Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Special Highway
Group 10 Study
Freewdy Routes
Planners Receive
Three Alternate
Right-of-W Plans

An early meeting of special re-
gional highway committee sponsored
by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission will be held
to consider alternate right-of- way
proposals for the controversial
northwest freeway in Montgomery
County.
This was announced by the COM
mission at the close of its monthly
meeting yesterday. The highway
committee is composed of repre-
sentatives of the Public Roads Ad-
ministration, the Virginia State
Highway Commission, the Maryland
Public Roads Commission, the Dis
trict Government and the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant,
III, chairman of the Washington
planning group, acts as chairman.
Mission of the group in the case of
the freeway will be to see if it fits in
properly with the regional highway
plan for nearby Maryland, Northern
Virginia and the District.
Proposals for three alternate
rights-of-way were presented yes
terday to the Washington planners
by Col. E. Brooke Lee, Montgomery
County Park Commissioner and vice
chairman of the nearby Maryland
planning agency.
Col. Lee and Frew w. Tuemmler,
director of planning of the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, summarized
the status of the freeway up to this
time. They outlined the States
preliminary survey as we'll as their
own route which closely follows the
Maryland Roads Commission plan,
both Of which have been objected
to by residents of Bradley Hills,
Woodacres and other adjacent areas.
They also explained the desires
of the residents for placing the route
further to the west SO as to originate
in the vicinity of Cabin John and
extend up Thomas Branch Valley,
as expressed last month at a meet
ing in the Landon School for Boys.
The Maryland planners said early
settlement is necessary because sew
eral large real estate developments
are being held in allegiance pending
final decision as to location of the
route.
John Nolen, jr, the National
Capital commissions director OF
planning, and Thomas S. Settle,
commission secretary, told report
ers after the meeting that Col. Lee
had agreed to setting up a joint
coming advisory committee of Mary
land and District officials to pass
on District line coming disputes.
The planners suggested forming
such committee after two coming
controversies, involving proposed
shopping centers on Western avenue
near Pinehurst Circle and on East
ern avenue at Michigan avenue
NE. had brought the matter to q
head.
Mr.. Nolen revealed that District
Engineer Commissioner Gordon r
Young, member ex-officio of the
commission, has said the District
may have to request additional
park land for temporary veteran
housing units if the type of build
ing requested from the Federal
Public Housing Authority is not
received.
The Commissioners have requested
eight-family units. However, il
smaller units are provided, they
will take up more land area.
During the meeting, the com.
mission was told the Maryland plan
ners have not as yet completed
advance data on civil airports in
nearby Maryland.
Mr.. Nolen quoted Col. Lee as say
ing there are two obvious posi-
bilities for nearby Maryland air.
ports, one where Congressional Air
port now is, and the other in the
College Park area to tie in with
aeronautical research being carried
on by Maryland University.
The commission approved a pub
lie roads administration plan for
building viaduct from U. S. Route
over the railroad tracks and the
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
so that trucks may reach National
Airport conveniently.
The commission also recommended
that the District Zoning Commits
sion amend regulations concerning
110-foot buildings with 20-foot set
backs so that along the alley side
of such buildings no setback would
be necessary where a courtyard
separates the building from the
alley. The recommendation was
occasioned by plea from the build
er of the Reconstruction Finance
Corp. building now underway at
Connecticut avenue and H street
NV.
RsSxIup