Evening star., 1953-08-21
Chief
For Area-Wide
Prob|enlsUrged
Chairman Watkins
Of Regional Council
Pushes Proposal

Pushes Proposal
The Executive Board Of the
National Capital Regional Plan
ming Council today will be asked
to support move to appoint
ar independent planning direc-
tor directly responsible to the
council.
Robert M. Watkins, newly
named chairman of the council,
said yesterday he would make
the proposal formally today at
a board meeting in the District
Building.
Mr.. Watkins also is chairman
of the Maryland National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Com
mission. That group yesterday
unanimously Endorsed his pro-
posal to have an independent di-
rector for the council.
What I am proposing" Mr..
Watkins said, lis appointment by
the council of a director free
of any entangling alliances and
responsible to the council, rather
than to any constituent mem
bers."
Mr.. Watkins said this free-
dom was needed to permit a
planning director to handle fairly
area-wide problems on which
member agencies may differ.
To Reveal Dispute.
The move is sure to bring into
the open a reported dispute be-
tween the National Capital Plan
ming Commission and other
members of the regional council.
John Nolen, jr.. director of
the national commission, has
proposed that his Office name a
chief of general planning who
would devote part of his time
to the councils work and a
regional planner who would, in
effect, serve as director of PLAN
ming for the council.
I'VE need man who is not
welded to any member agency"
Mr.. Watkins said yesterday.
If the Executive Board goes
along with Mr.. Watkins pro-
posal, it will then be submitted
to the entire council Septen1.
ber 81.
Mr.. Watkins is exceptionally
cool to Mr.. Nolen's proposal. A
number of other members of
the council are reported to share
his view.
Mr.. Watkins, however, wants
the national commission to use
its money to pay the regional
planning director. He added
other member agencies would
be willing to contribute their
own statfs' time and funds.
Relationships Strained.
Several matters recently have
strained relations between the
national commission and the
Maryland group. ..
The two groups went in op.
posite directions on the Mary
land State Roads Commission
request for approval of a plan
to put the southeast leg of new
Route 240 through Rock Creek
Park.
The Marylanders supported
the request but it was turned
down by the national commits
sion
Yesterday, the Maryland COM
mission heard Blair Lee Sd dis
cuss the commissions budget re-
quests for fiscal 1954-5.
The Maryland commission an
nounced some time ago it would
ask for the full $1.9 million in
Capper-Cramton park acquisition
funds that have not been appro-
priated by Congress.
Meanwhile, the national COM
mission has prepared its budget
and pared almost to nothing the
Maryland request.
Without Consultation.
Mr.. Watkins said this action
was taken without any consulta-
ton with his group.
1--WE feel we are entitled to ap-
pear before the national COM
mission and justify our request
and not have them make up our
minds for u.s." he said.
Mr.. Lee noted that Congress
had made no appropriation under
the Capper-Cramton Act for the
last three years.
This year." he said. I'VE are
trying to rig up something to
which Congress can say yes"
He added the national COM
mission also is aware of the de-
on Capitol Hill for a
slash in next years budget.
Mr.. Lee also suggested that
the Maryland planners investi-
gate the possibility Of getting
park funds from the State, az
other areas have been doing. The
Maryland commission has been
studying this problem for some