THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND

PLANNING COMMISSION
Chairman: Herbert W. Wells, 1962
Vice-Chairman: J. Newton Brewer, Jr., 1961

Donald E. Gingery, 1960; Mrs. Russell Wiltbank, 1960; John
A. Scheibel, 1&61; W. Lawson King, 1962; John A. Floyd,
1963; Louis A. Gravelle, 1963; John B. Lauer, 1963; John L.
Pyles, 1963.

Jesse F. Nicholson, Secretary-Treasurer
Charles M. Irelan, General Counsel
Thomas J. Burke, Director of Public Relations
Arthur K. Stellhom, Director of Planning
John P. Hewitt, Director of Parks

8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring Telephone: Juniper 9-1480
4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Telephone: Appleton 7-2200

This Commission has general planning and park jurisdiction over
the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District created in 1927 and
the Maryland-Washington Regional District created in 1939. Both dis-
tricts are within Montgomery and Prince George's counties adjoining
the District of Columbia and embrace approximately 223 square miles
and 779 square miles, respectively. The 1959 estimated population of
the entire Regional District in both counties exceeds 700,000 persons.

The 1959 estimated taxable basis of the Montgomery County portion
of the Regional District is $988,000,000 and of the Metropolitan Dis-
trict, $899,000,000. The 1959 estimated taxable basis of the Prince
George's County portion of the Regional District is $629,000,000 and
of the Metropolitan District, $625,000,000.

The Commission has been given, through bi-county enactments of
the Maryland General Assembly, definite jurisdiction over the regional
planning of the Maryland-Washington Regional District, which in-
cludes all of Montgomery County and all of suburban Prince George's
County.

The Commission, newly enlarged, is composed of ten members, five
of whom must be residents of Montgomery County and five residents
of Prince George's County. Not more than three members from each
County may be members of the same political party and at least one
member from each County must be a resident of the predominately
agricultural portion of the County. The governing body of each County
appoints five members of the Commission. Appointments to the new
Commission were made on June 15, 1957, upon which date the terms
of office began. The terms are for four years except that the terms
of the members first appointed expired, or will expire, on the following
dates', one from each. County on June 14, 1958; two from each County
on June 14, 1959; one from each County on June 14, 1960 and one from
each County on June 14, 1961. Any vacancy in the membership of the
Commission must be filled by the governing body of the County in
which the vacancy occurs and for the unexpired term. The Commission
elects its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The respective appoint-
ing authorities may at their discretion designate a member of the
Commission from each County to serve on a full-time basis. The five
members of the Commission from each County constitute the County
Planning Board. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Com-
mission also act as Chairmen, respectively, of their County Planning
Boards. The Commission must appoint a Secretary-Treasurer, General
Counsel, Director of Planning, Director of Parks, and a Director of
Public Relations and may appoint a Director of Land Acquisition as
well as such other staff members as may be necessary. It maintains
regional offices in both counties.

Within the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan District, the Com-
mission is empowered to acquire, develop, maintain, and operate a park