Evening star., 1946-01-26
Planning Board Refers
Tourist Camp Issue
To Play Committee

To Play Committee
Decision whether to build a new
tourist camp in East Potomac Park
or somewhere else, leaving the park
for recreational development, now
rests with the Committee for Co
ordinating Recreation Plans for the
District Recreation System.
The question was referred to this
committee, subsidiary of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, by the commission as it
closed its January meeting yester-
day.
Milo F. Christensen, District su-
perintendent of recreation, is chair
man of the committee. On it serve
representatives of the Office of Ma
tional Capital PARKS, the planning
commission, the District govern
ment, the public schools and the
Council of Social Agencies.
Approved Plan in 1941.
1t was this committee which in
1941 approved a plan for removing
the old tourist camp from East
Potomac Park and devoting the park
to recreation space for the use of
Government employees after working
hours. Under the 1941 plan any new
tourist lamp built was to have been
placed elsewhere.
The decision of the committee
must be reported back to the plan
ming commission for final action.
Thomas S. Settle, commission Sec
retaE, said late yesterday the COM
misslon probably would be able to
render decision on the tourist
camp at its February meeting.
After discussion throughout the
entire morning and part of the
afternoon of the height to which
broadcasting companies should be
permitted to build television towers
in Washington, the commission yes
terday recommended to the District
Commissioners that they:
Adopt the policy of accepting
such tower heights as the Federal
Communications Commission con-
siders necessary for the proper de-
velopment of television broadcast
ing, except where the presence of
the tower in a particular location
and height would be detrimental to
the character of the National Capt.
tal."
Policy Recommended.
The commission further recon-
mended that the Commissioners
conflne such towers to "the lowest
heights consistent with the forego-
ing criteria."
The recommendation was made
at the request of the Commissioners,
who have the final say on the height
to which such towers may be built.
The commission heard explana-
tory testimony yesterday from C. B.
Plummer, FEC engineer, prior to
making the recommendation.
Mr.. Settle told the press Mr..
Plummer had outlined FEC policy
on television towers as follows:
The most desirable height for such
towers is 500 feet above the average
surrounding terrain. If towers of
that height are not possible, how
ever, the FEC may authorize lower
heights.
Two Permits Granted.
To date the Bamberger Broad
casting Co. and the National Broad
casting Co. have been granted per-
mits for towers of 300 feet near Fort
Reno and $50 feet at Wardman Park
Hotel, respectively. subject to the
final approval of the Commissioners.
The proposed Bamberger tower
would top surrounding terrain by
about $40 feet, since Fort Reno is
about 2l0 feet above the average
terrain. The NBC tower, on the
other hand, would reach only about
$50 feet above the average, since
Wardman Park Hotel is about the
average terrain.
Both companies are at present
competing with four other appli-
cants for the four television licenses
which the FEC will issue for Wash
ington.
Street Model Approved.
The commission yesterday ap-
proved model demonstrating how
streamlining Fourth street NV
where it crosses the grounds of
Howard University would affect the
campus.
The model shows that Fourth
street will run through a cut made
to lower its grade and will be
bridged by pedestrian overpass SO
that students crossing from dormi-
tories to classrooms will not need
to descend to street level nor be
delayed by traffic. The model will
be submitted to university officials
for approval before the District
Highway Department proceeds with
grading operations.
The commission yesterday also Of
fered the Commissioners all assist
ance possible in attempting to find
sites for 600 temporary housing units
which the Federal Public Housing
Authority has offered to build here
for District vatpropc TI,ora hoe