Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-07
Citizens Back
Cabin John
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 Creek
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 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 Ole
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 in
accordance with the finally
adopted plan. Commission men,
bers said they intended to
make changes on the basis OF
recommendations from citizens
however.
Major Changes Urged
Major changes in the plar
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 240.
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 Sc
valuable for development pur-
poses that 1t would cost at least
S500.000 to acquire.
Citizens groups which Endorsed
the general plan included the
planning and road committees
lof 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-
zens Association.
D. c. Smith, speaking for the
Army Engineers, warned that
Macarthur boulevard is not ar
adequate highway to carry traf-
nc volume he said appeared tt
be indicated by the plan. He
urged that the planners press
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