WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Capital Planning Commission voted on Thursday to approve the 90,000-square-foot East Wing renovation at the White House, including a ballroom with seating for 1,000 guests. The commission approved the design by a tally of nine in favor, one opposed, and two present.

The commission was informed of a design change on Wednesday. On Sunday, aboard Air Force One, new architectural renderings were shared showing the ballroom annex's south face without a grand staircase included in previous iterations. The previous plans included a grand staircase that did not lead to the ballroom and lacked a door on the side facing the staircase.

The commission's vote had been delayed by one month due to public opposition, with approximately 32,000 comments submitted online during the review process and more than 100 people, including architects and preservationists, registering to speak at the March meeting. Over 99 percent of public comments were in opposition to the design.

"The notion that we have been less than thorough, that we have not met our obligations is frankly insulting to the work that our team has done," said Will Scharf, chairman of the commission. James Blair, a commissioner and senior White House aide, said, "The critiques are largely unserious and politically driven."

"I think there is a lot of value to the iterative process and we have not had that. It's just too large," said Phil Mendelson, a commissioner and chairman of the D.C. Council.

The Commission of Fine Arts, a regulatory body overseeing federal construction in Washington, D.C., unanimously approved the design in February after being first briefed on it in December. The commission is composed of Trump appointees, including Chamberlain Harris, the president's executive assistant. The planning commission approved the design in just over three months; previous White House renovations underwent months or years of review.

A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the administration must obtain congressional authorization before proceeding with construction. The Department of Justice appealed that ruling. In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit to halt the project. A judge initially denied the Trust's request for a temporary restraining order but later granted one, citing a lack of congressional authorization and a questionable financing arrangement.

The new space will include offices for the first lady, kitchen space, a double-decker colonnade, and upgrades to a secure underground military complex. The funding sources for the upgrades to the secure underground military complex have not been disclosed. In July, the White House announced the ballroom at a cost of $200 million; the estimated cost has since doubled.

A nonprofit organization was enlisted to collect donations from companies and individuals for the project. Some donors include companies with business before the federal government, including technology firms and defense contractors. The White House released a partial list of donors and hosted a donor recognition dinner last fall. The amounts contributed by each donor and the total funds raised have not been disclosed.

Several Democratic members of Congress introduced legislation to regulate this and future federal construction projects, but none of the bills have received a vote in the Republican-controlled Congress.

In October, heavy machinery demolished the East Wing, removing a structure that had been part of the White House for generations. Pieces of the demolished East Wing were transported to a scrap yard in Maryland.