Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-29
Road Extension
Plan Approved
For Rock Creek
Four-Lone Bridge
In Project 0koyed
By Commission

Dy Commission
Approval was given today by
the National Capital Planning
Commission to preliminary plans
for the extension Of the Rock
Greek and Potomac parkway to
Klingle road.
This provides 70 ra new four
lane bridge across Rock Creek.
near the present terminus near
the zoo and beneath the CAL
vert street bridge. The plans
also call for a four-lane tunnel
through a rocky hill on the zoo
property. extension of the park
way along the zoos eastern edge
to link up with Beach drive just
south of Klingle road.
The parkway extensions would
be four lanes wide as far as the
Harvard street entrance to the
zoo. then two lanes wide farther
northward to where it merges
with Beach drive.
Prentiss Outlives Action.
Meanwhile, Engineer Commits,
sioner Lewis w. Prentiss OUT
lined the planning commissions
action on the bridge questions
to his fellow Commissioners to-
day. The Commissioners then
voted to concur officially in the
action.
Plans were laid before the
commission by Harry T. Thomp-
son. associate superintendent,
National Capital Parks and John
Nelen. jr., commission director.
Eventually, District highway
officials and the planners want
to extend the four-lane parkway
farther northward to send traffic
into Colorado avenue, connecting
Sixteenth street NV.
Thse National Park Service,
Interior Department, has funds
with which to start this project,
officials said.
Housing Issue Raised.
In another important action,
the commission agreed to ask
the Zoning Commission in its
forthcoming study of revised
regulations and maps to give
comprehensive attention to the
problems of low-rent housing,
particularly heights of buildings.
Mr.. Nolen said that Gen.
Prentiss. coming commission
chairman. agreed to accept the
planning commission recon-
mendations as to the work pro-
gram. Relations are to be set up
between the planners and the
zoning commissions prospective
consultant. Harold M. Lewis Of
New York City.
Mr.. Lewis and Gen. Prentiss
agreed that any change in the
height would be premature, until
a comprehensive study is made.
At present a 1910 act Of Congress
limits residential buildings to 80
feet in height and commercial
buildings generally to ITO feet,
although the width If the street
Is an important consideration.
BY today's action. Mr.. Nolen
said, liaison is established in
drafting the new coming regula-
tons and maps between the
coming commission and the
planners. The planners will be
kept advised of the revision study
through Mr.. Nolen, who is the
commissions repl sentative on
the Zoning Advisory Council.
Zoning Regulations Cited.
Mr.. Nolen pointed out that the
National Capitals coming regu-
lations have not been modernized
since 1920 and complete re-
study of the subject is required.
Chairman Harland Bartholo-
NEW Of the Planning Commits
sion declared that If Congress
delegated authority to regulate
building heights to the coming
commission, this would result in
q study and constant pressure
for change. Conrad L. Wirth,
director of the National Park
Service, said he would oppose
leaving heights entirely in the
hands of the coming commission.
He declared this would have con-
siderable effect on the Mall and
the central area of Washington
and would bring into play other
elements that might not be con-
sidered by the .zoning commits
sion alone.
Backs Local Authority.
John, A. Remon, the commits
sion'S vice chairman, declared
the matter of determining
heights should rest locally and
not with Congress. He said the
trend is to delegate more au-
thority to the local officials.
At a meeting yesterday. the
planners:
/. Approved plans for relocat-
ing University lane (Route 1881
northward of Maryland Univer-
sity property to connect with
u. S. Route near Metzrot,
road. At present. University
lane cuts through the Mary.
land campus. creating a majol
bottleneck during football game.
and other rush periods.
2. Decided to take tentativ,
steps to plan redevelopmenf
projects in Northwest Washing
ton, especially the second polio,
precinct area.
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