Evening star., 1944-11-17
Planning Group
Acts 70 Prepare
For IeIeyisiion
Oppose cIuttering
Of Skyline With
Needed High Tower.

While In favor Of fostering the
postwar development Of television
for the District, the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission
today served notice on radio broad.
casting companies that it will op-
pose any plan to clutter Washing
toms skline with 400 or 500 foot
television towers erected indiscrimi-
nately about the city.
For that reason 1t has invited
representatives Of all broadcasting
companies who have filed applica-
tions with the Federal Communities
tions Commission to meet here
with a view to working out all mat
ters OF joint interest" No date has
been set.
John Nolen, jr., director of PLAN
ming. reported to the monthly PLAN
ming session yesterday on the results
OF a meeting held Tuesday between
the commissions Co-ordinating
Committee and the representatives
OF one of the leading radio broad
casting companies. Six other COR
porations, he said, already have filed
applications with FEC to operate
television stations in this area after
the war.
Seek Adequate Service.
!, Approving the recommendations
of its Co-ordinating Committee, the
Planning Commission viii advise In
terested parties that instead of
scattering individual television sta
tions about the city, the towers
should be grouped.
Mr.. Nolen explained this plan was
suggested in the interest of provid.
ing adequate service to all parts OF
the city and also to reduce the
number of towers on the skyline.
Because television waves, unlike
radio waves, follow straight line
of light, it is necessary to build the
towers to a great height in order to
avoid any intervening land obstacle
between stations.
Sites Available.
The Planning Commission be-
lieves the towers should be located
on high ground-"the higher the
ground, the lower the tower" Mr..
Nolen explained. There are a num-
Der OF suitable locations here, such
as the Wisconsin and Nebraska ave-
nue. ridges, Soldiers Home, Fort
Reno Reservation and in North Ar
lington.
The broadcasting chains, it was
said, were desirous of learning
where they could build towers Of
considerable height" in Washington
with the approval OF the various
Federal agencies concerned.
Planning Commission members
recognize that television will be
coming in for development on a
vast scale after the war, but they
believe precautions should be taken
before hand to protect the orderly
fpianning of postwar Washington.
A report was made yesterday by
Max Wehrly, civic planner, on the
economic aspect Of developing the
Barry Farms subdivision, which lies
across the Anacostia River north of
st. Elizabeth's Hospital. His study
\ "oo NAAASA edhCn III NICW Dl SApGEbCQ
Legislation providing for redevelop-
ment Of urban areas in the District
after the war.
| VIII Release Report.
His report will be summarized by
the commission and released for
publication at later date. So also
will report made by Thomas c.
Jeners. landscape architect, on the
extent of all land acquisitions by the
Planning Commission since 1924,
when it was created.
The report on the Barry Farms Is
one Of series of studies the COM
mission is making in view of the
pending urban redevelopment bill.
His study showed, in general, that
the tax returns on this private de-
velopment known as Barry Farms
provide only small proportion Of
the cost to the District in providing
public services for the area, such as
police and IRE protection, schools
and sewage.
Mr.. Jeffers' report, it was said,
covers all land acquisitions for parks,
parkways and the recreational sys.
tenn of the District, bringing the Ell.
lott report of 1929 up to date.