Evening star., 1954-11-23
Fairfax Unveils
Master Plan
Amid Protests
Burke Airport
Recommendation
Hit by Judge Brown
BY Mary Lou Werner

sut W SoOSS OtOWu
BY Mary Lou Werner
Fairfax County's proposed
master plan ran headlong into
its first opposition as soon as it
was unveiled officially last night,
disclosing the Burke Airport
where the Civil Aeronautics
Administration recommended it.
Besides the airport recon-
mendation, other highlights Of
the plan are a 5000 million net
work of super highways, 28 new
elementary schools and 8 new
high schools, a public water sys-
tenn supplied by the Potomac
River, a 4,000-acre site for some
Government agency that might
be dispersed. expansion of the
county sewer system, conflne-
ment of thick development to
the area nearest Washington
and ban against construction
along flood areas.
Francis Dodd McHugh, profess
sional consultant engaged by the
county for the $150.000 planning
project, called the Burke Air
port an important asset to the
county's future. He stressed
that the master plan at this
stage-including the airport
represents only his views. and
does not imply any official posi-
ton on the county's part.
Judge Brown Dissents.
Judge Paul Brown, who at
tended the formal presentation
of the master plan to the Board
of County Supervisors, imme-
diately took exception to the
Burke Airport recommendation.
Judge Browns home is within
the original proposed airport site,
and he had been a leader in the
campaign to keep an airport
away from Burke.
"Were you aware when you
drew this map that the Board
of County Supervisors and the
Planning Commission here were
on record against location of an
airport at Burke?" demanded
Judge Brown.
81 had heard that, yes." said
Mr.. McHugh. This just repre-
sentS my opinion of what is best
for the county"
Judge Brown also noted that
one of the proposed new high
ways cuts through the proposed
Burk Airport site. Mr.. McHugh
said that highway would have to
be moved westward slightly to
Aavoid the airport. and explained
that the maps before the meet
ing represented only an approx.
nation of the proposed routes.
Fan Out Into County.
Five of the proposed new high
ways fan out into Fairfax County
from the Washington area like
spokes in a wheel. All but one
begin from the proposed inter.
mediate circumferential express.
way in Arlington County as rec
commended year ago by Wilbur
Smith & Associates in a survey
for the State of Virginia.
A spectator asked how the
highway program could be A.
nanced. The consultants replied
that a study of the highway tax
money collected in Fairfax
County by the State indicated
the entire program could be
built with those funds. All
roads in Fairfax County are
built and maintained by the
State
The planners said routes were
selected through undeveloped
areas as much as possible to
make right-of-way acquisition
easier.
All but one Of the % new
proposed elementary schools are
within the area recommended
by the planners for thick SUBJ
urban development.
A public water supply system
is essential to the county's future
growth-particularly in the SUBJ
urban section nearest Washing.
ton. according to the planners
calculations. Fairfax currently
relies on individual wells or
numerous small private water
companies for service.
Fairfax currently has engi-
neers engaged in a comprehen.
sive study of water systems.
The 4.000-acre site proposed
as a Government dispersal is In
the far western corner of the
county. Mr.. McHugh said this
was selected because it was more
than 20 miles from Washington,
and seemed suitable for dis.
persal of a non-strategic
agency. He said he had no par
ticular agency in mind, how.
ever.
County Sewer System.
Expansion Of the county sewer
system to serve approximately
double the amount of territory to
be serviced under the current $40
million program is contemplated
by 1880 in the planners recon-
mendations. The proposed ex-
tensions, however, would stem out
from the existing sewer installa-
tions and would not involve any
major new trunk lines to open
new undeveloped areas.
The planners recommend three
major residential divisions in the
county-close Cor suburban. de-
velopment. agricultural and con-
servation.
The plan Is subject to revi.
sion by the planning commits
sion, and then goes to the Board
Of County Supervisors for final
action. The planning commits
sion is arranging a series Of
meetings throughout the county
to explain the plan before tax.
ing action on it.