Evening star., 1929-06-09
ARLINGTON NEEDS
CITED BY BROWN
Increased Powers of Local
Government Held Necessary
to Development of Region.

Whether Arlington County Va, ever
again becomes part OF the District OF
Columbia or remains a part of Vir-
ginia it should have a more closely
knit form of government or an exec
utive agency with increased powers OF
local government, in order that 1t may
be developed as an attractive part OF
the Washington region, in the opinion
of Mai. Carey H. Brown, assistant d.
rector of the ONCE of Public Buildings
and Public Parks and executive assist
ant of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Mai. Brown carefully refrained from
discussing the political question OF the
boundaries of the District, expressing
no opinion upon the suggestion made
in some quarters that Arlington County
should be brought back to its former
place as a part of the District.
THE National Capital Park and
Planning Commission is, Of course.
very much interested in the future of
Arlington County" said Maj. Brown.
THE whole tendency of planning ac-
tivity in recent years has been to eX-
tend the functions Of the planning COM
mission beyond the fixed city limits
into the surrounding region which IS
tributary to the city. This accounts
for the term regional planning as
distinguished from city planning
Pass Over Political Boundaries.
$50 far as planning activities alone
are concerned political boundaries can
be passed over. The plan should be
considered and co-ordinated whole, dlS-
regarding political boundaries.
:'The legislation creating the National
CAPITAL Park and Planning Commission
contemplates the extension OF the plan
of the National Capital into Its en-
virons in the States OF Maryland ana
Virginia. The necessity for consloera-
ton of the planning problems OF Ariins-
ton County Is obvious.
The Arlington reservation, ncluolns
Fort Myer and the experimental iaIm,
comprises over 900 acres Immediately
confronting the Lincoln Memorial and
Potomac Park. Entirely aside from TINS
consideration Is the obligation OF the
commission to assist in the planning
of the amenities for those residents,
now suburban but within the hihits
of the growing city who have chosen
the Virginia side as the location OF
their homes or businesses.
"Just as the commissions plans must
overstep the political boundary between
the District Of Columbia and Arlington
County, so must they exteno peyoho
Arlington OOuuCy AAVo "
CITY of Alexandria.
i'm fact no definite limit can be
placed upon the National Capital
region.
Saw, Limits Should Be Flexible.
"ror different purposes the region
is differently defined. The regional
highway plan, for example, must con-
slider a larger area than 1t Is reason.
able to zone for heignt ana ouik ol
buildings. Thus, so far as planning Is
Concerned. there should be flexibility as
to the limits of the area under consld-
Grafton. Fortunately, the activities OF
the park and Planning Commission are
not restricted by any arbitrary flXed
limits.
"Hoyever. planning alone is not an
end. The purpose OF the plan Is TO
serve as a guide for the execution OF
public improvements.
planning commissions are advisory
in character. The execution OF the
nlan. unlike planning itself, must be
Carried out by officials having jurisdic-
tion over definitely limited political
areas.
arlington County. is now in the sit
uation in which every community finds
itself at the time of transition from
rural to urban character. AT such time
1t is necessary that the powers OF execu-
tive officials be augmented In order that
they may be able to cope with the more
numerous, more pressing and more In
tricate questions of public improve
ment which arise.
IT believe that the people OF adjacent
Virginia comprised within the National
Capital region must face this neces-
sity for development of more closely
knit executive agency and devise the
method of increasing the powers OF
local government to meet these new
and increasing problems"