Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-13
TAX FUND SOUGHT
TO MAINTAIN PARKS
Legislation Would Permit
Acquiring Rock Creek
and Sligo Areas.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.
STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.

STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. March 13.-Au-
thority to spend for maintenance GER
tain portion of the cent tax for park
development in Montgomery County
would very likely result in the prompt
development of the Rock Creek and
Sligo Greek park extensions, without
the purchase of the land, 1t was indi-
Gated in the report of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, presented to the Maryland
General Assembly today by Irwin Ow-
tnes, chairman.
Amendment of the act in this respect
IL sought in draft of bill when ac.
conranied the report. and which VIII
be presented in the House by speaker
z. Brooke Lee OF Silver Spring. inns
amendment, together with others, were
discussed in detail at a conference at
the state House between Maj. Lee. j.
Bond Smith. general counsel Oh the
commission, and Mr.. Owlngs.
Other Amendments.
Other amendments to the act shown
10 be necessary over the Two years II
has been in effect include one giving
to the Prince Georges County commits
sioners certain appellate jurisdiction IN
regard to the condemnation Of prop
erty under the provisions OF the act'
authority for the commission to charge
fees for the approval OF SUBDIVISION
plats: requiring persons requesting
changes in the coming ordinances to
paw the cost of publication: provision
to REQUIRE all building permits within
the metropolitan district to be approved
a to coming requirements by the COM
mission, and an amendment to pay the
Prince Georges County commissioners
5000 a wear each for their work III
connection with the act.
Park development, the commission
reported, was one of the urgent prob
lens on which 1t started to work, ana
II points out that it was confined prln-
cipally to Montgomery County because
in that county the tax of Z cents on
each 500 has been levied for park &C
QUESTION purposes, whereas the law
making the matter of such levy IN
Prince Georges County is optional with
the county commissioners, who have not
vet exercised it. AS result of this, In
Montgomery County general design
plans have been prepared for the ex-
tension of Rock Greek Park from the
District of Columbia to Garrett Park,
a distance of miles. and including an
area of 700 acres. A similar design plan
has been prepared for the Sligo Greek
Valley from Takoma Park to the Coles
willie road, distance of approximately
3 miles. The further extension of
the Rock Greek Valley and the Sligo
Valley plans. as we'll as park plan for
Cabin John Greek Valley the commits
sion reports, will receive early consider
alton.
Need for Change Explained.
In explaining the need for a change
In the law so as to allow fixed sum
for maintenance of parks, the commits
sion says that 1t "arises from the fact
that 1t now appears likely that the COM
mission will be able to secure consid-
cradle area of park lands by dedication
The donors of such land, however. wish
to be assured that the lands If given to
the commission for park purposes will
be maintained and developed and not
allowed to remain in their present con-
dition. These park areas include much
Of the territory in the proposed Rock
Greek and Sligo Park territory and If a
certain portion of the park funds OF
the commission Is made available for
the development and maintenance OF
these parks, dedication of land for this
purpose will be encouraged
While the commission reported that
its coming efforts had been met with
much favor, and subdividers of property
have appreciated the work of the COM
mission. 1t did find fault with the lack
of cooperation of building inspectors
In areas over which the county building
inspector, who does cooperate. has no
power 1t was for this reason that the
amendment to the law giving it power
to approve all building permits In the
metropolitan district as to coming is
sought. The commission said that this
amendment is imperative II coming Is
to continue to be applied and enforced
with respect to buildings in municipali-
ties and special taxing areas.
Although the act requires the COM
mission to report recommendations to
the present legislature as to transpor-
tation facilities. coordination Thereon
on the highways. roads. bridges, rail-
roads, street railways and other arteries
of traffic, among other things, that body
reported to the Legislature that it has
been forced to devote almost its entire
attention to other matters even more
pressing from public standpoint sucn
as the preparation of a coming plan and
ordinance, park study preliminary and
record subdivision plat approvals ana
street profile approvals. The commits
sion. the report said. discovered early
in the administration of the act. that
these questions were more vital to the
public welfare than study OF the
transportation service and faculties
within the district.
II points out that traffic studies have
been made by the National Capltal Park
and Planning Commission, and for the
eli IN under
taken 1t. 1t not only would have result
ed In a duplication of effort, but 1t
would have resulted in more pressing
matters being neglected.
Zoning Plan Urged.
''The most urgent problem which the
commission found confronting it,, the
report continued. was the imperative
need in this rapidly developing sub
urban area OF 141 square miles for
comprehensive zoning plan. The COM
mission thus found at the outset that II
the character of the area included in
Greater Washington was to be preserved
against Objectionable and unwarranted
encroachment from commercial and in
dustrial enterprises. coming should be
put into effect with the least possible
DELAY. The commission further found
that without exception the municipali-
ties. special tax areas and communities
in general located within the Maryland
Washington metropolitan district were
also keenly alive to the necessity for
adequate coming protection, and the
commission acknowledges with appre-
citation the enlightened and effective
cooperation extended to 1t by the
various communities with which Ii
necessarily consulted In the preparation
and adoption of the coming plan for the
district.
1.-THE commissions zoning plan was
completed early In the current veal
and In accordance. with the require
rents of the act the commission
thereupon recommended the plan. in