Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-05
Planners Delay
Decision on
Site for CIA
Property at Langley
tentatively Backed
By Agency OfficioIs
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE


new building site at German
town, Md, are still undecided
about a location for the
Itop-secret Central Intelligence
Agency.
Also undecided-although ap-
lparently not very much SOS
the CHA itself, which will make
its site selection within a few
weeks and submit it to the plan
ners for advice.
In a letter to the National
Capital Planning Commission,
made public yesterday, CHA
Deputy Director L. K. White said
| it was Tentatively" decided that
a site on Federal property at
Langley, Va. would be the most
preferable. But he emphasized
that the matter is still under
study.
Col. White also appeared yes
terday at a joint meeting of
the commission and the Ma
Itional Capital Regional Planning
Council. called specifically to
give interested Virginians a
chance to sound of on the con-
troversial Langley location.
Voices in Conflict
The Virginians did, with COM
lplete disagreement on Cd ade-
quacy of public facilities to
serve the site, t2) whether the
residents there want it, and 80
what its impact on the small
estate character of Langley will
Ibe.
| Earlier the planners whipped
Through approval of the site for
the Aces new $40 million build
ing in Maryland. In sharp con-
trast to the CHA battle. the Acc
location, in rolling Montgomery
County farmland. aroused vir-
tually no controversy.
| Two property-owners in the
Langley area. Roger Fisher and
Anthony Lewis. carried the ball
for opposition to the CHA 10
eating in their area.
Particularly, Mr.. Fisher took
strong exception to a statement
by Col. White that, except for
"a small minority" the county
would welcome the CHA at Lang
ley. His main point was that it
is not the Federal installation
so much that is opposed. but
the extensive commercial and
residential development that he
said inevitably would follow it.
Pointed Questions
He asked the planners specifi-
Ically to sort fact from fiction on
four points: The CHA buildings
impact on existing and planned
development. adequacy of,public
facilities, evaluation of alternate
sites and whether 1t would be
possible to take over the Federal
land in question for park de-
velopment under the Capper-
Cramton Act.
c. c. Massey, Fairfax County
executive officer. reported of
ficially" that the County Board
docs and always has" liked the
Langley location. He argued that
services would be available, that
the project is in line with estab-
lished development plans and
that it would not have bad i'm
pact on the community.
Seconding Mr.. Massey's argu-
ments were Robert Geiger, Fair
fax planner; Dick Smith, editor
of local weekly paper in the
county. and w. c. Wills, presi-
dent of the Fairfax Chamber of
Commerce.
Mr.. Smith also attacked as
without foundation" objections
raised to the Langley site by Max
Wehrle, city planner and Arling-
ton County representative on the
Regional Planning Council. Mr..
Wehrle retorted that he had
heard nothing to change my
conclusions" and that he stood
on his earlier report.
Parkway Funds Cited
Coz Whites letter pointed out
that Congress has provided
money to extend the George
Washington Memorial Parkway
toward the Langley site If that
location is selected. That road,
along with highway improve
ments Virginia would carry out,
was cited to meet one of the
strong points Of criticism-the
adequacy Of access.
In other actions, meanwhile,
the planning commission:
/. Approved the general loca-
ton of the proposed new Poto-
mac River bridge over the south
tip of Roosevelt Memorial Is
land. The approval did not ex-
tend to controversial approach
road networks on either side of
the river, however, leaving those
battles to be fought later.
2. Approved the location of a
for the 50-year-old
trestle-topped Fourteenth street
bridge in the approximate loca-
ton OF the existing bridge. This
action was made conditional on
an understanding that it would
not jeopardize possible construc-
ton later of another bridge
slightly downriver at Reaches
Run, Va.
3. Decided to distribute to all
affected Jurisdictions a plea from
1t. Gen. S. D. Sturgis, jr.. chief
of Army Engineers, that no
sewage be discharged into the
Potomac River from Little Falls