Evening star., 1952-07-06
Truman 10 Sign
Area Planning
Agency Bill Soon
Law Will Establish
Regional Council for
Capitol and Environs
By Nelson M. Shepard

0ktt0i WIN SuNtAVsS
By Nelson M. Shepard
President Truman is expected
TO sign legislation early this week
giving recognition to Washington
and its environs as a single re-
gional area for co-ordinated plan
ming and development.
Meanwhile, the National Capi-
tai Park and Planning Commis-
sion set in motion certain tech
nicalities of administration to take
care of the interim until its re-
organization meeting August 7-8.
Core of Legislation.
Core of the new legislation is
the creation of a genuine Re-
gional Planning Council envelop-
ing the entire Washington metro
politan area as recognized by
Congress. The area includes the
District of Columbia, Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties in
Maryland, and Alexandria City.
Arlington. Fairfax, Loudoun and
Prince William Counties in Vir-
ginia.
Eight of the 10-man council
will be nominated by county plan
ming agencies-four each from
Maryland and Virginia. Desig-
mated by legislation to represent
the District are the Engineer
Commissioner and chairman Of
NCPPC, which hereafter will be
known as the National Capital
Planning Commission.
The unanimity with which Con-
gress sent the new planning legis-
lation to the White House, after
several years of acrimonious bat
tie over the setup of a regional
planning council, speaks we'll for
early nomination of the regional
members. The nominees will be
formally appointed at the reor-
ganization meeting in August.
Reunion Likely for Post.
BY then. also. it is expected
Truman will have de-
signated the. chairman of the Ma
tional Capital Parking Commis-
sion, a new policy introduced by
the legislation. Present chairman
is John A. Remon. who is also vice
of the District of
Columbia Land and Redevelop-
ment Agency. Mr.. Remon was ap-
pointed by the President for a six
year term on April 80, 1850, and
elected chairman by NCPPC mem
perS. There Is no reason to believe
that Mr.. Truman will nominate a
new chairman.
Three new members will sit on
the Planning Commission next
month. They are Thomas H. Mac
Donald, Commissioner of Public
Roads; w. E. Reynolds, Commits
sioner of Public Buildings; and a
District resident. The latter will
be chosen by the District Commits
sioners for nomination by the
President.
The new Planning Commission
will serve as the central planning
agency for the Federal and Dis
trict Governments within the Ma
tional Capital region, as Wash.
ington and its environs are de-
signated. It also will represent
them in collaborating with the Re-
gional Planning Council and draw
up and develop a comprehensive
plan for the whole area.
To Name Own Chairmen.
The new Council shall select its
own chairman from among it's
members. AS the National Capital
region expands in future years.
provision is made for representa-
ton OF new areas in the Council.
Broadly. the Council will have
over all influence in all planning
matters outside the District. It is
required to give consideration at
all times to features of any plan
adopted by the Commission. with
which 1t will cooperate in bringing
the entire region under one
fundamental principle of Develop
ment.
One OF the next steps to be
taken by the Planning Commits
sion is to seek supplemental funds
to defray additional expenses in
Cured under the reorganization.
1t was estimated that about $780,
600 would be sufficient. Several
new jobs must be filled. They in
clude regional planner, a public
works engineer. an extra drafts
man and another clerk, at least.
Public Works Program.
A public works engineer is ne.
cessary because one of the new
requirements is for the Commits
sion to recommend a six-year pro-
gram OF public works program for
annual review.
The request for supplemental
funds will be made if Congress
reconvenes in August or Septem-
Der. Until the additional sum is
authorized, the Planning Commis-
sion will have to make adjust.
mentS under its current appro-
priation Of $98, 900 provided in the
District appropriation bill for this
fiscal year.
Members Of the Planning Com.
mission hailed the reorganization
measure as the most progressive
recognition of the growing need
for orderly development since
NCPPC was created a quarter Of
a century ago. For the first time
it recognizes the fact that the
District and it's mushrooming sub.
urban areas constitute a single
unit for planning. This is done
without depriving the nearby
county organizations Of their es.
tablished rights and privileges.
Jewish Center to Offer
Tnmreo IN Modern Nrn~A