Evening star., 1944-12-31
Wider Power for Planning Body
|Opposed by Commissioners

lOppOSeu Oy NC
The Budget Bureau has re
ceived from the Commissioners /;
letter expressing strong opposi
ton to extension of the power
of the National Capital Park ant
Planning Commission for plan
ming the development and re
Development of the metropolitan
Area, it was learn last night.
The Commissioners, it was under
stood. have objected on the grount
that it would weaken the initiative
of the Commissioners and Distric
agencies; that it would upset pri
vate and quasi-public propert,
values and that, with the reorgan
ization of the planning commits.
sion into practically a Fedora
agency, the intimate touch between
local government and the public
would be lost.
Costly Duplication Feared.
The city heads also are under.
stood to believe the present law
gives the park and planning group
sufficient authority to serve as 6
planning agency. The Commits.
sioners also are understood to be.
lieve the proposed legislation woulo
delay the action of regular mu.
nicipal agencies and would add tt
the cost of government through du.
plication of personnel.
The bureau also has been advised
1t was learned, that the Legislation
might render the District liable to
damages through inability to func-
tion in a timely manner because
of the governmental procedure
called for by the measure.
Mandatory consultation with the
park and planning body also was
target of attack by the Commits
sioners, it was said. The city heads
are said to have taken the view that
they and other municipal officers
have made use of the advice of
the commission in the past and will
continue to do so in the future. 1t
also was pointed out that all i'm
portant planning matters are aired
at public hearings, at which the
Park and Planning Commission has
an opportunity to present its views
If the Commissioners have not al.
ready consulted the commission.
Recommended Last May.
Reorganization of the park anc
planning commission to clarity it.
role in the city's future development,
was recommended in May by tht
Budget Bureau in a lengthy report
to the President. At that time II
was said that the proposal had the
unqualified backing of Mai. U. S
Grant, III, chairman of the com.
mission.
The bill, which would change the
name OF the commission to the Ma
tional Capital Planning Commits
sion, would grant the commission
the following powers and duties.
l. The commission would act as
the central planning and co-ordinat-
ing agency to secure the orderly de.
velopment and redevelopment of the
National Capital area and the con-
servation of its natural features ano
park system.
2. In amending the original act
creating the commission, it is the
intent of the act to make Fedora
and District government agencies
utilize the commission as a centra
planning agency.
3. TIE Commission would bt
composed of the chief of Army en-.
gineers, the District Engineer Com
missioner, the architect OF the Cap.
ltol, the director of the Nationa
Park Service, the administrator O.
the Federal Works Agency, tn,
chairmep of the District Committe,
OF the House and Senate and fly,
eminent citizen well qualified ane
experienced in city planning" a
least one of whom shall be a bons
flda resident of the District, to b,
appointed for a six-year term b,
the President.
Duties Set Forth.
4. In developing comprehensiy,
plan for the Capital Area, the plar
must include provisions for lane
use and distribution of population
the preservation and conservation
OF natural scenery and resource.
.: coming regulations: schoo
and library sites; Fairgrounds
parks, and other neighborhood re-.
reation areas; redevelopment of OBJ.
solescent and blighted areas; public
and private buildings; building reg.
ulations, including location, height
bulk, and size of buildings and re.
quired open space; trafic contr )
and public transportation, high.
ways, major thoroughfares, park.
ways, viaoucts, and bridges; drain.
age, sewerage and water supply
commercial and industrial areas
terminals, water fronts and har.
bors; projects affecting the ameni.
ties of Life; and all other propes
elements OF city and regiona
planning"
S. To insure comprehensive plan.
ming, any Federal or District agency
planning to acquire land to con.
struct a public improvement mus
consult with the commission, which
must make preliminary repor
within 80 days. If the Federal o.
local agency disagrees with the com.
mission it must state its reasons ane
wait a stipulated time for an an.
swer before taking action ''in &C.
cordance with its existing legal re.
sponsibilities and authority"
6. An act Of 1888 providing fol
the zoning and regulation Of thu
location, bulk and uses Of building.