Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-27
Serious Attention
To ZOning Is Urged


Your leading editorial Of December
% entitled "a Zoning Review Needed
Is certainly well taken and 1t deserves
serious consideration by the local
authorities.
The Operative Builders Association.
Of which the writer is the executive
secretary, has maintained for some time
that the coming set up in Washington
Is not all that could be desired. It has
been and is today on q "part-time"
basis. There is but one man at the
present time devoting all his time to
coming and he Is loaned" by the build
ing inspectors Office to the coming
office. There are no Stenographers or
craftsmen assigned to that ofice. The
executive officer, who is an Army officer
and therefore remains in charge Of zon-
ing only four years, has such a multi
tude OF other duties that he can devote
only part of his time to coming. During
recent months Maj. Dawson, the execu-
tive officer, has been called upon by
the District authorities to do so much
extra work such as sitting on trial
boards, ETC., that for days it has been
difficult to see him in regard to coming
matters. This. we believe, is an unfor-
tunate state of affairs.
Zoni1g is one of the most important
functions of the municipal government.
1t is a science and an art which can
not be picked up within a few weeks.
1t affects the health, welfare and prop
erty rights OF every one in the COM
mun1ty. 1t Is In many ways more i'm
portant than taxation since the amount
OF taxes depends to an extent on how
the city Is zoned, but here in Washing
ton this vital function is left to shift
the best 1t can. Last year, as far as
the writer can ascertain, Mai. Dawson
managed to get hold of $3.50 to print
the revised coming regulations, and this
was all the money specifically obtained
Tor coming, except small amount for
advertising OF proposed changes and
postage stamps.
In most other cities the zoning Office
IS well stated department of the city
government. It has ample funds to en-
ploy skilled talent, to print the neces-
sary regulations and decisions, to make
stenographic reports of all hearings, to
provide photostatic copies of all prop
erty involved in each coming case: in
short, to do everything necessary to
conduct properly such an important
city function,
1t Is essential that the necessary leg
1slat1on be obtained to put our coming
office on sound basis, and, in addition,
some machinery should be set up that
Will provide for a board of adjustment
to handle individual coming cases. If
this can be done by the Zoning Commits
sion appointing a. committee to hear
these cases, it may be a satisfactory and
proper solution.
The important point is that there
must be some agency established to give
individual property owners relief from
the strict letter of the law without vio-
lating its spirit. In addition such a
BOARD would permit coming to be more
Very often building may be erected
nlgher than allowed in the particular
height district, but because it covers SO
much less area than low building, it
IS more desirable from the standpoint
OF health, light and air and protection
OF the surrounding property. Such q
building may violate the strict letter of
the coming ordinance, but it certainly
Is In keeping with its spirit, and there
are cases when the erection of a higher
building should be allowed. Such an
adjustment board might prevent the
unfortunate situation that exists on
Sixteenth street today. The commission
mas peen taken to court by a property
owner because OF dissatisfaction with
residential coming for his property.
Should the court rule against the COM
mission, all Of lower Sixteenth street
zonlng may be upset. But If there were
a board Of adjustment and the matter
concerning this particular piece of
property were taken to court after a
hearing by such board and the court
held that residential coming was unjust
such a decision would affect only that
one piece Of property and not ali of
lower Sixteenth street.
Our coming ordinance is considered
by many to be somewhat behind the
times. Zoning is new in this country
In the last 10 years much has been
learned. Bulk of buildings and popula-
ton density regulations deserve serious
and expert consideration. The National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
Is correct in saying now is the time "to
analyze the experience gained"
RUFUS S. LUSK,
Executive Secretary, Operative Build
erS' Association of the d, C.