Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-17
CITIZENS PROTEST
ERECTION Of PLANT
Arlington Delegation Objects
10 Building of Oil StOr-
age Station.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP.
Staff Correspondent OF The Star.

Staff Correspondent OF The Star.
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, August 17.-Headed by
Capt. Crandal Mackey, a delegation OF
approximately 20 residents of Mackey's
Hill appeared last night at the meeting
of the Arlington County Zoning Com
mission to enter its protest against
Philadelphia to erect a large oil storage
plant and wholesale fuel oil station on
the Lee Highway at Rosslyn. Action
was deferred by the commission for two
weeks.
This company, according to G. H.
Greathouse, owner of the land on which
it is proposed to erect the plant, con-
templates the erection of tanks and
administration buildings costing between
$4,000 and 100000. 1t would increase
the revenue of the county, provide en-
ployment, increase population, improve
the present appearance at the Lee High
way and Mackey road furnish its own
fire and police protection, furnish Ar
lington County with its only real COM
mercial and industrial water front, and
be big help in the development of the
county's most logical industrial section,
he declared.
Says Homes Would Lose Value.
In voicing his protest to the erection
OF this or any other oil storage plant at
this particular place, Mackey said that
homes worth approximately 100000
would lose greater part of their value
by the appearance right under their
noses of a huge plant of this kind,
with its unSightly storage tanks, fire
hazards and odors. He claimed that the
plat of the proposed plant was mislead-
ing in that it only showed the proposed
storage tanks, failing to picture the
nrrn 4or,I I1rA H. l.
erected there by GreathouSe, as proprie-
tor of the filling station and wholesale
gasoline plant now located there.
Adjoining residents were unable at
the time this plant was erected to stop
1t because there was not then any
zonlng commission or coming ordinance,
he said. THE oil companies have all
been run out of Washington" he de-
cIared, land are curse to the county
both because of their appearance and
the fire hazard incurred by their
presence"
DR.. j. N. Roberts, whose residence
property would adjoin the proposed
plant, both wrote to and appeared be-
fore the commission to enter his pro-
test against the establishment there of
one of the largest "oil storage plants
in the country" He said that the
plant would not only ruin values of
nearby residence property, but would
greatly interfere with the future plans
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission for the develop
ment of the Virginia side of the river.
Gas Storage Described.
Greenhouse and his son, L. H. Great
house, assured the commission that the
present plan called for eight storage
$4,000 barrels of fuel oil. This would
be brought up the river on barges.
There would be little gasoline stored
there, they declared.
Capt. Mackey was instructed by
Fred A. Gosnell, chairman of the Zon-
ing Commission, to prepare petition
of protest and have it signed by all
adjoining property owners who oppose
the plant. Greathouse was instructed
to get the signatures of those in favor
of it, both petitions to be presented at
the meeting two weeks hence.
Over the strong protests of Robert N.
Anderson, president Of the Lyon VII
1age Citizens Association, and a num-
Der of other residents of the COM
munity, none of whom lived within
close proximity to the proposed plant,
the commission granted an application
to Mrs. Marie Clark Bell for the cree
ton of gasoline filling station on the
Lee Highway almost opposite the Offices
of Lyon & Fitch. According to the
and the grounds will be handicapped to
conform with the community.
Building Permit Granted.
The permit was granted with the
provision that the bank behind it be
cut down so as not to obstruct the
view of motorists entering and leaving
the station and that the drive be wide
enough for cars to pass.
An application of A. H. Brown for a
permit to construct a brick grocery
store at the corner of the Lee High
way and Mount Olivet road was also
approved, since he had the signatures
of approval of all but one of the resi-
dents of the subdivision on which 1t
is to be located. The commission pro-
vided that there must be a setback of
20 feet on the Lee Highway and Is
feet on Mount Olivet road.
Acting on the suggestion of Allen j.
Saville, coming engineer, to the effect
that all future applications for the erec-
ton of commercial or industrial estab-
llshmentS be accompanied by petition
Of approval of rs per cent of the adj
jacent property owners, the commission
deferred action on the application of
James E. Kidwell for a permit for the
erection of filling station on Clements
avenue in BallSton. The commission
stated, however, that failure to get the
signatures did not necessarily mean
that applications would be denied, Just
as the approval of the commission was
not assured If all signatures were got
ten.