Evening star., 1951-11-29
Plans Group
UnveiIsProposa
ToEnd Conflicts
New Measure Would
Give Virginia More
Voice on Council
By Nelson M. Shepard

BY Nelson IA. Shepard
A proposed new bill to reorgan,
ize the National Capital Park anc
Planning Commission and aimee
at reconciling previous conflict.
over a regional planning council
was made public today.
Designed to coordinate regiona
planning in the Metropolitan
Area more successfully and ef-
fectively, the revised draft woulo
give Virginia more representation
on the proposed council. 1t also
would broaden the advisory au-
thority of the planning commits
sion itself, with respect to District
and Federal projects.
This latter provision would di-
rect that the commission be con-
suited at the outset on new Dis
trict government buildings and
construction and development of
other projects botlI in and out of
the District limits. The same
obligation would be imposed on
Federal construction agencies, ex-
cept the military. The idea is to
fit projects into a comprehensive
plan, which NCPPC would be au-
thorized to prepare Actual power
over such projects, however. would
remain with the governing bodies
and Federal agencies.
Pending formal approval by the
planning commission and clear
ance with the Budget Bureau, the
work draft will be forwarded to
Congress in January. Meanwhile,
1t will be submitted for public
comment and approval to the
various planning commissions
and governing bodies in the Met
ropolitan Area.
NCPPC already has approved it
In principle and it is understood
the revisions have been approved
similarly by the Northern Virginia
Planning Commission, which rep
resents all the previous dissenting
groups. That group is meeting to-
night and it is possible the reor-
ganiZation bill will be under dis
cussion.
For about six months, a joint
committee representing the Dis
trict, NCPPC, Montgomery County
and the Northern Virginia Plan
ming Commission had been work
ing out details of the legislation.
After the House District Commit
tee pigeon-holed the earlier reor-
ganization bill, all agencies con-
cerned were told to get together
on differences and draw up a bill
that could receive general support.
Different Approach.
Reorganization of NCPPC for
more effective planning has been
under intense study since 1948,
Acting Chairman Conrad L. Wirth
said today. The new bill blends
ideas and language excerpts from
the former Neely-M Mcmillan bill,
blocked in the House committee
last spring after Senate passage.
1t also embodies proposals in the
1850 Comprehensive Plan and the
reorganization bill introduced on
behalf of constituents by Repre-
sentative Smith, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, proposing an advisory coun-
Gil.
The new draft introduces a diff
ferent approach to the subject
with respect to the single planning
organization proposed two years
ago by NCPPC.
On the new council, charged
with preparing comprehensive
plan for the region outside the
District, there would be 10 mem
bers. The personnel of the plan
ming commission also would be
changed from 10 members to 12.
Instead of four presidential ap-
polnteeS on the planning, COM
mission, it is proposed to have
five. The additional member
would be nominated by the Dis
trict Commissioners and appointed
by the President. AS now. one
of the presidential appointees
would have to be a bona-fide Dis
trict resident.
That arrangement would be
satisfactory here, it was said, Civ
ing the District two members, in
addition to the District Engineer
Commissioner, who is an ex-of-
f1cio member. The member pro-
posed by the District Commits
SionerS need not be an eminent
citizen well qualified and expert
enced in city or regional plan
ming" as qualifications required Of
the other appointive members. He
would be required only to show
capacity for leadership in the
planning and development of the
District of Columbia" Terms
would be for six years.
On the. advisory council of 10
there would be four from Mary
land, four from Virginia and two
from the planning commission.
representing the District. LOU
doun and Prince Williams Coun-
ties would be added to Arlington
and Fairfax Counties and the
cities of Alexandria and Falls
Church in Virginia within the
jurisdiction of the council. In
cluded also would be Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties in
Maryland.
The bill also carries an impor-
tant amendment to the Capper-
Cramton Act for the benefit of
Virginia in acquiring loan agree
ments for the acquisition of addi-
tional parks and Fairgrounds.