Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-26
Master Plan Urged
For Northern Virginia
Emphasis Put
On Industrial
Districts
BY PAUL HOPE

Development of a master plan
for Northern Virginia, with
emphasis on planned industrial
districts. has been recommended
to the Northern Virginia Plan.
ming and Economic Development
Commission.
The recommendations made by
the Alexandria Planning Com
mission, also asks consideration
of new approach to coming for
industry. This new approach
would practically eliminate in
dustrial zones as they now are
set up and would locate indus
tries according to performance
standards"
The report notes that the area
chambers of commerce are
planning to establish a North
ern Virginia economic develop
ment corporation, whose pur-
pose would be to attract business
and industry to the nearby Vir-
ginia area.
1T would appear that now is
the time for the Northern Vir-
ginia area to Immediately start
work on regional master plan"
the report said Without such
a plan it is entirely possible that
one jurisdiction could secure all
the industrial gravy"
Six Steps Proposed
The Alexandria commission
suggested six steps to be followed
by the regional body to develop
a master plan:
Enlargement of the staff and
budget of the regional commits
sion. review and compilation
of the coming maps of the vari-
GUS jurisdictions. development Of
/ a regional major thoroughfare
plan. adoption of uniform per-
formance standards, develop
ment of a land use map with
emphasis on planned industrial
districts and development Of
maps showing locations of all
utilities and their proposed ex-
tensions.
The performance standard"
method would classify industries
by their external effect on the
community.
"zoning districts would be de-
scribed by listing the measurable
limits of noise. smoke, odor, VII
brations, glare. ETC., that would
be permitted for any industrial
use in that particular district, T"
the report says. This would al
low industries which have little
impact on the community to be
located on other than indus
trially zoned land.
! Warning of Pressure Tactics
| The report says that too often
industry gets the dirty end of
the coming stick" In reviewing
development of coming plans, the
report said that ALI too fire.
Iquently lands zoned for industry
were those lands considered not
suitable for residential develop
ment-large areas of swanpv
marshland or land too rugged
for economic residential develop.
ment."
The report also contains a note
OF caution on rezoning for in
duStry or commercial develop
ment. 1t said care should be
taken against interruptions en-
trepreneurs of land who indulge
in the vicious practice of con-
stantly high-pressuring plan
ming commissions and legislative
bodies into downgrading land &C
quired at residential price to q
less restricted category" in order
to reap a profit in reselling the
land.
Too often the planning and
governing bodies are COMPOUNDED,
confused and bedazzled with
public hearing mathematics and
brilliantly executed architectural
!. drawings and references to
a large nationally known manu-
facturer' desiring site," the re-
port says.
The report will be docketed for
a full discussion at the Northern
Virginia commissions November
10 meeting, according to c. C..
Robinson, executive director Of
the commission.