Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-09-27
The General Plan
Declaration Of independence

observer
Capital Park and Planning Commission OF late must know
where the MNCPPC stands-and how firmly it is standing
issue that will predict, develop in the
future into governmental crisis in Montgomery County
The issue: should the M-NCPPC retain its independent
status should become responsive to the wishes
of the respective county governments ostensiby
in matters of planning policy?
The Public Administration Service of Chicago retain
ed by the County Council to study governmental functions
here has urged abolition of the appoinve M-NCPPC be-
its governmental powers too sweeping and too
often in conflict with those of the County Council
whose elected officials chargedand properly so-wh
the responsibility for local government.
Last week. after carefully threshng the matter out in
closed executive session. the MMCPPC announced the
hiring of another firm of government consuans the Ins
tute of Public Administration to study its role in local gov
eminent And will be quite surprising if the IPA report
does not decree that the MNCPPC should retain its present
autonomy. This will the M-NCPPC with powerful
weapon in the coming showdown fight possibly January
at the Forthcoming session of the Maryland General Assem-
bly,, over whether the present makeup of the M-NCPPC
should be retained altered done away with in favor of
county planning body operated of county gov
eminent
Possibly the battle cry was sounded by M-NCPPC
Chairman Herbert W. Wells last week. In announcing
poyment of the IPA for $500, he said openly and with
feeling 1--WE may fuss among ourselves but oftentimes
close ranks when others attack u.s."
The aggressive, almost militant attitude of the
MNCPPC on the subject of retaining its independence is
most clearly spelled out however, in its general plan
leased last IN winch planning seeks
sweeping new governmental powers that could approved,
lead to hydra-headed government in the county.
The vastly broadened powers requested by the PLAN
would, osensbly enable the MNCPPC to implement
its general PLAN But this is not the proper role of the
planners Their basic Job should be to plan And major
governmental authority should be vested in the elected
County Council.
Some of the sweeping powers being sought by the
planners include major increases in the parks program
with the MNCPPC exercising sole jurisdiction have boards
IN
ton for each application including maps and drawings,
require such boards to accept MNCPPC recommendations
and comments in writing and make them part of the official
record require twothrds majority of the County Coun-
Gil before it can overrule M-NCPPC recommendation
that is in accordance with master plans adopted by the
MNCPPC give the M-NCPPC greater control over new
subdivisions enable the planners to require fees from build
erS In lieu OF dedication when adequate dedication would
be inappropriate require all public agencies to record their
properties by plat through regular subdivision MNCPPC)
procedures, create Natural Resources Advisory Board
responsible to the MNCPPC ito help carry out the rural
features OF the general plan and require state agencies to
cooperate with it, make the MNCPPC the official PLAN
ming authority for all public urban renewal projects under
taken Montgomery and Prince Georges Countess change
the coming ordinance that the MNCPPC is responsible
Tor STEPHAN approva under the RH apartment zone
quire all appropriate governmental agencies in the two
counties to prepare ongrange capital improvement pro-
grams and to submit them to the M-NCPPC for review
make clear that failure of public agency to submit plans
Tor new facilities to the MNCPPC would be msdemeanor
and to require written statements from government agen
ces or public utilities giving the projects under
taken contrary to M-NCPPC recommendations, require
such agencies to pay all costs of such projects undertaken
without the approval of the M-NCPPC.
These proposals, and others, have been prepared in
appropriate legal language for submission to the General
Assembly for enactment We predict they will submit them
with or without the consent wishes of the County Cou
Gil
this is not conscious effort by the planners to grab
even more power it assuredy resembles one We do not
OF course, know the M-NCPPC's motivation But we do
see-a too clearlythe results 1t is apparent that the
battle lines are now drawn And will up to the people
OF montgomery and Prince Georges to determine whether
they want fercely Independent planning agency that
tends to decree what planning policy shall be and one that
assmes-or tries to assumevast governmental powers
or whether the elected heads of county should
determine such policy and be the to exercise major
governmental authority.
Outright abolition of the M-NCPPC as recommended
by the PAS study may may not be the solution But
we 40 not need two governments in Montgomery County
One is quite enough.
Blueprint for Growth
The general plan drawn up by the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commission guide Montgom
cry Countys growth during the next four decades has