Evening star., 1947-10-31
By Nelson M. Shepard

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission had new con-
fidence today in planning for future
development of the Washington
Metropolitan Area. after assurances
Of close cooperation given by off,
cials of Alexandria City and Arling-
ton and Fairfax Counties.
Planning officials were agreed the
exchange of views and mutual
studies would do much to bring
about improved zoning conditions,
particularly in these fast-growing
areas.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man of the Federal agency, dis
closed the meeting yesterday with
Virginia planning officials had re-
suited in an agreement to form two
joint committees. One would devote
itself to the study of zoning policies
and standards. The other would
deal with water resources and
sewage disposal problems in the
neighboring areas.
Two such committees in the past.
handling mutual problems affecting
the Washington National Airport
and highway development. have
proved highly satisfactory, it was
pointed out.
Population Density Studied.
Gen. Grant said the matter Of
population density would be one of
the important zoning problems. The
committee would study conditions
to determine the maximum degree
of density. In this connection, the
question of rezoning to permit tall
apartment buildings in Arlington
County might come out in the open.
Important to the Federal agency
is the assistance promised by the
Virginia officials IN preparing the
Planning Commissions comprehen-
sive report for the Washington area.
Gen. Grant said the schedule calls
Tor the completion of at least two
chapters of the report shortly after
January l, with additional chapters
each month.
Attending the meeting from Alex
andria were T. H. Bender, vice pres
ident of the City Council; Leroy
Peabody, chairman of the Planning
Commission; Edward j. Kelly,
member of the Planning Commits
sion; c. Luckett Watkin, city en-
gineer, and Philip P. Hall, assistant
city engineer.
County Representatives.
From Arlington County: Basil M.
De Lashmutt, chairman of the county
board. Col. c. B. Garnett, chairman
of the planning commission; E. L.
Usilton and Max Wehrly, members
of the planning commission; and c.
L. Kinnier, planning engineer.
From Fairfax County-James J.
Corbalis, assistant planning engineer
of the county.
In connection with future plans
Tor redevelopment of blighted areas
in the city, the Federal planners
recommended continued study Of
Barry Farms and Marshall Heights
in the Southeast. William H. Cary,
director, Bureau of Public Health
Engineering, reported progress on
the survey being made of these
areas. A public housing project is
located at Barry Farms.
Brig. Gen. Gordon r. Young, En-
gineer Commissioner, reported to
the commission on hearings held
last week on the District Highway
plan for an underpass
to relieve traffic congestion at
Barney Circle. Further study also
was given to the location of the
proposed Andrew w. Mellon memo
rial fountain at Pennsylvania and
Constitution avenues NV, where
an overpass is planned.
No decision has been reached on
either of these two projects, which
probably will be under study for
before final agreement is
reached among all factions con-
cerned.
The commission authorized the
sale of a strip of land 20 feet deep
and fronting on Texas avenue be-
tween B and c streets NE. 1t
would put back into taxation land
purchased some years ago for Fort
Chaplin Park but no longer needed.
The narrow strip would provide
Texas avenue frontage for two build
ing lots on G street, it was explained.
Norman c. Brown, land purchasing
officer, reported yesterday that a
war veteran, Henry A. Schafer, jr.,
4128 Hayes street NE. had exhibited
a fine degree of public co-opera-
ton" in agreeing to sell his home
site at a reasonable price. The lot
and more than a dozen other unde-
veloped lots in the vicinity of Minne-
sofa avenue and Hayes street NE,
are being acquired for extension of
the Fort drive.
Except in the case of Mr.. Schafer
and one or two other owners, it was
reported, the commission is COM
pelled to resort to condemnation
proceedings to get the land.
The Fine Arts Commission, which
met yesterday, inspected and ap-
proved a white marble bust of
former Chief Justice Charles Evans
Hughes OF the Supreme Court. Done
by Bryant Baker, a New York
sculptor, the bust will be placed in
the main entrance hall of the court
The arts commission also visited
the Justice Department inner court
to view the pedestal erected there
for a statue Of Nathan Hale, Revo-
lutionary War hero.