Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-11
Lane Proposes
Separated D. {.
Plans Board
National Capitol
Group Would Have
Coordination Rute
BY HECTOR MCLEAN

Establishment Of a separate
planning commission for the
District subject to authority of
the Commissioners was sug-
gested today by Engineer Com
missioner Thomas A. Lane.
Speaking before the Commits
Sioner's Citizens Advisory Coun-
Gil, Gen. Lane said this would
reduce the role of the National
Capital Planning Commission to
one of co-ordinating plans of
various Federal agencies and the
District and perhaps of various
suburban areas in Maryland and
Virginia.
The council has been studying
a proposal made last spring by
retiring Commissioner Samuel
Spencer. This suggested that
the commissioners, instead of
the President. appoint the five
citizen members of the planning
commission.
Criticized by Mclaughlin
The idea was criticized Wednes-
day in a speech by Robert E.
Mclaughlin. current president of
the Board of Commissioners.
Gen. Lane. himself a member
Of the planning group. said nor
NAL municipal planning func-
tions. so valuable in other cities.
are not being provided at ALL
III Washington.
He presented a 13-page state
ment to the council, which he
described as a technical analy-
lis to give the council background
tor its study, and stressed that
his suggestions had not been
cleared with his fellow commits
sloners and that no decision
would be made until the council
makes its own recommended
lions.
Commenting on Mr.. Spencer's
proposal and criticism of it by
Chairman Harland Bartholomew
of the Planning Commission,
Gen. Lane said. 1--WE must recog-
nize the possibility that both
are right.
If both are right. it is be-
cause the issue before you, is
deeper than the mere question of
membership of the commission.
Two Major Types
His analysis divided planning
into two major types "coordina-
ton" and "unitary planning"
He declared, "unitary planning
has been used primarily at the
municipal level. Inter-city, inter-
county and similar boards de-
signed to achieve regional PLAN
be on a basis of mutual co-ordi-
ating planning
Gen. Lane said unitary plan
ming should be provided by dis
interested local residents to solve
problems of general city plan
ming, spending for public con-
struction and coming.
1T is Immediately apparent
that the organization of the
NCPC does not follow accepted
good practice in the United
States" Gen Lane said.
If the Board (of Commits
Sioners) should not appoint the
members of the Planning Com
mission, it is because the Plan
ming Commission is concerned
not with the ordinary functions
of municipal planning but with
higher level coordination.
Lack Thorough Analysis
1T seems clear that the Dis
trict of Columbia Government
has never had unitary planning
of the kind which has proven
invaluable to other cities
throughout the country. AS a
consequence. District of Column
bia capital outlay programs
have not had the thorough
analysis which they should re-
ceive and which a District plan
ming commission would be de-
signed to give.
Instead" Gen. Lane contin-
ued. "the District Government
has fallen behind in its public
works planning and then sought
through emergency citizen COM
mittees to overcome deficiencies
attributable to a basic defect of
its organization. In a very real
sense, the most useful develop
mprtS nf no0dprn citV planning