President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch cleared another key hurdle on Thursday after the National Capital Planning Commission approved preliminary site and building plans, moving the project closer to construction near Arlington National Cemetery despite sharp public opposition.
Commission Advances Arch Despite Opposition
According to a report by the Associated Press, the commission voted 8-1, with three commissioners voting present, to advance the arch, which Trump wants built on Memorial Circle at the Virginia end of Arlington Memorial Bridge.
The U.S. Department of the Interior submitted the plan, and NCPC records say the arch would "celebrate the triumphs of the American people, inspire patriotism and love of country, and beautify the nation’s capital."
Height Question Remains Unresolved
However, the vote did not settle the project’s biggest legal question. Commissioners delayed a decision on whether the Height of Buildings Act, which has long shaped Washington’s skyline, applies to the arch. NCPC staff had recommended changes so the structure would comply with height limits. Chair Will Scharf said the panel could take up the issue later, saying, "This is a complex project."
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Evan Cash, representing D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, cast the lone no vote. "I’m not willing to lend my vote to plans that can have the effect of upending decades of NCPC practice and century-old height framework," Cash said, according to The Hill.
The arch would stand more than twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial and nearly half as tall as the Washington Monument. NCPC staff also asked for more work on traffic impacts, pedestrian access, parking, loading and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Critics Warn Of Lasting Visual Impact
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts reviewed a revised concept in May, and AP reported that it had approved the design. Final NCPC approval could come in September.
Critics said the arch would disrupt historic sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Vietnam veteran Michael Lemmon told the commission, "This vainglorious monumental arch does neither," referring to honoring sacrifice and memory.
The White House has not released a cost estimate. AP reported earlier that public money will be used for the arch and Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom.
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