|  | September 2026 |
 | September Meeting RecapNCPC provided comments on concept plans for Lafayette Park Security Improvements, which propose security and access improvements including a new fence and gates. Commissioners supported the applicant’s goals to protect park resources and preserve the park’s openness with a flexible approach that maintains temporary partial closures when necessary for situational security needs.
The Commission approved preliminary site and building plans for a White House Visitor Screening Facility that includes an entrance pavilion and 33,000-square-foot underground facility. Commissioners agreed that a permanent structure would facilitate a more comfortable and efficient visitor experience.
The Commission approved final site and building plans for the National Zoo Construct New Arabian Leopard Habitat. The new exhibit will include an enclosed habitat, care facility, and viewing areas. Commissioners noted that the applicant addressed prior recommendations related to the animal care and staff building, landscape, and signage. | |
NCPC Welcomes New ChairmanOn August 26, President Trump appointed Mark Paoletta as NCPC Chairman. Chairman Paoletta, who also serves as the Office of Management and Budget’s General Counsel, led his first Commission meeting on September 3. NCPC’s previous Chairman Will Scharf stepped down in August 2026 to assume his new position as White House Counsel. |
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NCPC Executive Director Marcel Acosta RetiresAfter more than 25 years of federal service with NCPC, including almost two decades as executive director, Marcel Acosta retired from the agency. He led numerous signature planning efforts that made a profound impact on the design of the nation’s capital. NCPC Commissioners and staff celebrate his leadership and wish him well in his new chapter. Pictured are Chairman Paoletta, Marcel Acosta, and former Chairs Beth White and Preston Bryant. |
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NCPC Honored for Monumental Core Planning Initiatives NCPC and partners were honored by the American Planning Association for their work on re-envisioning an aging federal complex and creating a gateway between the Southwest Waterfront and National Mall. The agency was also recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architecture for the Streetscape Guide, which shapes the look and feel of streets in the monumental core. |
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Next Commission MeetingOpen to the public, starts @ 1:00 PM. | | |
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