Evening star., 1946-04-11
Plan
Under Study
In Bethesda
Compoet Business
Center With Wider
Streets Contemplated

A land-use plan for the Bethesda
business district, calling for exten-
sion of commercial zoning, establish
ment of offstreet parking facilities
and initiation of a street-widening
program, was being studied today by
the Bethesda Chamber of Com
merce.
The proposals were outlined to the
chamber last night by Fred w.
Tuemmler, director of planning for
the Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
The plan calls for the commercial
ization of the Woodmont triangle
between Old Georgetown road and
Wisconsin avenue, north to Rugby
avenue, and shows a new street
system for the area that will make
1t adaptable to business use as the
needs develop.
Three reasons are given for the
expansion in this direction. 1t will
create compact business center,
rather than one strung out along
the main arterial highways; one of
the oldest, outworn residential areas
will be utilized for productive use;
the area of expansion is within the
V-shaped arm of business streets
and new commercial uses will grow
inward instead of outward into good
residential neighborhoods.
Apartments Contemplated.
Along with this new commercial
development goes proposal to re-
zone for apartment purposes a large
tract of land lying between Rugby
avenue and the Woodmont Country
Club west of Wisconsin avenue.
Other apartments are contemplated
on East-West highway and Bradley
boulevard.
| One OF the reasons given for the
proposed multi-family dwelling use
of the large tract in Woodmont Is
the presence of the Naval Medical
Center and the National Institute
OF Health. The apartments would
provide homes for the employees at
these institutions, Mr.. Tuemmler
pointed out.
These employees in turn would
constitute consumer group for the
nearby business area.
The revised street plan for the
Woodmont area shows the widening
OF all existing streets and the ex-
tension Of Middleton lane from Wis
conSln avenue to Old GEORGETOWN
road. Norfolk avenue would be con-
nected with this lane at one end and
with Glenbrook road at the other.
To Extend Glenbrook Road.
Glenbrook road would then be ex.
tended to join Glenbrook parkway
at the intersection of Wisconsin
avenue, cutting off a section of the
Woodmont Country Club grounds.
! It is Mr.. Tuemfnler's suggestion
that a hotel be placed in this Sec
ton.
| The proposed land use plan also
shows areas suggested for of street
parking purposes.
At present. Mr. Tuemmler pointed
out, four buslines serving the west
ern suburban area pass through or
terminate in. the central business
district of Bethesda A larger num-
Der OF passengers boards or leaves
buses in this district than in any
other. The new land use plan,
therefore, contemplates a bus ter
minal on the proposed new Middle
ton lane.
Mr.. Tuemmler said he has dis
cussed with the Capital Transit Co.
such a central bus terminal and
has been assured it appears rea-
sonable. The company has agreed
to study the problem further with
the planning commission.
MIR. Tuemmler pointed out that
extension of industrial property in
the business area is undesirable in a
hlgh-class residential community.
The proposed land-use plan, there
fore, holds the industrial area to its
present size except for two small
sections abutting residential prop
erty, which have been suggested for
apartment house use.
Some of the improvements needed
Immediately in the existing busi-
ness center were listed by Mr..
Tuemmler as follows:
widening OF Wisconsin avenue
from East-X. est highway to Jones
Bridge road; channelization and i'm
provement of the system of traffic
controls at the intersection of Wis
consin avenue, East-West highway
and Old Georgetown road; off,
street parking facilities, and the
opening and improvement of certain
streets to provide adequate circula-
ton around the immediate business
district and to make existing COM
mercial land accessible and useful.
Mr.. Tuemmler explained that the
plan as submitted is that of the
technical staff and not of the COM
mission. Opportunity for full ex-
preston of public opinion will be af-
forded at public hearings.