Evening star., 1948-03-13
County 10 Halt
Street BUILDING
In Subdivisions
Action Taken to Stop
overburdening of
Bond Structure
By J. B. Zutmon

In a move to prevent the over
burdening Of Montgomery County's
financial structure, the county COM
missioners yesterday decided to deny
all petitions to have the county
build streets in new subdivisions or
to improve existing streets on q
front-foot benefit basis, If they are
not maintained by the county.
Under the new plan, the county
Will improve streets and charge the
cost to the property owners only II
the county already maintains them.
Payment will be spread over a 10
year period.
In line with their new policy, the
commissioners rejected petitions for
Improvement Of three streets, esti-
mated to cost approximately $4,000.
They said they would take similar
action on several other requests, in
volving an outlay of about $4,000,
which are expected to be presented
soon.
Three Petitions Denied.
The three petitions on which un.
favorable action was taken requested
the improvement of Bethesda ave-
nue. between Arlington road and
Clarendon road, Bethesda; Gardiner
avenue between Brown avenue and
Kimban place, Silver Spring, and
Hickerson drive, Wheaton.
The board adopted the new pro-
cedure at special meeting in Rock
vile, after County Supervisor Irving
6. McNays said the county is not
In position to comply with all
street-improvement requests.
We can't afford to underwrite
the construction of new streets with
the county to be repaid in 10 years."
Mr.. McNayr declared.
He said that in many cases, build
ers OF new subdivisions fail to put
in streets which comply with the
county's specifications. When pur-
chasers of the homes ask the builder
to improve the streets, Mr.. McNayr
said, they are told to petition the
county.
Must Meet Specifications.
He explained that the county will
take over and maintain a new street
only if it meets county engineering
specifications.
The commissioners also voted to
appropriate about $4,000 in order
to be eligible to receive approxi-
mately 100000 in Federal funds for
road construction. According to j.
Ernest Hawkins, clerk to the board,
the county now has about 500 900
on deposit with the State Roads
Commission to be used in matching
Federal funds and SIS, 1000 left over
from a 1945 bond issue.
The action was taken at a con-
ference with Austin F. Shure. as
sistant chief engineer of the State
Roads Commission; E. G. Duncan,
district engineer for Montgomery,
Anne Arundel and Howard Counties,
and Herbert G. Bowers, Federal
Project representative Of the COM
$235,000 for River Road.
Approximately $235,00O Of the
total county and Federal fund will
be used to improve River road for
a distance of three miles from the
end of the existing pavement to
Travilah road, including a new
bridge over Watts Run. When COM
pleted, the road will be maintained
by the State, it was agreed.
The remaining money will be used
to improve nearly two miles of Ciop-
pers road between Choppers and Old
Germantown, including a 10O-foot
bridge over Seneca Creek.
At the same time, Mr.. Duncan
revealed the commission has award
ed a contract for improving and
widening two miles of Route % ex-
tending north from Rockville. He
said the section of the road, which
now range in width from 10 to 90
feet, with two 5-foot shoulders,
would be widened to % feet, plus
two 8-foot shoulders.
He said the commission also plans
to improve Flower, Carroll and Sligo
avenues and Piney Branch road in
the Silver Spring -Takoma Park area.