Evening star., 1951-06-22


Economic Benefits
To Foirfox County
The proposed new airport a
Burke, Va, would furnish employ
ment for 5000 workers and even.
tually, may lead to the Govern.
ment centering there some 5000
employees now in Washington avi-
alton agencies, Civil Aeronautics
administration officials predicted
today.
Frederick B. Lee. deputy ad-
ministrator, made this economic
point in favor of the proposed
4.500-acre location at a meeting
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission which has
been called upon to report on the
site. Action by the planning COM
mission was expected late today.
Fairfax County planning Of
ficials who appeared at the meet
ing had given two prime reasons
why they and the Fairfax County
Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions opposed establishment of an
airport at the suggested location
supplementing the Washington
National Airport.
Herbert F. Schumann, planning
director for the county'S Planning
Commission, said that If the prof.
ect goes through it would take A.
500 acres off the county's tax
books. disturbing the rate base on
which bonds are issued. All their
available information, he con-
tended, pointed to "a very harmful
effect" the airport would have in
depressing nearby property values.
Contention Disputed.
This latter contention was in
stantly challenged by CAA off,
cials. Intensive studies showed
otherwise at Dallas and San Fran
cisco, they claimed.
Reports from those two cities
indicated that both business and
residential properties located near
the airports actually rose in value.
CAA officials said they would fur
nish Fairfax County with the fac
tual data of these surveys.
They also assured Fairfax off,
cials that studies are being made
to safeguard existing highways in
connection with the proposed air
port. They referred particularly
to State Highway 1913.
The CAA is cooperating with
the Public Roads Administration
and the Virginia State Highway
Commission to work out a plan
fitting the proposed, smile limited
access road from Shirley highway
into the comprehensive plan for
Washington and its environs.
That would mean, it was said,
the access road would tie in either
with the proposed Monticello
highway or the proposed outer
circumferential highway sur
rounding Washington.
Explain Access Road
The aviation officials also
sought to clear up point in con-
nection with the access road to
the airport which has disturbed
county residents. They claim the
road would not impose restric-
tions on vehicles but would merely
have safe grade crossing.
Mr.. Lee said he hoped work
could begin next spring on the
whole project and that the air.
port and road system could be
completed early in 1855. He said
officials had reason to believe at
least 5000 would find employment
soon after the airport was in op-
Grafton. They would include oper-
ational employees and hundreds of
others connected with services and
concessions.
Furthermore, he pointed out, be-
tween 1000 and 5000 Federal en-
ployes in Washington are now on
the rolls of air agencies. He be-
lieved the Government would re-
move these employees to the new
Burke airport in time. i
Federation Opposed. |,
BY unanimous vo, the Fair
fax County Federation of Citi- ,
zens' Associations last night went !
on record IN opp 5ition to loca- /,
tion Of a new airport at Burke
or anywhere else in the county. !
The groups Executive Committee
was asked to take all possible ac-
ton to prevent the Federal Gov
ernment from taking over the
site.
The federatio voted after hear :,
ing William Bird, chairman of the
Airport Relocation Committee, !,
formed Monday night. Mr.. Bird, =
who is vice president of the Burke
Communities Civic Association,
said the cost of the Burke install
lation might reach $100 million.
TT would be foolish to spend :
tens OF millions" Mr.. Bird said, .
when the most modern airport in !
the country has facilities avail Il
able" He was referring to Balti- q
more's Friendship International o
Airport. which he said will have
plenty OF room for civilian traffic a
even II military use is expanded.