Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-10
ZONE COMMISSION
NOT TO REGULATE
FRONT YARDS SIZE
Existing Laws Will Stand,
BroWnIoW Rules, to Avoid
Legal TangIe.

.SSSAs
Hearings on coming regulations be-
fore the coming commission today de-
yeloped that the commission will not
attempt to regulate the size of from,
yards where residences are construct
ed, but will leave the regulations as
they now stand, under which houses
are not allowed to protrude beyond ar
established building line.
The reason for this, as explained by
Commissioner Brownlow, is that such
action by the commission might be
attacked in the courts, for it could not
be argued that health or sanitary con-
siderations demanded a front yard OF
a certain size. On the other hand
| the distance between buildings, &C
| cording to rulings in various courts
| is proper subject for regulation, as
| the width between buildings has a di-
! rect effect on the lighting and ven-
| tilation of the houses.
Little Interest in Hearings.
So thoroughly did the coming COM
mission canvass the sentiment of the
city before constructing its second
tentative use map that interest in the
hearings in progress at present is
small, not more than a dozen persons
being present at any time today. A
larger audience is expected when
hearings on the downtown districts
are reached tomorrow.
Advisory committees from districts
Is, IL, 10 and IA were heard this fore
noon, and those from districts and
5 in the afternoon: -
A number of changes were suggest
ed by William Henry White. secre-
tary of the advisory committee of dis
trict No. II, which is bounded on the
north by Pierce Mill road and Rock
Creek Church road. on the east by
Park place. south by Fairmont street.
Euclid street and Calvert street and
west by Rock creek. The report sub
mitted by Mr.. White said, in part:
Second tentative use map shows
as business the west side Of Mount
Pleasant street between Park road
and Lamont street. Your committee
thinks that only that part of the area
ment house should be business and
that the remainder of this whole
square should be residence. We call
your attention to the fact that there
is in front Of this square a public
park, that the whole of the face of
the square is permanently improved
with high-grade. large, brick resi-
understand why the Argyle should be
designated as business when the
kenesaw is residence.
1.-The Kenesaw lies south Of Irving
street and between 10th and Mount
Pleasant streets, and is similar
building, with a practically identical
use. each having drug store and q
tailoring establishment.
Cites Commissi0n's Recommendation.
LAS to the square fronting on Mt.
Pleasant street and lying between Irv-
ing and Hobart streets, your committee
recommends that the face Of this square
fronting on Mt Pleasant street should
remain business from the corner to the
alley. but from the alley to Hobart street
should be residence. The corner Of Ho-
bart and Mt. Pleasant streets is improved
by modern, large residences fronting on
Hobart street and establishing this cor
ner as business will injure the long row
of houses on both sides of Hobart street
AS to the square lying between Morton
and Lamont streets and Georgia and
Sherman avenues your committee recon-
mendS that the lots fronting on Geor-
gia avenue should be business; that the
lots fronting on Sherman should be
residence; that the remainder of the
square should be commercial No. 2, SO
as to preserve the value of the valuable
improvements therein"
In addition to the foregoing, included
White submitted the following sugges-
lions personally:
THAT all of the squares lying be-
tween Euclid street on the south and
Morton street on the north be zoned
as follows: All of the lots fronting
on Georgia avenue be declared to be
business; all of the lots fronting on
re sidence, and all of those squares
lying between be declared to be Sec
ond commercial. In this connection
call to your attention the treatment
given by your committee to the terri
tory just south, and to the obvious
need for a growth of this sort imme-
diately north"
Submits Additional Suggestions.
When c. A. Barker. representing the
advisory committee Of district No. Is
| lying east of the AnacoStia river and
south Of Benning road, appeared. he
said his committee had no changes tc
| suggest in the second tentative use
map, as all its recommendations fol
changes in the first map had been in
cluded in the newer plan.
Miss Frances S. Farley, principal OF
| the Park View School, whose home is
in district 16, appeared before the com.
! mission. however, to ask that industrial
| establishments be kept proper dis
lance from Massachusetts avenue in the
| vicinity Vi vAlTClc.
She was the first woman to appear al
the hearings. and she was assured By
Commissioner Brownlow that the com.
mission would consider her request. HI
pointed out that the Baltimore and Ohio
freight yards must necessarily be classet
! as industrial, and that though they ad.
joined Massachusetts avenue. they were
far below the street level and below
| what would be the approach to a bridge
over the river at that point, If one /.
ever built.
One Protest Entered Yesterday.
Only one protest was entered at the
hearing yesterday afternoon on dis
trict No. IL. which takes in Brooklan6
| and lexington. w. B. Hadley of the
| District electrical department and c
L. Fowler objected to the designation
| of the square from 7th to 9Th, Frank.
lin to Hamlin streets northeast, fol
| Industrial purposes.
Mr.. Hadley pointed out that Will,
that area is not thickly built up now
1T will Develop rantlt4