Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-17
Belt Route Suit
Dismissal Plea
Set for July IS
Maryland Planners
See Restriction as
Threat to Project


miss a property owners suit
seeking to block the intercounty
belt route in a nearby Maryland
part Of Rock Creek Park will
be argued in Federal Court on
July Is.
The date, set yesterday by
Federal Judge Matthew M. Nc
CURE, was the latest step in a
lengthy battle over whether the
National Capital Planning Com
mission acted legally in approx
ing use of the 2h-mile park
stretch east of Wisconsin avenue
for the road.
While the hearing date was
being set, however. the planning
commission itself came under
scathing attack by Maryland
officials for imposing conditions
on its approval of the belt road.
The planning commission last
week approved detailed plans
for the belt road in the park.
But it said the approval was
given only on condition that the
belt road, at a point where it
dipped south Of the park, not
be connected with a southeast
leg of Route 240.
Threat Seen to Road.
At a meeting of the National
Capital Regional Planning
Council yesterday, Maryland
members of the group contended
the national commission had no
right to impose such conditions
and imposed "a grace threat"
on the belt road in doing so.
Robert M. Watkins, chairman
of both the council and the
Maryland-Nat Capital Park
and Planning Commission, said
the planning commission has
control only over park areas
and that the controversial con-
nection would be on private land.
In a strongly worded prepared
speech he contended the plan
ming commission had never
given the Maryland Roads Com
mission any indication it would
oppose the connection during
frequent discussions on the belt
road design.
Priority in Doubt.
Mr.. Watkins said the $29 mil
lion belt road, planned for con-
struction within the next four
years, was threatened because
the roads commission might not
be able to maintain the present
priority" in the face Of road
needs elsewhere in the State.
Harland Bartholomew, plan
ming commission chairman and
a council member, defended the
conditional approval voted by his
group. He said it was entirely
consistent with the planners
long opposition to a southeast
leg of Route $40 in park lands.
He said his group had been
prepared to approve uncondi-
tionally the belt road design in
the park, as well as a connection
with the Route 24O leg west Of
Wisconsin avenue and outside
park lands.
Mr.. Bartholomew stressed that
he has been a foremost advocate
of circumferential routes, and
strongly favored the inter-county
road. He said the design sub
mitted, however, raised questions
about whether it was a true
belt distributor route"
Donald Gingery, another
member of the Maryland group,
defended the roads commission
plan to use this measly 5000
feet of park" to carry Route 240
traffic on the ground it would
be too expensive to build the
$40 leg through privately de-
veloped residential areas in
Bethesda.
He charged that the reason
for the opposition was a fear
that the Route 240 traffic would
be extended through the District
part of Rock Greek Park to
downtown Washington.
Brig. Gen. Louis w. PrentisS,
Engineer Commissioner, said
District highway officials have
such a long-range plan. but that
it is not included within the
public works program for the
next 10 years.
The council, at Mr.. Watkins
request, unanimously reiterated
its support for the belt route
after the heated discussion.
Court Gets Plans.
The controversial belt road
plans. meanwhile. were submit
ted to Judge Mcclure yesterday,
along with the Government mo-
ton to dismiss the suit against
Vic CCOC1 al P1d11IlCIOs 414C QdOC
was set for July Is to give attor-
neys for the plaintiffs time to
obtain dispositions from engineers
concerned.
On other matters. the council:
1. Met with officials of the
Metropolitan HomebuilderS' AS
ISOLATION of Washington and
agreed to work together in map
ping uniform building, coming
and other codes for the area.
2. Voted to cooperate with
the National Park Service in
developing the controversial 180-
mile Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
area. The type Of development
favored by the council was not
stated.
3. Decided to await results
from the Federal Bureau of Pub
lie Roads on study of q proposal
that colored water be sprayed on
automobiles as a method of
marking them for origin-and-
destination traffic counts on
major roads.
Vordenboum Promoted