for my ward? The 2006 Comprehensive Plan contains 10 Area Elements, previously called Ward Plans.  The Area Elements are not available as separate documents.  However, they can be viewed in the Comprehensive Plan.  Click here.  The 2006 Comprehensive Plan is also available at the Martin Luther King Public Library and at each branch library.  It is also for sale at the Office of Documents, 441 4th Street NW, room 520S in hard copy ($80) or searchable CD ($10).  Call (202) 727-5090. Does the Office of Planning have maps of the city? Complete the Map Request Form to obtain information on maps currently available at the Office of Planning. If you want a customized map, arrange a consultation with one of our GIS Specialists. Where can I find out what types of development projects are planned for my ward? For selected new initiatives, go to the listing for Neighborhood and Revitalization Plans at this site. For additional information, review the following list and select the Office of Planning, Ward Planning Coordinator for your ward: Ward-1 Tarek Bolden Ward-2 Tarek Bolden Ward-3 Melissa Bird Ward-4 Malaika Abernathy Ward-5 Deborah Crain Ward-6 Jeff Davis Ward-7 Evelyn Kasongo Ward-8 Evelyn Kasongo What is an enterprise zone and where are they located? Contact the District of Columbia Revenue Bond Program, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, at (202) 727-6365 or Enterprise Zone & Revenue Bond Programs for details of the program. What is a census tract? Census tracts are relatively small geographic areas whose boundaries are defined by the Bureau of the Census. Census tracts are one of the primary areas that the Bureau uses to collect and report data. Census tracts are not uniform in size. Census tracts are not defined by, or related to wards, neighborhoods, or districts within any city. Census tracts do not cross county or state lines. When the Bureau of the Census originally developed the idea of areas called census tracts, they were designed to group people who were similar in population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. Census tracts generally contain between 1,500 persons and 8,000 persons. The spatial area covered by a census tract varies widely depending on the density of the population in its boundaries. Census tract boundaries are defined with the intention of being maintained for a long time so that statistical comparisons can be made from census to census. Physical changes in street patterns caused by highway construction, new development, or other major changes may lead to the alteration of tract boundaries. Census tracts occasionally are split due to large population growth, or combined as a result of substantial population decline.