Evening star., 1950-03-14
Proposed Code
0nCountyRoads
Called Too Rigid
Engineer Suggests
Modification During
Rockville Hearing

LIE CIldTge was maze Dy Irwin
I. Kaplan. former chief engineer
of the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission at
hearing before the county Coun-
Gil in the Rockville Courthouse.
The hearing was continuation
OF last Saturdays eight-hour ses-
sion attended by nearly 500 per-
sons.
The proposed code would re-
eulre sidewalks and vertical curbs
in all new subdivisions and would
increase the present 26-foot paved
width OF streets to % feet.
Grading Required.
In addition. builders would be
forced to grade the entire right
OF way on subdivision streets
winch would be increased from
80 to so feet in width and to
post bonds guaranteeing satisfac-
tory work.
The present code, which is con-
lined to subdivisions in the subur-
ban area Of the county, requires
builders to put down streets,
rolled curbs and cutters. They
are not required to grade any por-
ton OF the right of way.
Mr.. Kaplan emphasized that he
favored practical" residential
subdivision streets. But he ar
gued that the requirements in the
proposed code ARE unnecessarily
rigid and can be modified without
adversely affecting the ordi-
nance"
He said one of the provisions in
the proposed code would require
the engineer in charge of road
construction to guarantee the ac-
curacy of all work performed in
connection with the plans SUBJ
mitted to the Public Works De-
partment.
Calls Step Unnecessary.
This guarantee, according to
Mr.. Kaplan, is entirely unneces-
sary."
Il am a professional man en-
gagged in my line of work for 25
years" he declared. 1T is true
that We all make mistakes, but we
perform our duties as best we
know how. I see no reason why
I should subject myself to be held
for damages.
BY the same token, a doctor
does not furnish his patient with
written guarantee that he is
prescribing the proper medicines.
nor does lawyer give a written
guarantee that he will win every
case for his clients. Why should
the professional engineer be re-
quired to do what other profess
sional men are not required to
do?"
He also criticized a provision
limiting street grades to q maxi
mum of 4 per cent. He contended
street grades should be made to
fit the conditions"
Calls 26-Foot Width Ample.
Depending upon conditions.
he told the council, "a grade of IL
or IL per cent will not prove to be
impractical. especially in the roll
Ing hills of Montgomery County"
Another witness, Gilbert Bell, a
civil engineer, claimed that the
present 26-foot width is ample"
and that widening it further would
merely increase the cost of con-
struction and maintenance"
He added the increased widths
also would cause more traffic
hazards, since it would take pc
destrians longer to cross the street.
AS for sidewalks, Mr.. Bell in
sisted that they are unnecessary
except on heavily travelled streets.
Letter introduced.
David E. Belts, Rockville attor-
ney representing the county's
Home Owners Protective Associa-
ton. introduced in evidence a
letter from the Washington Met
ropolitan Chapter of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects.
The letter charged that the
proposed code would result in an
excessive increase in road con-
struction costs and discourage
new construction, resulting in loss
of revenue to the county. The
chapter contended the codes pro-
visions would mean a cost of 81, 100
to the owner of a 60-foot lot,
amounting to virtual confisca-
ton"
The group advocated that a
committee be set up to study the
matter further.
About 20 persons attended to-
days hearing. County officials
indicated that the hearing would
be adjourned in time for the Coun-
cil's weekly meeting at pm. No
decision is expected today.
Federation Asks Revision.
Last night the Montgomery
County Civic Federation urged
that the ordinance be revised in
the light of testimony at current
hearings"
The vote of So to 8 came after
nearly two and a half hours de-
bate. Earlier two other resolutions
had been defeated. Allan B. Fay,
of the Wood Acres Association
proposed the compromise resolu-
ton.
. Walter H. Verdier, chairman of
roads, streets and bridges, brought
in resolution urging enactment
Of the proposed ordinance with
the exception of the provision
making sidewalks on secondary
residential streets mandatory. /"
The resolution suggested that a
provision be substituted making
such sidewalks possible at the
option of the affected residents
and property owners.
Blair Lee III of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, spoke in opposi-
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