Evening star., 1929-12-19
PLANNING BOARD
O.K.DFOR VIRGINIA
Committee Named at Tri-
Unit Meeting to Outline
Measure Covering Project.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, December 19.-
A Virginia park apd planning commits
sion for Arlington and Fairfax Coun-
ties and Alexandria City, which it is
proposed to create by act of the next
State Legislature, in accordance with
tentative plans mapped out by State
Senator Frank Ball, yesterday was &C
corded enthusiastic support at joint
meeting of the directors of the three
Chambers of Commerce, held in the
George Mason Hotel here.
A committee of nine was appointed,
to include the chairmen OF the boards
of supervisors of Arlington and Fairfax
Counties and Mayor Smoot of Alexan-
dria, the presidents of the three Cham
bers of Commerce, Keith Brumback OF
Arlington, E. H. Allen of Fairfax and
F. c. Goodnow of Alexandria; Common
Fairfax and William G. Cloth of Arling-
ton, and City Attorney Albert Bryan
of Alexandria, to confer with Senator
Ball in regard to the exact specif1ca-
tions of the new bill This committee
is to report back at later date to an
other meeting of the directorate OF the
three chambers to be called as soon as
possible by E. H. Allen. This commit
tee will meet within few days at the
convenience of Senator Ball, and will
at that time consider in detail the ten
tative bill which has been drafted by
Senator Ball, with the assistance of
Alfred Betman, whose services were
loaned by Maj Carey Brown Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Meeting Largely Attended.
The meeting yesterday was attended by
between SO and so of the leading citl-
zens of the three units, with E. H.
Allen of Fairfax County presiding. Sem
ator Ball outlined the necessity for some
central authority on the, south side OF
the Potomac, with jurisdiction over the
territory adjacent to Washington.
$50 far" he stated, mo adequate
plar has been made for the develop
ment of this territory; the only plans
have been those made by the Federal
Government, from the point OF view OF
washington. The present Virginia COM
mission has been without funds to pre-
pare any plans of its own and it has
accomplished nothing. The only at
tempt made by any unit to plan for
its orderly development was that made
when the city of Alexandria was found
ed, in 1749."
After outlining what other sections
of the country have done in city and
regional planning, calling particular at
tention to the neighboring Maryland
commission, which has laid out a COM
prehensive plan for an area of 141 miles
square, Senator Ball stressed the need
for a definite master plan in Northern
Virginia, whether this section ultimately
develops into one large city or whether
it remains three separate jurisdictions.
Under his proposed bill two repre-
Sentatives will be appointed by the gov
erning bodies of each unit, one to be
a member of that body and one to be
representative private citizen, to serve
without compensation. The first duty
of this commission would be TO draw
up a master plan for regional develop
ment, with the assistance of a trained
city planner. This would provide for
the orderly layout of streets, highways,
parks, Fairgrounds, aviation fields and
public projects.
In answer to a question from c. w.
Fitch, Senator Ball stated that his bill
did not empower this commission to
plan a comprehensive sewer system.
Any plan must receive a majority vote
of the commission before adoption, with
at least one favorable vote from each
unit.
Grants Authority.
This bill grants the commission
threefold authority: Preparation of a
master plan with which, when adopted,
all future develoDmentS must agree.