Evening star., 1951-01-07
New Expressway
In Rock Creek
Park Proposed
Planners Outline
Highway Network
For Montgomery

COIlSLrucClOH OF an eXpfeSSWay
In the Maryland portion of Rock
Creek Park to connect with the
existing Rock Creek and Potomac
parkway from the Potomac River
to Calvert street has been pro-
posed by the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission.
This was revealed yesterday by
Blair Lee III, commission vice
chairman, in a report on the
agency's activities during the last
u months.
The report covered all but two
months of his period in Office,
from which he resigned several
days ago. In his place, Gov. Lane
has appointed Cecil A. Eby, Be-
theSda civic leader.
The proposed expressway, ac-
cording to Mr.. Lee, would be the
keystone in a plan for a number
of controlled-access highways in
Montgomery County that would
be similar to the road network in
the New York suburbs.
ExpersSway Would Fork.
Under the plan, the expressway
would continue north from its
junction with the Rock Greek
Park parkway to a point south
east of Kensington, where it would
fork. One prong would run north
west to join the new Northwest
freeway (relocation of Route 240)
and the other would 60 northeast
to hook up with the new Columbia
pike to Baltimore (relocation of
Route 29.
In addition, an express high
way would leave the George
Washington Memorial Parkway
along the Potomac and extend up
Cabin John Branch to join the
relocated Route 240.
MIR. Lee pointed out, however,
that the plan is opposed by the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the Regional
Highway Planning Committee.
The latter. he said, favors bring
ing Route 240 into Washington
through the Landon School, Wood
Acres and Sumner developments.
The Planning Committees idea,
he contended, would "mutilate"
existing neighborhoods and seri-
ously affect several school and
playground sites. if carried
through.
Cost Is Higher.
But the Maryland commission's
proposal. he insisted, would fol-
low natural barriers and split no
neighborhoods. The increased con-
Struction cost would be somewhat
compensated by the fact that the
right-of-way is either already in
public ownership or is unde-
veloped."
Also revealed for the first time
In the report is the fact that con-
struction of three community cen
ter buildings is underway on the
Lynnbrook, East Kensington and
Takoma Park Recreation Centers.
The brick and masonry struc-
lures, the first of their kind to
be built by the commission, are
being erected by the Segreti Con-
struction Co., Washington, at a
total cost of $118.720. Completion
is expected by July.
Each will contain a large as
sembly room, kitchen, bathroom,
fireplaces and storage space.
They are part of the commits
sion's park and recreation sys-
tenn, which now comprises 1.543
acres, excluding school play
grounds and park areas owned by
municipalities, Mr.. Lee reported.
Future Sites Needed.
He said there still is an "ex-
tensive" need for acquiring future
sites for recreation centers in
other parts of the suburban area.
These include Oakview, Forest
Estates, Turkey Branch. Rosemary
Hills, Maplewood. Whitehall, Glen
Echo Heights and Bannockburn
In the field of zoning, Mr.. Lee
said the new zoning ordinance
being drafted by the planning
agency is more than 80 per cent
complete and should be ready for
presentation to the Montgomery
County Council early this year.
It would increase the present
five zoning classifcations to Il
and would permit up to three
roomers in single-family homes
This Is prohibited under the pres
ent ordinance.
The commissions building in
spection Offices in Silver Spring
and Bethesda broke all records in
1850. They issued 7,195 building
permits for construction valued
at $77,820,894.
New Records Set.
The figures also set a new all
time high for single-family home
construction. Permits were issued
for 5,401 such homes valued at
$62,342,700. This compared with
3,197 single-family home permits
for work valued at $32,795, ,240 ir
1949.
Mr.. Lee told the commission
however, that he recommended
transferring building inspection
to the county if:
1. County jurisdiction will not
be prohibited under the charter
in towns and special taxing dis
tricts.
2. The commissions admins
trative Scent tax rate is raised
to 4 cents to compensate for the
loss of the annual building in.
spection surplus of about $25, 900
3. Provision is made for the
routing of all building permit ap-
plications through the planning
commission to make certain they
conform with existing and pro.
posed master plans.