Do height limits apply to Trump's arch? The question looms as it nears approval

National Do height limits apply to Trump's arch? The question looms as it nears approval July 9, 20268:44 PM ET By  Rachel Treisman A scaled-down replica of Trump's proposed arch frames the U.S. Capitol at the Great American State Fair. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images In its quest to build a 250-foot arch near the National Mall, the Trump administration is arguing that a longstanding law restricting building heights in D.C. does not apply — to the project or to any federal structures at all. The topic resurfaced at Thursday's meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission, the second federal body tasked with reviewing the arch. The first, the Commission of Fine Arts — an aesthetic-focused panel packed entirely with Trump appointees — quickly approved the administration's incomplete design in May. The National Capital Planning Commission, in contrast, focuses on urban planning issues such as materials, placement and pedestrian safety. One of its three presidential appointees is Will Scharf, chair of the commission, who also serves as White House staff secretary and accompanied Trump on his trip to a NATO summit in Turkey this week. Sponsor Message National Veterans and relatives see no place for Trump's arch near Arlington National Cemetery The planning commission voted 8-1 on Thursday to approve the preliminary site and building plans for the arch, with three members voting "present." After more than two hours of public comment in opposition, followed by minimal discussion, the panel left the project team with more questions to answer before its next meeting in early September, and a promise to revisit the height question then. "I'm guessing that we're going to have a vigorous debate on this subject when this project next comes before the commission," said Scharf. At last month's meeting — when the commission cautiously advanced the project — Scharf planted seeds of doubt about whether the 1910 Height of Building...