Evening star., 1963-04-28
Planners to Fiqht
Move to Kill RIA
Budget Bureau
Offers Proposal
To D. Officials

Transfer OF virtually all ur-
ban renewal powers in WASH
ington to the District CommiS- 4
sioners as outlined in q pro-
posed presidential reorganiZa-
ton plan is expected to be
strenuously opposed by the Ma
tional Capital Planning Com
mission.
The proposed order would
turn over to the District Com
missioners the functions Of the
District Redevelopment Land
Agency and would abolish It's
board altogether.
II would also strip from
the National Capital Planning
Commission the power now
conferred upon 1t by law TO
choose areas for renewal. to set
the boundaries of such areas
and to approve the specific
steps to be taken for redevel-
opment.
Comment Sought
A draft Of the proposed Or
der prepared by the Budget
Bureau was circulated for COM
ment late Friday among the
Commissioners, the RIA and
the planning commission.
The Budget Bureau wants
written comments by next Fri
day, officials said. After It was
issued, the order would take
effect within 90 days unless
a simple majority Of either
House or Senate disapproved.
under terms Of the Reorganiza-
ton Act OF l949.
The order appears to have
the support Of the District
Commissioners and Of Charles
A. Horsky, adviser on national
capital affairs to President
Kennedy.
Walter N. Tobriner. presi-
dent Of the District Commis-
sioners, said he had no COM
ment on the proposed order
"at this time"
RIA Chairman Neville Mil
Ter said:
1T came as q complete sur
prise to me. I have Just re-
ceived q copy. and intend to
study 1t over the week end"
"A Central Agency
Mrs. James H. Rowe, jr.,
chairman Of the National Cap
ital Planning Commission. said
the NCPC was created as the
central planning agency for the
combined Federal and District
interests in Washington, and
that she expected 1t would take
a strong position" on the pro.
posed order.
"The planning commission
has been on the record over
the years in favor Of protect
ing all planning interests, In
the Federal interest,
within the Jurisdiction given
1t by Congress-" she said.
II personally would be op-
posed TO eliminating the PLAN
ming commission from the re-
newal program and thus leav-
ing the Federal interest IN
Washington unprotected. and
believe other members Of the
commission will feel the same
way"
Under the proposed order,
the five-man RIA board would
give way 10 a three-man board
Of managers for RIA who
would be the three District
Commissioners.
Right Of Review
Under the new system, the
planning commission would
have the right Of review Of
plans only, with the District
Commissioners free to put q
redevelopment program into
effect within so days after It's
submission TO NCPC.
At present. the planning
commission must set up re-
newal project areas and give
lis approval TO redevelopment
plans and 10 any changes made
IN such plans.
Commenting last night. Mr..
Horsky. President Kennedy's
adviser on District matters. said
The Budget Bureaus draft was
related TO a reference made TO
,he matter by President Ken
nedy In his budget message
January i8 In which he cited
he need for q better organi-
sational framework for devel-
,ping and executing urban re-
lewal project In the District"
Mr.. Horsky said OF the Budg-
Il Bureaus proposal: