Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-07
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Valley Plan
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE


| Attacks on commercial coming
proposals were matched by broad
citizen support last night for
Maryland's ambitious Cabin John
Valley Development Plan.
More than 800 persons crowded
a hall of the Walter Johns High
School in Bethesda at a hearing
called by the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. but some testimony was
SO lengthy only IA speakers were
heard.
After more than three hours.
Commission Chairman Carlton
Pyles recessed the meeting with
a promise to resume it in mid
January and to call "as many
additional meetings as we need"
Another session cannot be held
this month because the commits
sion must advertise all hearings
80 days in advance.
Faces Heavy Development
/ The plan. which proposes new
coming and land use in a 90
square mile area between Rock
vile and the Potomac River. is
the Washington areas most am
bilious effort to plan in detail
a region on the verge of heavy
development. The growth is ex-
pected to follow construction of a
new freeway and a new trunk
sewer along Cabin John Greek.
A parade of citizen groups
voiced strong support for the
general coming pattern and goals
OF the plan, raising only minor
suggestions for changes.
The most persistent was op-
position to location of a small
shopping area on the west side
Of Old Georgetown road at
Bells Mill road. They noted that
a shopping area already is under
construction directly across Old
Georgetown road and that such
"a divided shopping area is
against the commissions own
principles.
The citizens especially praised
the commission intention to ask
the county council to rezone the
entire 20-square-mile area inI
accordance with the finally
adopted plan. Commission mem
.bers said they intended to
make changes on the basis of
recommendations from citizens,
however.
Major Changes Urged
Major changes "inN the plan
were urged by Fred w. Tuem-
mler. planning consultant repre-
senting Floyd E. Davis. a large
property owner in the area, and
by John w. Neumann, attorney
for a group of six businessmen.
Both lodged the strongest OBJ
lection to a large regional shop
ping center proposed at the in
tersectioN of Bells Mill road
and the new U. S. Route 24O.
They contended the center is
too large and not easily Access
sible.
Mr.. Tuemmler. presented an
alternate plan. which would To-
cate a smaller center on Mr..
Davis property west of Old
Georgetown road and north of
Bells Mill road. He urged the
commission to study his alter
nate plan. which proposed a |
number of community facilities
on Mr.. Davis 435-acre-tract.
Mr.. Neumann also presented
an alternate plan. proposing an
entirely different layout of
streets and shopping facilities. !
In his attack on the proposed
large shopping center, he made
the point that such a center
should only serve residents of
the Cabin John Valley and not
attract outsiders.
Regional Park Hit
Mr.. Neumann also assailed as
Impractical" proposals for a
200-acre regional park. He said
the location proposed was so
valuable for development pur-
poses that it would cost at least
$500. 900 to acquire.
Citizens groups which Endorsed
the general plan included the
planning and road committees
Of the Montgomery County Civic
Federation. the Ayr Lawn Citi-
zenS Association. the Montgom-
cry County Planning Associa-
ton. the Lux Manor Citizens AS
ISOLATION, the Alta Vista Ter
race-Wyngate Citizens Associa- .
ton. the West Montgomery
County Citizens Association. the
Marymont Citizens Association
and the Cabin John Park citi-
gems Association.
d. c. Smith, speaking for the
Army Engineers. warned that
Macarthur boulevard Is not an
adequate highway 10 carry trsf-
nc volume he said appeared 70
be indicated By the plan. He
urged that the planners press
for improvement Of MaSsaehu-
sets avenue or some other new
highway 70 handle the needs In
that area. !