Montgomery County sentinel., 1961-11-22
cessution Of Hos+iIities

CeSS0flon OF 1oSflllfleS
ness of the Park and Planning Commissions stand
concerning the County Councils lack of authority to
reject master plans
The Council, or rather the three members re-
sponsibe for this fasco must be made to realize
and for all that the study of preparing adopting and
amending master plans for suburban Maryland is
vested by law solely in the Planning Commission Any
by the Council to duplicate this power is sure
to result in hopeless confusion.
At the same time, however some of the COM
ments by Commission members last week on the
Councils sharp and, we believe, unjustfed attack
three master plans could hardly be described as
constructive. And action not recmination, is what is
so sorely needed now.
AS the first step in this direction, Councilwoman
Werner and Councilmen Frosh and Cahoon should
stop what can be construed by the Commission only
as attempts to usHp its planning functions. MIR.
Frosh and Mrs Werner in particular have aggravated
matters by continuing to propose the elimination of
the b-county planning agency-a proposal which has
been thoroughly dscredited by the increasing need for
greater not lesser regional cooperation Nor has Mr.
Cahoon done anything to create an atmosphere of
goodwill through his generalzed observations on the
plans alleged shortcomings.
Mr.. Cahoon apears to be quite vulnerable on this
point since it was he who made the motion to re-
appoint ]. Newton Brewer, jr. as chairman of the
Montgomery County Planning Board last June-three
months after the three master plans were adopted by
the Commission and sent to the Council. His action
therefore implied an endorsement of the very plan
which he now attacks
AS the second step toward establishing mutual
understanding, the Council should meet with the Com
mission to point out specific in which the county
heads believe the plans and to make specific and
detailed recommendations for changes.
It is one thing to make sweeping accusations, as
the Council has done-This is easy and is rarely con-
structive 1t is quite another-and this is what is
needed hereto pinpoint criticisms and then to come
up with practical suggestions for improvement on
detailed basis.
This could have been accomplished by Council ac-
ton on the zoning map amendments prepared by the
Commission to implement the plans. Unfortunately
the Council chose instead to defer hearings on the
zoning map amendments and to throw the master plan
back to the Commission with broad and unsubstanti-
ated charges of defects and failures.
The Planning Commission on its part, should
make every effort to refrain from replying in kind to
the Council Nothing can be accomplished by hurling
counter-charges. Members of the County Planning
Board should remember, even if the Council apparent
ly has forgotten that they appointed by the Coun-
Gil; and that no matter how misguided they believe
the county heads are, they cannot engage in open
warfare with them and still remain on the board If
they are unhappy they should resign
We understand the Planning Board has made re-
peated efforts to meet with the Council to discuss
the master plans in closed session because they involve
land acquisition for parks, highways schools and other
public uses We also understand that the Council
largely at the nstigation of one of its members, has
consistently rebuffed the planners
Such refusals clearly against the public in
terest The Joint meeting should be held Immediately
In the meantime, there should be prompt cessation
of hostlities.