Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-06
.REzON|NG HEARING
POSTPONED WEEK
Petition Seeks to Change
Rating Of Halpine Land.
Opponents Fear Peril.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Md, September g.
Rezoning of a large area of land in the
vicinity of Halpine, Md, covered by
three petitions, two of them proposing
a change from residential to industrial
and the other from residential to COM
mercial, which were scheduled for a
hearing before the board of county
commissioners, sitting as q district
council, at the Bethesda County Build
ing last night, has been postponed until
September Is.
County Commissioner Lacy Shaw,
acting president of the board, an
nounced yesterday that the hearing was
postponed at the request of DR.. Ben
jamin c. Perry of Bethesda, chairman
Of the board of county commissioners,
who is now in Atlantic City and who
expressed a desire to be present and
hear the testimony on the applications.
Council Must Meet.
In view of the fact that the meeting
had been formally advertised, 1t will
be necessary for the council to con-
vene and note formal postponement,
otherwise the whole matter would have
to be readvertiSed. Those opposing the
rezoning had sought a poStponement
Of a month, upon representation that
some of the interested parties were out
of the city. While such long post
ponement could not be obtained, it was
represented to the opponents that q de-
cision would not be made until all the
parties in interest had full opportu-
nifty to be heard.
The Rockville road, within the met
ropolitan district, which runs close TO
this town, is zoned as residential be-
tween the Bethesda commercial area
and the planning district. 1t is becom-
ing one of the most beautiful roadwayS
in the section, number Of fine estates
having been established along it. The
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission is opposing the
changes, and it is for this reason that
the appeal was made to the District
Council.
Aside from particular changes in
volved In these proceedings, some OPP
position has grown because, 1t was
pointed out, that If a coming scheme
was to be really effective it must be
closely guarded from changes here and
there, in order TO give it some semblance
of permanency. Many persons have
bought large plots Of ground along this
highway, the main artery between the
East and West from this section, and
plan to develop them.
Would Mar Beauty.
Encroachments Of commercial and
industrial areas upon or near the road
way, it was pointed out, will take away
much of the beauty, and, it was pointed
out today, will place an industrial area
almost Immediately outside of this town.
One of the petitions involves a plan
Of the Congressional Airport, Incorpo-
rated, located right on the pike, for a
change from residential "A" to COM
mercial ID" of two tracts of land. One
Of these has a frontage Of 300 feet on
the roadway, for depth Of 300 feet,
and the change is desired for the pur-
pose of erecting an administration
building for the airport. The other
and the change here is sought as a site
for a filling station. 1t has frontage
of 100 feet on the highway and extend
ing back 800 feet. 1t was explained
that the planning district line runs
parallel with the Rockville highway,
and 800 feet west Of it at this point, so
that the effect of the change would be
to remove the residential area from the
west side of the road at this point.
Another of the petitions to be In
quired into is that of T. H. Lenovitz OF
Halpine for coming amendment from
residential "a" to industrial "E" Of a
"a
If the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad tracks
and south of the Halpine-Viers MIL
road. If granted, this, it is said, would
be used by an Oklahoma concern dis
tributing a liQuified gas for domestic
use.
The other petition is that Of Frank
L. Hewitt and associates for rezoning
from residential "A" to industrial "E"
If a tract of land of 8.78 acres, east of
The railroad tracks and north Of the
Mill road. This property
formerly was used for industrial pur-
poses, it was said, and can be 50 used,
provided there is no alteration in the
buildings.
Expect Road TO Be Improved.
While these properties are located in
he vicinity of the Viers Mill road, now
! little used highway, 1t was pointed
,ut that it is destined to become one of
;he main arteries connecting the Geor-
yia avenue pike with Rockville. A bill
was introduced in the last Legislature
for its Improvement, but 1t
was killed in the Senate. County po-
itical leaders and officials pointed out
hat it Is greatly needed as a part Of
The improved highway system, and there
s little doubt that it will be included
n the road program which will be in
at the next session Of the
state Legislature.
Residents of the area are consider |
IDLY concerned over the proposed |
changes and are expected to make a !
United front at the hearing next week. |
There is considerable opposition of the |
-esidents there to the location of the |
airport on the main highway because |
# the noises of the machines and the |
ear of accidents, involving possible |
iamage to property or injury to the |