Evening star., 1942-07-18
Planning Board
Studies City's
Postwar Needs
Commission Decides
To Adhere to Plans
Made for 1o43

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission has decided to
continue it's civic planning program
for 1943 and at the same time dis
closed today it is exploring plans
for a postwar program of improve
ments.
John Nolen. director of planning,
outlined sketchily the objectives of
1o43 at the close of the commissions
July meeting yesterday. 1t was the
opinion of the commission that re-
gardless of the war and its compli-
cations, plans necessary for the
orderly development of Washington
and the Metropolitan Area should
continue.
That means, it was explained, the
commission will function as the
planning agency for street widening
and extensions and for the acquisi-
tion of playground, school and park
sites. 1t also will continue to work
in cooperation with governmental
agencies on problems such as emer-
gency housing and locations of Gov
ernment buildings.
Data Compiled.
The commission also will continue
to serve as the co-ordinating agency
in helping plan for the extension of
public utilities for development areas
and for new public buildings.
Through continuing studies of this
nature, it has assembled a great
deal of data which would be made
available to Federal agencies.
More directly involved in war and
also in postwar development in the
Washington area, the commission
functions as the local agency for the
National Resources Board. Chair
man Frederic A. Delano also heads
the Resources Board which is a
super planning agency started dur
ing the depression agency to work
in cooperation with the States in
developing the Nations resources.
In that connection, the Planning
Commission felt that it should con-
tinue to study and develop plans for
highways, limited access roads and
parkways.
Post War Planning Urged Now.
Naturally, it was assumed the
longer the war continues, the more
restrictions would be placed on city
development except as it affects the
war program. Mr.. Nolen was of the
opinion that the time to study post
war needs was during the war and
not after. Studies of this nature |
would involve regional planning on
. wide scale, one of the principal |
cbjectives being to provide jobs after
the war letdown.
For that reason. it was felt the
commission should go ahead with
plans for carrying out the new
Washington Baltimore boulevard
route and possibly purchase at an
early date a link in the route from
Bladensburg to Greenbelt. That
route would connect with the Fort
Meade reservation, about two-thirds
of the distance to Baltimore.
Studies also were recommended |
for developing the proposed highway
from Washington to Gettysburg, Pa.
The commission recommended a
route following the George Wash
ington Memorial Parkway to Great |
Falls, thence to Seneca, Md. The
George Washington Parkway has
been built only as far as Key Bridge
at present, but land acquisitions are
being accumulated.
The postwar program, it was felt,
should also be extended to Arlington
County and Prince Georges County. /
These rapidly growing sections will
require considerable extension of
public utilities and highways in the
next few years. The commission is
already working on adequate sewer
plans in both areas.