Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-03
Zoning Body to Map
Lewis Plan Revision
Committee OKs
Groom Policy
Without Dissent
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE

set up machinery to try to work
out an acceptable version" Of
the controversial District coming
revision proposed by consultant
Harold M. Lewis.
In doing so. the official citizen
group turned aside demands
from some business organizations
that the Lewis proposal be
junked, and a new revision
started from scratch.
The committee policy was set
by Chairman Thomas J. Groom.
in a statement to the groups
executive committee yesterday.
Some executive committee mem
bers are among the bitterest crit
les of the Lewis proposal. When
Mr.. Groom asked for comment
on his statement, however, there
was no dissent.
Three Steps Outlined
Committee procedures pro-
posed in the statement follow
these steps:
l. AS quickly as possible.
Groom subcommittee are to SUBJ
NIT reports on every phase of the
controversial coming proposals.
suggesting specific changes where
desired.
2. A new subcommittee, form
ed yesterday. will wrap these
suggestions into one report. to
be acted upon by the executive
committee and then forwarded
to Mr.. Lewis.
3. After Mr.. Lewis revises his
proposal, the full Groom Com
mittee will file a formal recon-
mendation with the District
Commissioners.
Mr.. Groom. president of the
Commerce Bank, said he felt
this machinery would serve the
purpose of getting all viewpoints
of the citizen group before both
the public and Mr.. Lewis by
September /, in as forceful q
; manner as necessary.
Noting that he had attended a
series of 10 public meetings held
during the last two weeks to
discuss the Lewis proposal, Mr..
Groom said he was aware of its
many controversial angles"
Not for Junking 1t
: But, frankly, am not one OF
those who feels, to use express
sions heard at the meeting,
that the whole thing should be
: thrown in the waste basket or
the whole thing should be torn
up
ION this committee, we have
the best available talent on zon-
, ing problems. We can criticize
the Lewis report and. no doubt,
there are many phases which
should be criticized. But if we
: criticize, let us make recommen-
! dations where corrections or
changes should be made. This is
our opportunity to perform a
real community service"
Mr.. Groom named James C.
Wilkes, attorney and coming spe-
cialiSt, chairman of the group to
consolidate the various subcom-
: mittee reports. AS other men,
bers he appointed Mai. Gen. U. S,
Grant. III, Thornton w. Owen,
Mrs. Walter Tobriner and Fred
J. Halter.
The executive committee took
no action on proposal that the
National Capital Planning Com
mission should perfect a city de-
velopment plan. covering such
factors as population, downtown
development, mass transit and
c general use of city land, before
4 an effective new coming code can
1 be written.
. Priority Put on Policy
= Spencer Sanders and Tracy B
i Augur, both city planners, notec
that firm city policies on such
matters should have been de.
: cided before new coming was at
tempted. To try to zone in the
). absence of such decisions. they
a said, was putting "the cart before
e the horse"
d Mr.. Wilkes said he agreed that
+ the Groom Committee eventually
y was going to have to come ur
a with acceptance of some philo'
: sophies and reflections of others.
a But he argued that it was UNI
: realistic to wait until such mat.
tiers were resolved in an officia
plan by the Planning Commits
sion, possibly after months o.
{ years of delay.
George S. Cater, chief of Mr.
: Lewis Washington Office, sale
: Mr.. Lewis pointed out the alb.
. sence of such specific city policies
10 months ago. In the absence
!, of more concrete instructions, HI
! said, the firm had to use its bes
! judgment in drawing up a city
Y development plan as basic fol
. its coming recommendations.
. He urged both the Planning
g Commission and the Groom
= Committee to look at this plar
- and made recommendations or
o what they don't like" He sale
O he thought this could resolve
g many major arguments.
q The committee also held up {
d subcommittee report submitted
y by Burton w Marsh, of the Am
0 erican Automobile Association
" which said Mr.. Lewis proposal;
9 for new off-street parking re-
o quirements were reasonable anc
= conservative" Various business
o and real estate groups have
ID -. IL .-..-.-..... l.. 80. 4 =. :. .