Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-25
SUGGEST AMENDMENT
CoMMISSIONERS' REPORT ON
HOUSE BILL 1880.
Resubdivision of Lots Where Proposed
Street is Affected by Perma-
nent System.

The District Commissioners have forward
ed to Chairman Babcock Of the House Dis
trict committee report on House bill
1850, ITO allow the resubdivision of lots
or blocks recorded in the surveyors office
Of the District of Columbia, where a pro-
posed street Of the permanent system of
highways affects the same" The Commits
sioners say the bill is in accord with the
recommendation made by them to the SEN
ate District committee during the first ses-
sion of the present Congress on Senate bill
4512, to make a Encouragement of streets
in certain subdivisions.
when the permanent system of highway
plans was first prepared" the Commission
ers say. 'in order to make the system as
near perfect as possible it was deemed
necessary to run the proposed streets
through number Of existing subdivisions.
Sections /, and 3 were prepared and re-
corded in accordance with the act for the
permanent system of highways. many
changes being made within the lines of
SUBDIVISIONS. An amendment was made to
the highway act of June IS 1898, which re-
quired the withdrawal from record of sec
ton l and required an amended plan to be
filed for all that part of the section outside
of existing subdivisions.
Section No. was recorded Immediately
after the amended plan of section 1. and
with the same provision for leaving out
proposed streets through existing subdivi-
sions. No provision was made in the
amended plan for any Encouragement Of
sections and 3, and they were left upon
record with proposed street lines affecting
the various subdivisions.
A Building Regulation.
lone of the building regulations Of the
District requires that land shall be sub
divided SO that there shall be a separate
lot for each house, which subdivision must
be made prior to the issue Of permit for
the erection of the building. A clause in
the highway act requires that no subdivf-
sion shall be allowed for record unless
made In conformity with the permanent
system OF highway plans. These provisions
are In conflict and occasion considerable
trouble to persons wishing to build within
the lines of proposed streets. In addition
to this, the highway act expressly allows
a man to build within the line of a proposed
street until condemnation proceedings are
begun looking to the opening of high
way.
"Following ruling of the city solicitor
1t is now necessary to grant permits for
building in proposed streets without the
believed that the regulation for subdividing
is proper one, as it greatly facilitates the
record of the property for purposes Of as
sessment and taxation.
Preservation of Plans.
For the foregoing reasons it is believed
that legislation should be provided under
which the highway plans will be preserved
and at the same time will permit SUBJ
divisions such as are provided for in the
bill under consideration. The bill as
drawn is Objectionable in that it can
GELS a portion of the highway plans, is To-
cal in character and does not place all of
the four sections of the highway plans on
the same footing. An amendment is SUBJ
mitted herewith which, it is believed, will
accomplish these objects, and as thus
amended the Commissioners recommend
that favorable action be taken on the bill.
1.-The amendment is as follows:
'Strike out lines three to eight, inclusive,
and in lieu thereof insert the following:
THAT where any proposed street of the
permanent system of highways affects any
lot or block of subdivision recorded in
the office Of the surveyor of the District
of Columbia, the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia may, in their dis
erection. allow the resubdivision of such
lot or block in a manner conforming
to the original subdivision until such time
as condemnation proceedings are begun for
the opening of the proposed street affecting
the land to be subdivided."