Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-22
ROCKVILLE GROWTH
IS BEING PLANNED
Commission to Work on Plans
for Towns Future
Expansion.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

Stan Correspondent of The Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md. July 22.-Foresee-
ing rapid growth and expansion Of this
town into city proportions, following
the erection of the proposed new court
house and county building. which was
ordered by the building committee on
Friday, immediate steps will be taken
for the planning Of this town, so that
when the growth actually comes 1t will
be taken care Of In orderly way.
So that the planning and building Of
the courthouse will not be taken as just
one project to be handled alone, the
ultimate development of the town is to
be taken into consideration to avoid
the haphazard conditions which some
cities have found themselves in because
of the lack Of planning.
Task Given MIR. Root.
The task Of providing plan for the
orderly development of the whole area
adjacent to the courthouse has been
assigned to Irving G. Root. chief engi-
neer Of the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. Mr..
Root said today that he would imme-
diately begin an investigation to pre-
pare data from which ultimately the
plans will be made. AS the matter is
one Of importance to the county seat
Of government, and Is to be considered
in connection with the plans for the
county building which are to be pre-
pared within the new few months by
the architects, under the direction of
the building committee. the city plan
ming will go forward simultaneously
with the building plans.
Mr.. Root indicated that the first plan
to be produced will be that covering the
territory In the downtown section i'm
mediately adjacent to the courthouse.
He pointed out that the town Is growing
so in importance that plans must be
made for diverting some of the traffic
from the main street, which carries the
national highway between Washington,
d. G, and the West through the town.
Must Provide New Streets.
While no details have yet been worked
out by the park and planning engineer.
he indicated that new streets must be
provided on either side of the present
main artery, for the purpose of carry
ing the expected heavy increase in
traffic. One of these will be q proposed
road on the east side of the railroad
tracks, which will take the traffic COM
ing by way OF Norbeck, and carry 1t to
the national highway west of the town
This would entirely avoid the main
artery, but, of course, involves the pro-
vision OF a new crossing Of the railroad
west Of the town.
The plan for the territory Immediately
adjacent to the county building must be
prepared promptly. he said. because of
the fact that the building committee
wants it for their next meeting, which
will be held as soon as the architects
give notice that they have completed
designs in accordance with the general
order for a long, low, white limestone
building to occupy the enlarged site
to be made Of the junction of the square
now occupied by the courthouse and
the area in the square west of the
courthouse to be obtained by condemna-
ton and to be effected by the closing
Of Court street, public highway now
existing between the two blocks.
While the plan Is to be developed by
Mr.. Root, when completed, he indicated
that he would call into consultation
Charles w. Eliot, I'd, city planner of
the Federal Park and Planning Com
mission, with which the Maryland body
works in close harmony in the planning
in co-ordinating the city development
of the National Capital In the outlying
sections.
Particularly the area to the rear of
the proposed new site is to be studied
in the planning, 1t was said, as 1t is In
that direction that that any expansion
of the county public buildings will take
place, and where also it is tentatively
proposed to provide new means for
vehicular traffic to pass through the
city.
Will Spread to Large Area.
Ultimately. 1t was said, the planning
would be carried into a larger area, as
soon as the downtown section is taken
care of, SO that the development will be
in an orderly way in conformity with
the best ideas of modern city planning.
OF course, this work will be done with
the full cooperation of the mayor and
council of the town, who will be con-
suited throughout the period Of the
preparation Of the plans.
Any changes made in street plans
must be carried out by the town officials,
who have full power in street planning
under the corporation charter. The
council has shown a spirit of whole
some cooperation in the development
work, having already taken steps to
carry out the wishes of the board of
county commissioners in the suggested
closing of Court street to make 1t avail
able as a part of the new site for the
proposed new county building.
It was said, however, that 1t Is likely
that no definite action will be taken in
this regard until the county authorities
actually acquire all of the land in the
square west of the courthouse. proceed
ings for the obtaining of which will be
started next week by Cissel & Wood
ward, counsel for the board Of county
commissioners. It was predicted at the
meeting of the building committee, by
Charles w. Woodward, of the law firm.
that the proceedings would be complet-
ed within 80 days. BY that time, 1t Is
hoped to have the plans completed for
the building and the letting of con-
tracts, and actual construction is expect
ed to be started soon after this, it was
said.