Evening star., 1950-11-28

more specific and directive than in
the present act.
The National Capital Planning
Commission is created as the CEN
trail planning and co-ordinating
agency to secure the appropriate
and orderly development and re-
development of the National Capital
and its environs, and the conServa-
ton of its natural and historical
features. The commission is directed
to plan, provide guidance and pro-
mote cooperation for the purpose
of accomplishing coordinate de-
velopment of the area, consonant
with the nature and function of the
National Capital. The "environs.
now indefinite, are defined as includ-
ing the adjacent counties in Mary
land and Virginia and the cities
within their outer geographical
bounds.
New Feature Sought.
The probable need for dispersion
of certain Government activities
calls for an entirely new feature
not in present legislation. 1t is an
authorization for the commission
to extend its plans or planning
studies, guidance and cooperation
to any county or city within SC
miles to the District whenever il
becomes necessary in the National
interest to locate any Federal de-
velopment or project within such
jurisdiction.
This authorization is carefully
restricted so as to permit the COM
mission to do only such planning as
is required to coordinate the Fed
eral development with local plans
at obviously cannot impinge upon
any rights or controls which local
jurisdictions now have; rather will
it provide an official medium where
by independently sponsored Federal
developments and local plans can
be adjusted one to the other.
Commissions Purpose.
(b) Purpose of Commission:
The strengthening feature Of this
statement of purpose is the require
ment that Federal and District
agencies shall look to the commits
sion and utilize it as the central
planning agency" Otherwise, most
of the language in this subsection is
similar to existing legislation.
(c) Composition of Commission:
The present commission consists
of four ex-officio officers of the Fed
eral and District Governments, four
eminent citizens well qualified and
experienced in city planning, ap-
pointed by the President, and the
chairman of the Senate and House
Committees on the District of CO.
lumbia. Under the proposed legis-
lation, the members would be in
creased from 10 to Is.
Continuing as ex-officio members
would be the chief of engineers of
the Army. the Engineer Commits
sioner of the District of Columbia,
the director of the National Park
Service; substituted for the chief OF
the Forest Service would be the ad-
ministrator of General Services, and
added would be the architect of the
Capitol, making total of 5 ex-oficio
members.
Citizen Members.
Citizen members, well qualified
and experienced in city planning
would be increased by one, in bal
ance with the increase in the num-
Der of ex-officio members. More than
two decades of experience have
shown the value of having an equal
number Of lay representatives. with
professional qualifications on the
commission. They have brought
wide experience, a national view
point, and considerable prestige to
the commission as a body whose
influence must always depend on
such factors. They serve without
pay.
A typical city planning commits
sion has a representative of the
governing body, such as a member
of the city council When the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission was formed, the Chair.
men Of the Senate and House Com
mittees on the District of Columbia
became the logical representatives
Iof the Congress. These are con-
tinued in the proposed bill, except
! that it provides that if they are un.
able to serve in person, each of then
| is authorized to designate a repre-
sentative to serve in his stead.
Representation Essential.
As an increasing part of the COM
missions function is to be the de-
velopment of co-ordinated regiona
plan, representation of each of the
basic political Jurisdictions compos.
ing the region is essential. The leg.
islation therefore provides, in add.
ton to the two members of the
Congress, that three eminent citi-
zens shall be nominated, one each
by the Governors of Maryland ano
Virginia and the District Commits
sioners and appointed by the Presi-
dent. No planning qualifications are
required for these appointees.
I'd Officers and Employees of the
Commission:
No substantial change in existing
legislation is involved in this SUBJ
section except the alternative au-
thority to employ an Executive ON.
Ger. The wording with respect tt
Civil Service and Classification law.
has been approved by the Civi
Service Commission.
Advisory Groups.
(e) Advisory and Co-ordinatine
Committees:
Specific authorization for such
Committees is an important new
provision which the commission be-
lieves essential to facilitate agree
ment upon plans between Federal
State and local authorities. Under
it, official status would be given tc
number of hard working commit.
tees which have been in existence
for many years.
To facilitate consideration Of
local viewpoints in its regiona
planning activities, the present com.
mission has proposed the creation
of a Regional Planning Council
which would consist of representa-.
tiveS OF each of the planning agen.
cieS within the repion IJnder thi,