Evening star., 1929-12-01
JOINT PLANNING.
BODY TO Be SOUGHT.
Senator Ball to Introduce Bill
for Arlington, Fairfax and
Alexandria.
By LESTER N. INSKEEP,
staff Correspondent Of The Star.

SJan Correspondent OF Tne star.
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, November 30.-The crea-
ton of a joint planning and zoning
body for Arlington and Fairfax Coun-
ties and the city of Alexandria, thereby
providing the authoritive body for
Northern Virginia that has long been
sought by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, is embodied
in bill that will be introduced at the
next General Assembly of Virginia by
State Senator Frank L. Ball.
Senator Balls proposed legislation
has been prepared with the assistance
of and has received the approval of
Maj. Carey H. Brown of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission,
who has expressed the opinion that it
Is one Of the most important moves
ever started in the section of Virginia
adjacent to the National Capital.
Cooperation Desired.
In his statement concerning the bill
Senator Ball says that 1T is unthink-
able that the three sections of Airing
ton and Fairfax Counties and the city
Of Alexandria will be under separate
political jurisdiction in the next so
years. Whatever may be our differ
ences now, all thinking men must real
lie that the destiny of this entire Sec
ton Is the same and that eventually
there will be great Virginia city along
The south side of the Potomac, which
will include the present city of Alexan-
dria, all of Arlington County and a
portion of the county of Fairfax"
The commission, as proposed in the
bill. would consist of six men, two from
Alexandria and two each from Arling-
ton and Fairfax Counties, one of whom
from each jurisdiction would be men,
Der of the governing body and the other
to be appointed from unofficial life.
1t is also suggested that it might be
well to have a State Official as a mem
ber of the commission to have a vote
wherever State interests as contrasted
from local interests are involved.
A portion of Senator Balls statement
in announcing his intention to intro
duce the bill follows:
The portion of Fairfax County to be
taken in originally will include the Po-
torac River frontage from Great Falls
to the Arlington County line and from
the south line of Alexandria to and in
Guiding Fort Hunt and Mount Vernon
and extending back from the river for
depth OF from 3 to miles, with the
right Of Fairfax County as a whole to
be taken into the plan if the board Of
supervisors shall pass a resolution to
that effect
THE fist duty of the commission
will be to prepare master plan for the
physical development of the district, in
Guiding the layout of streets, highways,
parks, Fairgrounds, aviation fields and
such other necessary projects as are
essential to the orderly development of
a city. The plan may be adopted by
units, but when onCS "dopted it shall be
adhered to by all of the present gov
ernmental bodies fucctioning within the
area and no further platS shall be ad-
n1ittcd to record without according
Herewith. In order to guard against
any possible injustice being done either
Of the separate jurisdictions affected
provision will be made that the plan
cannot be adopted except by vote Of
q clear majority Of the entire member
shin of the commission. which m1 iority
vote shall include at least one member
from each of the said units within the
area.
"The commission would have charge
Of the administration of coming within
the entire area, recognizing. Of course.
coming already done by either OF the
units included and thereafter the local
coming commissions shall cease to exist.
A proper coming appeals hoard will be
created to act for the entire area.
Complete co-operation with the Fed
eral authorities is provided for in all
matters pertaining to the main arteries
Of trafhc and the establishment OF park
ing areas.
Cost Of Administration.
'fThe cost of administration Of the
commission shall be borne by the sepa-
rate jurisdictions in proportion to the
assessed valuations within the area.
There would be an immediate saving to
all three Jurisdictions, as the affairs
coming under the commission could be
1.anlIA& ornF1nTTafro Ilu t1y n.
trail body than by three separate bodies
as at present.
Such a commission could employ
cornpetent city planner and promulgate
for the Virginia side of the river plan
more beautiful and more in keeping
with the modern needs OF the people
than that of the City of Washington or
Of any city in the East. The cost would
be little compared with the cost of dis
orderly development which must be the
result of three Jurisdictions working
separately and the result in future
economies would be enormous.
Through the courtesy of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
ard especially Of Mai. Carey Brown. to
whom I appealed for help last Spring.
the services Of Mr.. Alfred Bettmen have
been placed at my command. Mr.. Bett-
men Is probably the leading expert on
the preparation of municipal legislation
in America. He has prepared a bill
carrying out the above IDEAS which is
ready to be introduced as soon as the
Legislature convenes. Conferences will
be held between now and January with
the offlcial and semi-ofhcial bodies
within the area affected in order that
all may be completely informed and the
desires of all complied with as far as
possibly can be done without weakening
the legislation"