Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-31
5Deny Trying
IoBoost Value
OF Belt Route
Planning Commission
Muy Coll Meeting
To Hear Story

concern about how some real
estate men were able to learn the
route of parts of the proposed
inter-county belt freeway in
Prince Georges County.
Any implications that they
we're attempting to boost the
value of the belt road right-of-
way were heatedly denied by
Spokesman for five petitioners
whose rezoning applications
caused the furore.
As a result. Sidney NJ. Oliver,
vice chairman of the planning
commission. released a state
ment saying: !.
IF q wrong impression was
created as an outgrowth Of the
commissions meeting on Thurs
day, during which these petit
tons were discussed. the COM
mission certainly will make every
effort to eliminate that impress
sion"
Special Meeting Sought
MIR. Oliver said he will try to
get the commission to call a spe-
cial meeting next week to give
the owners of the land involved
in the controversial rezoning ap-
plications chance to tell their
side of the story.
The FIVE petitions were accom-
panied by maps showing the pro-
posed route of the belt road
through the properties involved.
The planning commissioners.
on Thursday. expressed alarm
that the petitioners seeQed to
know where the road was going.
They also expressed a fear that
rezoning the five tracts to in
dustrial and commercial, as re-
quested, would increase the cost
Of obtaining the right-of-way by
an estimated $1.2 million.
The applications that aroused
the most comment from the
planners were two from the Belt
Land Co. seeking light industrial
coming for two tracts-one l25
acres, the other 1868 acres-ad-
iacent to Edmonston road in
Greenbelt.
Precise Route
The smaller of the tracts COW
cred the precise proposed right
Of way of the belt road.
Fred w. Tuemmler. profess
sional planner representing the
Belt Land Co, said his clients
decided to request rezoning of
what they figured would be the
road right-of-way "as a tactical
move to force the State to make
UP its mind on whether it was
actually going to put the road
through there"
Mr.. Tuemmler said his clients
are trying to industrially develop
430 acres of land purchased at
auction from the Federal Gov
eminent at Greenbelt a year and
o half ago.
As for the planners bewilder-
ment about where his clients OBJ
tanned the right-of-way map ac-
companying the two petitions.
Mr.. Tuemmler said he drew it
from information supplied by
Michael Baker. jr., Inc, engin-
eering consultant firm that has
been surveying the belt route for
the commission for two years.
Claim Authorization
He said Baker was authorized
TO give his clients the informa-
ton by Norman Pritchett, chief
engineer of the State Roads
Commission.
Jack and Abe Pollin, officers of
the Belt Land Co.. said they
were shocked at the commissions
attitude as expressed on Thurs
day. They said their sole inten-
ton In the re-zoning applica-
tions has been to develop a
planned industrial city. to be
called Beltway Park. Their only
interest in the belt road. the
said, was in finding out where it
would be so they could proceed
with their planning.
They said their attorney.
Ralph W. Powers, advised the
filing of a separate petition on
the tract including the belt road
right of way after comforting
with a member of the planning
commission" Mr.. Powers is
former associate counsel Of the
planning commission.
Another of the petitions with
a belt road right-of-way map
that disturbed the commission
involves 263 acres Of land at
Landover road near Sheriff road.
The would-be developers, seeking
apartment and commercial zon-
ing. are headed by Harry A. Ros-
well. jr.. who said the plat map
accompanying their petition was
just a guess on our part"
Warren Giauque, Princ e
Georges planning engineer for
the planning commission, con-
firmed yesterday that Mr.. Bos-
wells map must have been
guess work because it is not &C
cHrate.
Against Policy
Mr.. Boswell said that, II he
and his associates knew for GER
tain where the belt road was
going to go, I'VE would have ex-
cluded that section from our
petition for rezoning."
Mr.. Boswell also was agent for
another of the controversial pc
titions, this one covering 81
acres on Central avenue owned
by Philip Justine. On this one,
too. Mr.. Boswell said the right
of-way map ne included was a
matter Of guesswork.
Leroy c. Moser, chief right
of-way engineer for the State
Roads Commission. said the
right-of-way map attached to
Tho Affh controversial ra1oat,, n