Evening star., 1951-08-02
PLANNING Commission
Will Inspect Site Of
Burke Airport Today
By Nelson M. Shepard

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today was
to inspect the 4.500-acre airport
site at Burke. Va, both on the
ground and from the air.
The planners had postponed a
decision on the site when they
were unable to reach a definite
conclusion at its June meeting.
Tomorrow they will vote on pre-
liminary report to the Civil Aero
nauticS Authority. The final draft
of the report is not expected to be
ready until next week.
The CAA, which favors the pro-
posed site, is not compelled to &C
cept the views of the group. How
ever, regardless Of how the
planning commission votes. the
decision is expected to accelerate
final action by the CAA.
Decision to Be Delayed.
Planning officials said they
doubted that they would make
public their decision at once. But
informed circles believed the COM
mission would string along with
CAA, the Washington Board of
Trade and other groups in Wash
ington favoring the Burke site
even though it might do so re-
luctantly.
The planners will be accom-
panied to the site today by mem
berS of the Fairfax County Plan
ming Commission, having been in
vited to inspect the location BY
John w. Brookfield of the Vir-I
ginia group. The entire county
of Fairfax, Baltimore aviation in
tereSts, and Gov. McKeldin of
Maryland are virtually united I'M
opposing the site.
NCPPC is sympathetic with the
Virginia property-oWners and
planning groups; but year or
so ago, after studying nearby
areas, it favored establishing an
alternate airport at one or more
sites within a short distance of
Burke. 1t is generally understood
the planners are wholly unSym-
pathetic with the Baltimore plea
that Friendship airport, near that
city, be chosen instead.
Distance to Be Checked.
John Nolen, jr., director of
planning. said the commission
would check the time and distance
to Burke from the National Air
port. If the airport is established
at Burke, there will be a great
deal of travel between it and the
National Airport by both air Gus
toners and Federal officials and
employees.
Aside from the controversial
airport question, the planning
commission Mas several other
matters to consider at its monthly
meeting, which opened today.
It's land acquisition program in
Maryland has been knocked out,
practically, with the exception of
100000 in the next budget for
extension of the George Wash
ington Memorial Highway N.
Montgomery County. Russell Mac
Donald, NCPPC land purchasing
officer, is temporarily out of a job,
having been put on payleSs fur
Tough because of economies in the
present budget.
The commission hopes he will
be restored to duties, if conferees
at the Capitol agree to the Sen
ate proposal for $22,500 to cover
salaries and services in the land
acquisition program under the
Capper-Cramton Act. The House
reduced the amount to $4,000.
NCPPC had requested $4,000.
Report on Land Program.
Tomorrow the staff will report
on progress in the Districts over.
long delayed land redevelopmentI
program. Approval of the planning
commission is sought for the STAN
ton road housing project layout
for $50 loW-rent housing units.
The site is at the Alabama avenue
intersection in Sc. The subdivision
plan calls for groups of two toI
four houses. 1t is part of the 4,000-I
unit program Of the National Cap
ltal Housing Authority, which must
be fitted into the redevelopment
plans.
Approval of a site for the long
proposed memorial in Washing
ton to Mohandas K. Gandhi, late
Indian leader, also await NCPPCI
attention. Congress authorized
the memorial two years ago. tt
will cost the Government nothing
funds being raised by the India
League of America. However, It'll
must be built on Government
owned land somewhere in Wash
ington.
For the first time, the master
plan drawn for future improve
ments on the Howard University
campus will come before the COM
mission for study. Included in the
long-range plans are an admins
tration building, women's dormi-
tory and other structures.
The Maryland NCPPC has asked
cooperation in revising the bound
ary lines for Unit l of Rock Creek
Park, which would mean virtual
elimination of the Meadowbrooke
horSe-Show grounds. There just
isn't enough money to justify in
clusion of the grounds in the park
unit, it was said.