Evening star., 1938-12-14
Roadside Beauty
Control Plan
Approved
D. c. and Maryland
Auto Units Act-Low
On Pedestrians Backed
BY G. ADAMS HOWARD,

by u. ADAMS HOWARD.
A roadside development and con-
troll program, with particular stress
upon the Baltimore Washington
boulevard, was approved enthusi-
astically at a joint meeting and
dinner of the Advisory Board of
''the District of Columbia Motor Club
of the American Automobile Asso-
citation and the Board of Governors
of the Automobile Club of Maryland
last night in the Willard Hotel.
The two organizations also adopted
a resolution asking that two COM
'mlttees be chosen to further the
aims at the meeting of the Mary
land State Legislature in January.
The local Advisory Board, at
supplementary meeting held earlier
at the hotel, approved pedestrian
control for the District Of Columbia.
1T was urged in a resolution that
pedestrians crossing at intersections
be required to obey traffic signals
and police officers commands Just
as motor vehicle drivers are now
required and that pedestrians be
prohibited from crossing the street
at any point other than at marked
or unmarked crosswalk.
The adopted highway program
followed exactly the wording of
suggested uniform act approved at
an annual convention of the Ameri-
, can Automobile Association recently
held in Cleveland. The Cleveland
program was made applicable to the
various States of the Union. Pur-
poses are threefold: First to
eliminate unsightly structures along
the highway; second, to prevent
further commercial encroachment
in the future; third, to regulate the
appearance and sanitary condition
Of all roadside catering establish
ments and to assure periodic in
spection of such places.
Covers Other Highways.
Briefly, the proposal covers all
State highways and also those high
ways outside the State system over
which the State exercises super
vision or which it helps to construct
or maintain. Incorporated munich
palties of 1000 or more people are
specifically excluded from its pro-
visions unless the municipality
decides to come under its own gov
erning body.
The administration of the act is
delegated to the State highway
commission or such other agency
as the Governor of the State may
QnnNiof hnip to u
II possible, the creation of new
bureaus or commissions
The act sets up protected area
along all highways covered, this
protected area extending 1000 feet
from the center of the right of way
on both sides of the roadway. The
area in turn is divided into two
sections, namely, the commercial
districts and on-commercial dis
tricts. There are two basic regula-
tions that apply to both commercial
and non-commercial districts: First,
the 50-foot strip on both sides of
the highway within which no struc-
lures can be erected other than
wayside stands for the sale of
produce raised or goods manufac-
tured on the premises, which must
be located at least Is feet from the
right-of-way line, and official or
officially authorized warning and
direction signs. If existing bill
boards violate this 5O-foot rule, they
must be relocated. Second, the ad-
ministrative agency has the right to
enforce whatever regulations are
al tot
appearance of catering establish
ments along the protected area.
Provides Appeal Machinery.
AS regards the commercial area,
no other restrictions on business or
industry apply. In non-commercial
areas within the protected district,
there can be no new business or
industrial use of property without
specific permission from the admin
istrative body. Certain types of en-
terprises such as hospitals, nurseries,
cemeteries, and so on, are specifically
exempted from this ruling. How
ever, in the event that persons de-
sire to erect structures in violation
OF the act, ample provision is made
for hearings before the administra-
tive body, after due notice, and for
appeals in the event of an adverse
decision. The act is not retroactive
except as regards the sanctity of the
50-foot line
The resolution last night was Of
fered by Mrs. George c. Thorpe,
who made the report of a committee
headed by Mrs. Walter B. Fry, presi-
dent OF the District Parent Teacher
Associations. Other speakers in
cluded Senator William H. King,
chairman of. the Senate District |
Committee; Senator George L. Rad
clffe of Maryland, C. M. Falconer,
president of the Automobile Club of |
Maryland; Charles c. Collins, A. A. A.
general counsel; c. P. Taylor, State
manager, Maryland Highway Plan
ming Survey; Wilbur Simonson,
senior landscape architect of the Bu-
reau of Public Roads, and Washing
ton L. Cleveland manager District
division of the A. A. A.
Senator Radcliffe stated that he
was keenly interested ip the pro-
gram and that he felt that safety |
and esthetics were closely aligned |
in life. He pledged full and hearty
cooperation.
A. A. A. Praised by King.
Senator King, after espousing the
proposal, paid high tribute to the
American Automobile Association,
stating that the organization had |
stimulated the demand fer better
highways and as a result IT,. Ameri- |
can people had been brought in
closer contact with themselves which
resulted in their becoming more uni
fled on national questions. He saw
no legal difficulties concerning the
highway plans and said that it was a
question of maintaining the public
welfare.
MIR. Taylor, in approving the plan,
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