Evening star., 1946-11-02
State Body Approves
.SeapIane Base Site
In Prince Georges
Special Dispoteh TO The star

DIAL 1MoIbEl, 1NOts A-fbCo1424A1i-
ing its position that no airport
development should be blocked be-
cause of the possible effect on prop
erty values in the community, the
Maryland Aviation Commission to-
day gave it's blessing to the site
selected for proposed seaplane base
in Prince Georges County.
The applicant, Palmer c. Scar
necchia of Bethesda, was given per-
mission to proceed with develop
ment of the base, which is to be
located about 8 or miles south of
Washington, where Broad Greek
flows into the Potomac River.
The approval was granted con-
tingent on compliance by the opera
tor with Federal and State aviation
regulations and any local zoning
laws which might apply. 1t was
also stipulated the seaplane base
shall be operated only in daylight
hours.
Must Install Equipment.
Mr.. Scarnecchia will have to apply
for a license for the base after he
has constructed a ramp and hangar,
has installed markers and buoys
and has provided other facilities
called for in the State licensing law.
He testified at the public hearing
here yesterday that he proposes to
provide a seaplane and float plane
anchorage, fueling facilities, rest
rooms, servicing and facilities for
minor repairs. He also plans to give
instruction in seaplane flying.
The latter proposal was the one
that drew the most vehement protest
from property owners and residents
Of the Broad Greek section. some of
whom expressed apprehension that
student pilots would plummet into
their homes. ''S'' q" f.'' '''''
90 Fears for Mount Vernon. e.
Gardner L. Booth, Alexandria
(Va) attorney, representing the
Board of Regents of the Ladies
Association of Mount Vernon, was
especially fearful that some plane,
operating from the Broad Greek
base, would fall on the historic man
sion and start fire that would
absolutely destroy it,
Protests were filed either verbally
or in writing by numerous property
owners in the vicinity, including
Sumner Welles, whose residence is
at nearby Oxon Hill Manor. He
stated in letter that was entered
as an exhibit at the hearing that,
in his opinion, construction of the
proposed seaplane base would be lin
the highest degree detrimental to
residential property throughout the
neighborhood.",
Richard Dyas of the Mount Ver-
non Citizens Association protested
on behalf of the owners of fine
homes and estates across the Po-t
tomac from the proposed base. He
said these people had invested heav-
lily in these properties and should
not be subjected to the kind of
nuisance that would result from
operation of the proposed base.
CAA Official Indorses Site.
In support of the application,
Harold M. Mcfarland of the Air
plane Owners and Pilots Associa-
ton, testified that private flyers
were most anxious that good sea-
plane base be established in the
Washington Metropolitan Area. T.
M. Wayave, chief of the seaplane
section of the Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministration, testified the CAA had
tentatively proposed ,as part of
the national airport plan, that a
seaplane base be constructed at the
site chosen by Mr.. Scarnecchia. He
said that he had personally in
spected the site and liked it.
The applicant pointed out that
transient seaplane operators have
no decent" place at present in the
Washington Area for fueling over
night, mooring and minor repairs,
and that such facilities and services
were "sorely needed"
The State Aviation Commission,
only last month"; disapproved an ap-
plication from Mr.. Scarnecchia for
permission to build class / airport
near the site of the proposed sea-
plane base. Virtually the same
property owners protested in that
case, but the disapproval was based
on insufficient runway length rather
than complaints that it would injure
the health, safety or welfare" of
the neighborhood.