Evening star., 1955-03-12
Planners Quiz CIA
On Langley Building;
Citizens Plan Protest
By George Beveridee

washington area plaHIleTS ueAI
week will sort our pro and con
arguments on the Central In
telligence Agency's proposed S38
million installation at Langley.
Va.
CIA officials got an incon-
clusive-and repeatedly some
what frosty-reception in a pres
entation of the Langley project
to the National Capital Regional
Planning Council yesterday be-
hind closed doors. Under Federal
law, agencies proposing such
projects must consult with the
planners.
While the Langley project was
questioned sharply by the plan
ners. it was learned. both Vir-
ginia and Maryland officials
wooed the CIA with other pos
sible sites in each State.
Want April l Decision
CIA officials repeatedly told
the Council they are pressing for
a firm decision on its proposal
by April /. Reason for the tar
get date, it was understood, is to
permit time to get legislation for
the setup through this session of
Congress.
Meanwhile, the Mclean Citi-
zens' Association, covering the
Langley area. tentatively set
March % for a mass citizens
meeting to discuss the proposal.
It will be held at the Franklin
Sherman School. A resolution
expressing opposition to the site
will be submitted.
Winfield Preston, association
president, said the CIA, the
County Board of Supervisors and
county planners would be invited
to discuss all sides of the ques-
ton"
Three Man Committee
The Regional Council set up
a three-man committee to ID
consult with Fairfax planners,
90 consult with the National
Capital Planning Commission
and 90 report back next Friday
with recommendation for
council action.
Under the law which set up
the council it cannot vote affirm
atively on any issue against the
wishes of the planning jurisdic-
ton in the area directly in
volved. Thus Fairfax County
planning representatives on the
council have a virtual control
over the Langley matter.
At yesterdays meeting, it was
understood. Fairfax representa-
tives raised strong questions
about the adequacy of highway,
sewer and other facilities at
Langley. and also questioned the
desirability of a change in the
general use of the small-estate
residential area.
Favor Fairfax Site
1t was reported that the Fair
fax planners stressed a desire to
have the CIA settle elsewhere
in the county, however, # the
Langley site proves undesirable
after further study. One alter
nate location mentioned was the
Springfield area.
Maryland officials, however,
repeatedly made a strong bid for
CIA consideration of a Maryland
site, contending that State is
better fixed with roads and other
facilities. One location the
Marylanders mentioned, it was
learned, is the CABIN John VAL
ley area-largely undeveloped
as yet-fairly near the Potomac.
The discussion, it was re-
ported, brought out that about
80 per cent of the CIA employees
affected live in Virginia, about
II per cent in Montgomery
County and about 81 per cent in
Northwest Washington.
Seven council members, rep
resenting various Jurisdictions
accompanied by "a staff and
other off1cials-attended yester-
days meeting, but the press was
excluded at CIA insistence.
Council members. at reporters
requests, asked that the session
be open. CIA officials told the
council they would be unable to
make the presentation they
planned if the press were present
and would have to withdraw,
"re-tailor" their presentation
and cpY,on hank lotar