President Donald Trump's plan to build a 250-foot triumphal arch in the nation's capital has received preliminary site and building plan approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. The proposed skyline-altering structure would be located on a traffic circle at the Virginia end of the Memorial Bridge near Arlington Cemetery.
Despite overwhelming public opposition, the commission, led by the president's allies, voted to advance the project. However, the plan is undergoing another review from the federal agency, as agency staff have indicated that the project should be revised before it gets the go-ahead.
A significant dispute remains regarding Washington, D.C.'s height restrictions. While the commission offered a solution to meet these limits, the Interior Department is arguing that height restrictions do not apply to federal projects, bucking a century of precedent. The commission has tabled a decision on whether the federal law limiting building heights should be applied to the project.