Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-05
PROPERTY OWNERS
HIT FIRE HOUSES
FOR HOME ZONES
Many Citizens Voice Oppose
ton to Proposed Changes
Before Commissioners.
SPEAKERS DIVIDE STAND
ON RECREATION CENTERS
Police Stations in Residential Sec
tions Also Fought by Amend
ment Foes.

The question Of placing fire engine
houses and police stations in residen-
tial zones, which has proved so per-
picking 10 the District Commissioners
in the past. came in for extended dis
cussion at an open hearing before the
Zoning Commission today at the Dis
trict Building.
The proposition under discussion was
tn amend the definition of the uses al
lowed in residential zones to include
engine houses and police stations. All
who spoke attacked this bitterly, de-
claring it was too much power to put
in the hands of the Zoning Commits
sion. The amendment carried along
with its as uses to be included in resi-
Dental zones, pumping stations, public
Fairgrounds, recreation centers and
swimming pools
Opinion as to the latter was divided.
some taking the view that these could
properly be included within the defini-
ton of residential zones. and others
that they should be relegated to COM
nlercial zones or that a special institu-
tional zone be set up to take care of
them.
whole Plan Condemned.
Speaking for the Federation of
Citizens Associations, Henry l. Quinn
vice chairman of its coming committee.
condemned the entire proposition. He
said that since the District Commits
sioners form majority of the member
ship of the Zoning Commission and
since. as he said. the Commissioners
have tried repeatedly to "thwart" the
will of property owners by placing fire
engine houses and other "nuisances'
next door to their homes, that the
amendment should not be adopted I'M
less the votes for adoption were unani-
nous.
ITO zone property residential" Mr..
Quinn said, lis to place certain re-
strictions around the use which an
owner may make of his property. To
compensate him for these restrictions
he has the knowledge that he is pro-
tected in his peace and contentment by
the application of these restrictions to
the property Immediately around him.
IL Is on this theory that the courts up
hold the legality of coming
II you zone a mans property resi-
Dental and then put next door to it a
nre engine house or any of the other
things mentioned in this amendment.
YOU restrict the mans use of his prop
from him the right to sell his property
at the enhanced price which would be
made possible by commercial zoning.
Wants Commercial Zone.
THE proper way would be to zone
the properties sought commercial. after
the regular public hearing provided by
law. Then adjoining property owners
could make use of the commercial zon-
ing to realize on the sale of the prop
erty II they were forced out as COM
pensation.
While the people of Washington NAV
have faith in this Zoning Commission,
the power that you seek is so broad that
1t should not be placed in the hands of
any group of men"
Engineer Commissioner William v
Ladue questioned Mr.. Quinn closely as
to whether the same objections would
arise to Fairgrounds, recreation centers
snd swimming pools as to fire engine
houses. Mr.. Quinn replied that thew
did and that the federation had BY
unanimous vote opposed the entire
amendment. He then asked Col Ladue
II he would like a public recreation
center 70 be set up next to his de-
tached home.
Col. Ladue replied that he owned no
property in Washington.
That's the difference between us"
Mr.. Quinn exclaimed. I'VE do"
The remark was greeted with deafen-
ing applause
Mr.. Quinn read from an editorial in
The Star to support his position.
Joins Protest.
Rufus Lusk representing The Opera
i've Builders Association whose mem
oers. he said, build rs per cent of the
residence property in Washington. Join
ed with Mr.. Quinn in his protest
against fire engines and police stations
out supported the commission in its
attempted inclusion of the other munic-
lpal activities in residential zones. He
SAID that public Fairgrounds were a
proper adjunct to residential territory
ana that children should not be sent
70 commercial areas to play. He said
that in Burleith, where he lives. thf
playground facilities are represented BY
q plot 60Xl00 feet on which il wo,llc
be impossible to get all the children nj
Burleith, even in massed company for.
nation, He said he would have no OBJ.
Jectlon to q public playground next
door TO his home.
Mr.. Lusk criticized the absence Of the
chiefs of the Fire and Police Denart.
ments from the hearing He said ht
would have liked to listen to exper,
testimony from them regarding the ne.
cessity of putting engine houses anc
stations in residential areas.
Hugh M. Frampton of Cathedra
Heights Citizens Association suggested
the creation of institutional zones fol
the Fairgrounds, swimming pools anc
recreation centers, but said the Other
activities should go in commercial zones
Mr.. Quinns position was supported
by G. B. Bishop and E. c. Snyder of the
sixteenth Street Highlands Citizens
Association and Demarest Lloyd of thu
Dupont Circle Citizens Associs ton. J
Francis Moore of the Chevy Chase AS
ISOLATION spoke in opposition to the fir,
stations and c. H. Galliher. 1910 +
street, supported the position Of MI
Lusk.