Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
GA Building
Opposed in
Langley Vote
Residents Fear
Population Boom,
Tax Increases

.I0X increases
By 4-3 margin, residents OF
the Langley Mclean area in Vir-
ginia last night voted to fight
the Central Intelligence Agency's
proposed $38 million headquar-
tiers on Federal land at Langley.
Opposition was registered by
members of the Mclean Citi-
zens' Association in two ballots:
los to 70 and los to 80. More
than $50 residents turned out at
a special meeting in the Frank
lin-Sherman School, Mclean.
Main arguments raised by the
opponents hinged on the project
bringing a sharp population in
crease. breaking down Langley's
rural residential character" and
boosting taxpayer costs to pro-
vide additional public facilities.
10000 More Residents.
Noting these factors, Charles
c. Robinson, director of the
Northern Virginia Regional
Planning Commission and an in
vited speaker, set off the debate
by estimating the CHA setup
would bring 10000 to $4,000 new
residents to the community.
Mr.. Robinson explained the
estimate did not refer directly
to CHA personnel and their FAM
lilies. Some already live in Vir-
ginia. Others wouldn't move
there in any case. The $4,000.
he said, also includes new mer-
chants and other service peo-
pie" which experience elsewhere
shows would be attracted by
such an installation.
Robert B. Walker. Fairfax
School Board information di-
rector, said such an estimate
figuring 10000 new families at
3.6 persons per family-would
mean about $500 new elemen.
tary school children, the equiv
client Of ten 17-room schools.
CHA Keeps Silence
GAS reluctance to talk about
the project also came in for
major attention.
Mr.. Robertson said CHA OH.
Gals had asked him not to dis
close certain figures the CHA
gave the Virginia regional PLAN
nerS in recent closed session.
He drew laughter when, in q
statement, he omitted estimates
OF cost. size and the number Of
CHA employees affected-all of
which have been printed in
newspapers.
Samuel E. Neel, a Langley
resident and opposition leader,
said CHA turned down an invi-
tation to address last nights
public meeting. A Fairfax
County Planning Commission
spokesman said the agency also
declined to meet with them.
John w. Brookfield, one of the
Fairfax planners. said his group
voted Monday night to invite
CHA to build Gin Fairfax Coun-
ty," provided the Federal Gov
eminent put up money to pay
for such services as sewage.
roads and water. He said the
Government has shared such
costs in other installations.
Tax Burden Predicted
Opposition speakers, however.
questioned whether the Federal
expenditures would follow, and
foresaw the burden of such costs
falling largely on residents.
Speakers favoring the project,
led by John Lynch, a Mclean
resident. sharply disagreed.
Mr.. Lynch said he was sympa-
thetic with Langley residents
desire" to keep their area as is.
but doubted they t1uld hold out.
He said residents near other
Federal projects. such as the
Naval Medical Center in Bethes-
da, had raised the same fears
years ago. but that their fears
OF bad community impacts had
not been borne out.
He also contended the CHA
project would help get critically
needed facilities. such as the
George Washington Memorial
Parkway, a Cabin John bridge
and other roads which other
wise we'd have no chance Of get
ting for 20 years"