Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-16
Planners Begin Study
OF Freeway Project
In Montgomery

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission at a one-day
monthly meeting today began a
study of the knotty problems which
surround location of the con-
troversial Northwest Freeway in
Montgomery County.
The commission heard a presenta-
ton Of plans for the project from
Col. E. Brooke Lee, Montgomery
County park commissioner and vice
chairman Of the Maryland National
Capital Planning Commission.
John Nolen, jr., the Washington
commissions director of planning,
said yesterday in announcing that
Col. Lee would attend the meeting,
that the fact the planning COM
mission is taking an interest in the
project is not to be taken as evidence
of a move to take sides in the con-
troversy.
Charged Only to Advise.
The commission, he explained, Is
charged by law to advise on planning
for nearby Maryland and Virginia
as we'll as the District. 1t does not
have any authority to make its
advice stick, however, in the case
Of the freeway project.
Property owners in residential sec
tons of the county have protested
strongly against the proposed right
of way for the super roadway and
an effort is now being made to
choose a location which will not be
as Objectionable.
Until now, Mr.. Nolen said, the
Washington commission has not
been officially advised that the free
way has reached a "right-of-way"
or active stage, although it has
learned Of developments through the
press.
Principal Concern.
The commissions principal con-
Germ, he said, is to see if the freeway
as planned by the Maryland au-
thorities will dovetail with the re-
gional highway system for the en-
tire Washington area.
To bear away from y. S. Route
240 northwest Of Gaithersburg, the
freeway is to swing past Rockville
to the west and join with MacAr-
thur boulevard at the District line.
Col. Lee also was to present his
commissions plan for locating air.
ports in nearby Maryland. The Ma
tional Capital Commission is making
an airport survey for the entire
Washington area. It has received
the information it needs from Vir-
ginia but not from Maryland.
A progress report on the commits
sion's program Of land purchase for
parks, Fairgrounds and parkways
was to be heard today from Norman
G. Brown, land purchasing off1cer.
Land transfers between Government
agencies and proposed removal of
streets from the District highway
plan also were to be considered.
Others News on List.
The following items were to oc-
cupy the commission during this
afternoon:
l. Latest plans for overpassing
the Mount Vernon Memorial high
way and the railroad tracks with an
approach to the National Airport
from United States Route No. /.
2. Recent amendments proposed
by the District Zoning Commission.
3. Progress to date on a plan the
commission is sponsoring to set up
joint consideration of coming changes
near the District line by the District
and Maryland.
4. Latest population and housing
estimates made by the commission
staff at the request of the WASH
ington Board of Trade.
S. Progress to date on the local
veterans housing problem.
s. How the commission may best
assist the Commissioners Special
Committee which is trying to pre-
pare a report to end reports" on
Washington transportation, high
way, parking and traffic improve
ments. The committee is headed
by Col. j. D. Arthur, assistant en-
gineer commissioner, and the plan
ners are not represented ON the
group. s-
7. Progress toward the proposed
Washington hospital center called
for by the Tydings Bill.
8. What matters the commission
staff should bring before a hearing
concerning the Metropolitan WASH
ington waterfront to be held by the