Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1957-12-05

Many citizens of Montgomery and Prince Georges Coun
ties must by be of the i'll advised incorporate
and ntransigent effort the Washington SAM
tary Commission to erect $2sOOOOOO Industrial type
filtration plant along the Canal River Road
of Watts Branch Potomac Village in Montgomery Coun
ty, Maryland
This mammoth structure designed to extend approx
maey 700 feet % H3 yards along River Road
of 400 feet in depth to the Canal, reaching
height of 66 feet high sevenstory building
points.
We citizens area Immediately affected call
fellow citizens of Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties, join with bringing a
this abuse of the property rights citizens attempted
be carried out by this powerful bcounty agency your
We believe that all the citizens Montgomery
Prince Georges Counties should be
the Sanitary Commission has used you a whole its
for refusing to follow the advice Maryland
National Capital Park Planning Commission agency
charged by law with the planning responsibilities both
counties as to the placement Of this filtration plant
No more than two years the Montgomery County
Council approved this for two coming
of the basic doing
tax base thus created redounded the benefit
of Montgomery County
Likewise, the Sanitary Commission heed
the statement of the National Park Service
States to the effect that this location might improperly
pinge upon the existing park lands that point
o Canal
You have newspapers the effect that
only few citizens occupying large estates opposing this
filtration plant and that the Sanitary seeking
to do the greatest good all citizens
has chosen the only along
River In Montgomery County for the erection of this
moth structure.
We state to you that this is a SANDER!
We print a portion of the report namely the
conclusions of the technical staff of the Maryland
Capital Park and Planning Commission, which adopted
by that commission by to 1 vote. All of the
soners from Prince Georges County, including
of the Planning Commission,
from Montgomery County, including the Vice Chairman of
the Planning Commission voted in favor of this report
this sound like few large estate owners?
THE MARYLANDNATIoNAL CAPITAL PARK
AND PLANNING COMMISSION
October &c. 1857
MEMORANDUM
ITO: The Commission
FROM Director of Planning and
Planning Engineer Stellhorn
RE: Proposed WSSC Filtration Plant
Following public hearing held by this Commission
October TO- 1857 afford interested citizens oppor
tnity to be heard the Sanitary Commissions proposed
filtration plant at Watts Branch Montgomery County and
following various conferences with officials of the Sanitary
Commission and private individuals herewith submitted
the staff recommendation this matter.
First believe that general principles of proper
land should be adhered closely possible
this general area of western Montgomery County has
shown sngulary uniform, systematic pattern Of rather
and orderly residential development Also, this
project which has many characteristics of industrial
plant would be located of Potomac
River, clearly visible from all directions and with ad
impact the Potomac, great natural
the National Capital The effect of this location
properly selected the
of the Potomac River will be very detrimental par
ticularly so from the standpoint of its impact the
Virginia shore
Secondly the Hellman selected by the Sanitary
Commission, contains of about so
the circumstances believe small since 60
unusabe due the fact that the plant
be located above flood level contour PAT. We believe
somewhat larger site would be preferable in order
provide adequate planting, preferably,
stand of trees in depth around the plant could
be successfully achieved the Powell The Chair
of the Sanitary Commission Mr. Bourne his
of July 80 1857 has stated that Cost Is the
factor and you must realize the Commission
ford the people it afford spend an
unreasonable amount of money in arriving suitable