Evening star., 1953-03-03
Board
Reforms Bill
Is Drafted
Senators lofstrund
And Fletcher Are
Sponsoring Measure
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Steff correspondenf

ANNAPOLIS. Mar. 3.-The
State senators from Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties
have drawn up a proposed bill
which would effect reforms in the
Maryland-N National Capital Park
and Planning Commission but
extend its jurisdiction through
out both of their counties.
I'VE have reached the con-
clusion that there is little public
demand for the abolishment of
the commission" said Senators
Anders r. Lofstrand. jr., Re-
publican, of Montgomery. and
j. r. Fletcher, Republican. of
Prince Georges, in a joint
statement.
They submitted their COM
promise" bill to the delegates
from their two counties last
night.
Emphasizing that they are
not welded to their new pro-
posal, the two senators said it
represented "a crystallization of
our thinking" on the contro-
versy which arose here when
the joint Montgomery and
Prince Georges delegations in
troduced the 1853 version of a
bill to abolish the planning
commission and transfer it's
functions to the two counties.
Say Bill Meets Criticism.
They said they are convinced
their new bill meets every we'll
founded criticism of the COM
mission and at the same time
preserves intact and implements
it's vital bi-county regional
planning functions"
The proposal, In extending
jurisdiction Of the commission
throughout the two counties,
would abolish the present Upper
Montgomery County Planning
Commission. The bi-county COM
mission now has Jurisdiction
only over the urban area of the
two counties.
Rural municipalities would not
be included in the commission S
jurisdiction, under the new bill,
unless they specifically re-
quested it.
The proposed measure also
specifies that no planning COM
mission tax be levied in the new
territory to be taken in for at
least two years.
Other Provisions.
Other provisions of the Lof-
strand d-Fletcher proposal:
1. Reduce the commission adj
ministrative tax from its present
4 cents to 8 cents on each 500
of assessed valuation.
2. Automatically reduce the
administrative and park taxes
whenever surpluses reach q GER
tain point.
8. Repeal the commissions s.
cent recreation tax in Montgom-
cry and transfer the recreation
program to the county.
4. Title to parks and recrea-
ton areas would remain with
the commission, with the two
counties paying a portion of the
maintenance.
S. Building inspection and zon-
ing enforcement would be trans
ferred to Prince Georges County
"at such time as the county may
request such action" Those two
functions already have been
transferred out of the planning
commission in Montgomery.
6. Require public hearings on
the planning commission budget
in both counties.
z. Require that when the COM
mission makes recommendations
to the counties on coming amend
ments, it provide also the report
of its technical staff.
8. Continue the commission as
a six-member body, with three
members from each county, but
specify that not more than two
members from each county come
from the same political party.
The appointments would con-
tinue to be made by the Gov
ernor on recommendation of the
State Central Committees.
Duplication and Waste.
The statement Of the two Sen
ators said creation by the county
council Of the Upper Montgom-
cry Planning Commission "has
involved duplication of planning
activities and waste" It said
strong opposition to the new
planning commission "has been
voiced by farmers and the vast
majority of other residents"
Delegate Robert Wallace. Re-
publican, Of Montgomery. chair
man of the four-man "compro-
mise" committee named by the
joint delegations last week to
work out a new planning COM
mission bill with the Senators,
said he would call his committee
together today to discuss the new
n.Al