Evening star., 1936-12-19
Planning Commission Re-
veaIs More Attractive
Structure to Be Erected
STEEL SPAN PROVIDES
WIDTH OF 80 FEET
Alternative Plans for Pennsyl'
vania Avenue Bridge Over Ana.
costa River Considered.

ornamental. was approved by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission last evening. Thomas S.
Settle, secretary of the commission,
said DR.. Charles Moore. chairman OF
the Fine Arts Commission, whose body
has been contending for a more mon
umental structure, in keeping with the
proposed George Washington Memo
rial Parkway on both sides of the Po-
tomac River in that region. will go
along with these new plans"
DR.. Moore sat In on yesterday after
Moons session of the planners. as did
H. P. Caemmerer. executive secretary
OF the Fine Arts Commission. The
revised plan will provide for 80 feet
IN width. the sides will be made more
attractive. the structure will be of steel,
but the limit Of cost will be kept
within the s350,000 authorized, Settle
said.
The Fine Arts Commission spokes-
men also conferred with the planners
on the proposed extension OF the area
covered by the Shipstead-Luce act,
which gives the Federal Government
jurisdiction over the appearance OF
private buildings in the vicinity of the
public buildings and parks in the
downtown area. The commission in
structed Settle, as its legislative Off
Ger. to confer with the Zoning Com
mission and the Fine Arts Commits
sion and report back a draft of the
propoSed extension at the January
meeting.
Abattoir Considered.
The planners instructed their staff
to furnish the courts with all neceS-
sary information about the public
holdings in the vicinity of the pro-
posed abattoir at Benning and Ana
costa roads. The commission urged
that opposition to the abattoir be
maintained. Settle advised his col
leagues on the latest developments in
the situation.
Col. Daniel I. Sultan. Engineer
Commissioner, who is an ex-officio
member of the commission, and H. c.
Whitehurst, director of highways, pre-
sented alternative plans for new
bridge at Pennsylvania avenue, across
the Anacostia River. Three were for
steel and three for concrete and the
commission picked one of each. I'm
provements at Commodore Barney
Circle, at the western end of the pro-
posed bridge, also were considered by
the commission.
A temporary wooden bridge, across
Boundary Channel from the north
west end Of Columbia Island to the
Virginia mainland, will be built to
connect with the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway and the Lee
Boulevard. The commission gave ap-
proval to the plans. as far as de-
veloped.
Alley improvements Approved.
Plans were presented by the Alley
Dwelling Authority for the betterment
of certain alleys here. The commits
sion gave its assent to these, but under
existing practice, the location of these
developments was not made public,
as land purchases are involved.
John Nolen, jr.. director of plan
ming. and Settle told the commission
of the cooperation received from the
city of Alexandria, Va. in zoning and
subdivision matters. This had par
ticular reference to the Mount Vernon
Memorial Highway, which runs
through that city. The Alexandria
authorities promised that, in accord
ance with a contract entered into with
the Federal Government, any ques-
tions of oommercialization of the
highway would be referred to the
Planning Commission for study.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, who is another ex-
officio member of the commission,
promised to sponsor legislation in the
coming Congress to bring up to date
the Districts "antiquated' zoning
laws, enacted March l. 1920. This
will be done after a proposed draft Of
the law is submitted to the Zoning |
Commission, on which the District |
Commissioners have representation.
Zoning Problems Weighed.
Alfred Bettman of Cincinnati, Ohio
member of the Ohio State Planning
Board and the commissions consult
ant on legislative plans affecting zon-
ing and planning, appeared before
the commission and submitted his
preliminary draft of the proposed
changes here. These were not made
public. Harland Bartholomew of st.
Louis. another consultant Of the COM
mission on zoning, also has made a
study OF zoning problems here and
his recommendation were considered.
The commission instructed its chair
man, Frederic A. Delano, and its ex-
ecutive oficer, Arno B. Cammerer. the
latter a member of the Zoning Com
mission, to 60 over Bettman's final
report, which he will present shortly.
and forward it to the Zoning Com
mission.
Settle said that Arlington County,
and Alexandria, Va. have more mod
ern zoning laws and regulations than
the District because they have been
enacted within the past few years.
The desire to have the National Capt.
tails zoning statutes 'moderniEed"
ra,,sod the ria uners IN ernhark IIpon a