Evening star., 1949-01-27
Bill on Regional
Planning Here
Predicted Soon
Maryland, Virginia
To Get Representation
Under Proposals
By Nelson IA. Shepord

BY Nelson M. Shepord
A reorganization bill for the Ma,
tlonal Capital Park and Plannins
Commission that would give i
Maryland and Virginia representa-
ton and put it on a regional basi
will be introduced in Congress soon
planning officials said today.
President Truman gave impetu
to the proposed legislation in hi
budget message and the bill viii
follow the general recommendation.
made a year ago by the Budget Blu.
reau, which, however, never reached
legislative form.
Mr.. Truman told Congress in hi.
message that the role of the Ma.
tional Capital Park and Plannins
Commission should be redefinet
and a stronger statutory basis es.
tablished for proper development o.
the District of Columbia and nearby
areas in Maryland and Virginia"
Home-RuIe Bill Discussed.
At the monthly planning session
today, when consideration was giver
to legislative matters, the commits
sion discussed the Auchincloss
home-rule bill for the District anc
two undisclosed amendments to the
National Capital Housing Authority
Act.
With respect to its own reorgani-
zation plans. the commission point
ed out the Budget Bureau as well
as the Governors of Maryland and
Virginia already have approved re-
gional representation on its men,
bership board
Under the proposed plan the Gov
ernor of each State would nominate
a member of the Federal commits
sion for appointment by the PreG-
dent. Many of the basic difficulties
in planning for the development of
the Washington area have been
caused by the conflict of State
local and Federal jurisdictions
Members of the commission have
felt the need of legal authority
which would make the group more
effective than it is now as an ad-
visory board
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, has repeatedly praised. the CO.
operation shown by Maryland and
Virginia planning authorities, but
the Budget Bureau as well as the
commission feels that the powers OF
the Federal authority should be in
creased greatly.
Refuses to Discuss Changes.
Because the two proposed amend
ments to the housing act have not
reached the Budget Bureau. men,
bers would not disclose their ma
ture. One deals with the basic law
of the Housing Authority, while the
other, it was said. would amend the
present redevelopment law under
which public housing would play an
important part.
The Planning Commission had
luncheon today with the joint Ad-
visory Committee on the National
Capital. Later. this group was to
be told of the progress made on the
so-called comprehensive plan and
the redevelopment program.
At its opening session yesterday,
the commission proposed setback
apartments with attractive garden
settings to give a new look to the
city's ''foggy- bottom" a blighteo
area in the West End.
The suggestion was made by Gen
Grant in announcing the commits
sion favors 60-foot height limita-
ton for buildings, rather than the
90-foot maximum proposed in the
area now occupied by huge gas tanks
of the Washington Gas Light Co
The gas company equipment soon is
to be removed and their sites ano
the adjacent area changed from in.
dustrial to residential use.
The planning commission an
nounced it will oppose three other
proposed zoning changes at the pub
lie hearing. which the Zoning Com
mission will hold on February 9.
Proposes Setback.
In the treatment of "foggy-bot-
tom the commission suggested that
so feet, equivalent to about nine
stories, is too high for apartments
erected directly on the building
line. Gen. Grant pointed out, how
ever, that it would be possible, and
acceptable to the planning commits
sion for owners to set back apart
ment units some distance from the
building line. In that way. he said
existing regulations would permit
a height of 80 feet.
The commission announced it is
opposed to suggested change ir
residential zoning to permit the oc-
cupancy of buildings by certain
business institutions which have
nonprofit educational functions. The
commission disputed the "nonprof1t'
claim and suggested, in turn, that
many of these organizations bear
little resemblance to educations in
stitutions in the accepted meaning
Of the term.
Would Curb Parking Lots.
Another change which will be op-
poseo at the zonlng hearing would
permit the use of any vacant lot in
residential district for automobile
parking, provided it is within SOC
feet of commercial zone. Gen
Grant said his group believes such a
rule would open the door for toe
many commercial parking lots in
areas now protected by provision
that permits parking only on lots
contiguous to commercial zones.
1t was also voted to oppose an
amendment increasing the building
height between Wisconsin avenue
and the Naval Observatory Circle
from 40 feet to 80 feet.
IMountdin Beaver