Evening star., 1944-05-03
Increase in Powers
For Capital Planners
Due for Close Study
Budget Bureaus Report
Asks Fullest Opportunity
For Civic Development
By ]. A. O'LEARY.


The proposal of the Budget
Bureau to give the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission a stronger voice in the
affairs not only of the District
government but of Federal
agencies that take a hand in the
development of Washington is
likely to receive long and close
scrutiny from Congress and
local civic groups before it be-
comes a law.
The 45-page report Budget Direc-
tor Harold D. Smith transmitted to
the President Monday is replete
with suggestions as to how the COM
mission should be given the full
est opportunity for positive plan
ming leadership in the development
and re-development Of the National
Capital area"
The degree Of support or, opposi-
ton the report stimulates probably
will depend on the exact new pow
ers delegated to the commission
when the budget findings are trans
lated into the draft of a bill. There
was no draft of bill in the report.
Advisory Functions.
The few concrete recommends
tions that directly affect the Dis
trict government, are not drastic
in nature, as set forth in Mr.. Smiths s
letter of transmittal, if the bill to
carry them out clearly defines them
as advisory functions.
Time after time, however, the re-
port uses language which leaves the
impression the budget investigators
have in mind clothing the Planning
Commission with great deal more
power in dealing both with the
Commissioners and Federal depart
ments.
For example, the report closes
with the suggestion that if the
Planning Commission is "to dis
charge its obligation effectively
much more is required than sitting
as reviewing agency for the con-
sideration of projects which are
presented by developmental agen-
cies." Only the draft of the bill will
show how much more than review
ing power is to be recommended.
The specific recommendations
are:
l. The Planning Commission
would take the place of the Zoning
Advisory Council, created by Con-
gress in 1888, to make preliminary
studies of proposed amendments to
the city zoning plan. tThe Plan
ming Commissions director of plan
ming is already on the council, along
with an Assistant Engineer Com
missioner and the executive officer
of the zoning Commission)
2. The planning agency would
"advise" the Public Utilities Com
mission on matters which are of
general interest in connection with
the planning and development of
the transportation system of the
District"
3. The planning agency would re
view" all changes in regulations
governing the sub b-dividing of local
property and advise" the Commits
sioners on the relation of pro-
posed changes to the general plan. y
Major Thoroughfare Plan.
4. The major thoroughfare plan
developed by the Planning Commits
sion will be proposed for adoption
as whole by the District Commits
sioners.
5. The planning agency will pre-
pare an advisory program of cap
ital improvements, based on the
advance programs of Federal and
District agencies in the Capital area
to aid budget and appropriating
authorities by relating individual
projects to the total requirements
6. In addition to its present statu-
tory responsibility for approving the
location of Federal buildings Except
the Capitol group, the planning
commission seeks similar authority
over municipal buildings lin the
central area except when Con-
gress stipulates location.
New Subdivisions.
In connection with No. 3-the
layout of new subdivisions, the
budget report states that efforts to
arrange for the presentation of
proposed subdivisions to the plan
ming agency have not succeeded,
although for a time plats were sub
mitted on the basis of an informal
agreement" Subdivisions are regu-
tSee PLANNING, Page A-16.)