Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-14
HALP|NE REzON|NG
!. . HIT BY RESIDENTS
Protests Made Against
Change From Residential
in Montgomery.
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
Staf Correspondent of The Star.

in the vicinity of Halpine. together with
real estate operators and others inter-
ested in rezoning residential land to
industrial and commercial, appeared last
night at the county building here be-
fore the board of county commissioners,
sitting as coming board of Appeals.
For nearly three hours the board
listened to arguments for and against
the petitions to rezone. On the one
hand, the owners pleaded with the
commission to uphold the Maryland Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com.
mission, which had disapproved the
proposed changes pointing out that
Of dollars to develop the residential
section, and had increased the taxible
basis of the land.
Creeping in of industrialiSm and COM
mercialisn at the point sought, they
said, would mean only that it would
spread. once the wedge was in. On
the other hand, it was pointed out
on behalf of the petitioners that the
industrial areas proposed were along the
railroad tracks and that no harm could
be done by them. 1t was added that
industries must be allowed to come into
the county for the support of its people.
There was comment against the Con-
gresSional Airport. Inc, speakers saying
that it had robbed them Of the privacy
OF their homes, as they could not even
keep their cattle and chickens in the
field due to the low flying of planes
over their homes.
Three Petitions Heard.
Three petitions were taken I'D by
the board One is for the reZoning to
commercial of parcels of land border
ing on the pike at the eastern side of
the air field, for the purpose of erecting
an administration building and a filling
station: the second petition is that of
Frank L. Hewitt and associates for re-
coming to industrial of a parcel of land
on the railroad track about thousand
feet back from the pike at Halpine,
said to be wanted for an airplane fac
tory. while the third is that of T. H.
LenovitZ. for the re2oning of another
parcel in the same section for use rs a
distributing station for domestic cook
ing gas.
When A. B. Cameron, representing
the gas products company was asked
why the company could not find another
site at another place, and why it had
to have the one at Halpine. he said
that it would increase the cost of the
product, due to transportation charges.
He was asked If the matter was one
merely of a financial consideration of
the company. and when he replied in
the Affirmative. the speaker said the
financial question was exactly the con-
sideration of the residents and that hey
did not want to lose.
When Harry Martin sought to point
out that the gas plant would be more
desirable than a settlement of colored
bootleggers," Mrs. Philander C. johnson
took the floor and said one of the in
dividuals to which the speaker referred
lived on her property, and demanded
proof of his statement, and Martin
spoke no more on this point. Mrs.
johnson said that If industrial coming
was allowed she would not be able 10
live In the home which had been
selected as her residence. Philander c.
Johnson pointed out to the board that
while it might be desirable to get rid
of a colored settlement, he thought It
rather drastic to suggest that they get
rid of them by blowing them up.
Frank L. Hewitt said that he had
learned with much surprise when he
sold the land for a plane factory that
1t had been residential. and pointed out
that the property had heretofore been
used as factory.
Explains Relations of Airport.
Harry NJ Horton. representing the
airport, told of the desires for the re-
coming there, and explained the re!a-
ton Of the airport to the flying routes
approved by the Department of Com
merce. e. C. Brandenburg, one Of the
property owners along the pike, told
Mr.. Horton that he had spoke In gen.
eralities and gave the impression that
the airport had some connection with
the Government. He asked him directly
If il had any such connection. Mr..
Horton said that he did not intend to
give that impression, and that the air.
port had no connection with the Gov
eminent. Dion Bierney also spoke in
favor of the airport rezonlng.
A letter was read from George E.
Hamilton opposing the reclaSsiflcationS,
and Harold E. Doyle pointed out that
MT. Hamilton merely referred to the
preservation of Wisconsin avenue. He
pointed also that E. Brooke Lee was
making a similar industrial area in the
Silver Spring section, right under his
own home.
Declaring that there was nothing of
so great Importance to the lower end
of Montgomery County that this matter
of rezoning, Mr.. Brandenburg told the
board that the situation came down to
the question as to whether or not the
acting creating the metropolitan dis
added that once the board ruled against
the planning commission and granted
the change for the airport, it would
lose all control over it and soft drink,
hot dog and other similar establish
lnents could be put in. He. charged
that the airport was nuisance, and
this brought Mr. Bierney to his feet to
object, when Mr. Brandenburg added
that he would not have spent his
money for a residence there If he had
thought an airport was coming in. He
told the board. and particularly called
this to the attention of DR.. Benjamin
c. Perry, presiding at the meeting, that
when proposal was made some time
ago to establish an airport in Bethesda,
a committee of the Chamber of COM
merce investigated and reported over
whelmingly against 1t. because. they
said. it produced an undesirable con-
dition in the neighbOrhood.
Eventually Would EncrOach Pike.
He charged that the gas plant could
not start 700 feet back from the pike,
without eventually encroaching on the
pike. He said that the product was
more highly explosive than gasoline,
and called to the attention of the COM
mission an advertised proposal to ask
the county commissioners for authority
to run railroad siding over Viers Mill
road. He pointed out that the plan
ming commission was vitality interested
In this highway, which was to be i'm
proved and would become as an i'm
portant an artery in the county as the
pike. He asked the board If the men,
bers were going TO stand out against
the property owners of the section as
against an outside corporation which
had never paid a cent In taxes. Mr..
Brandenburg told of residents along the
pike who had spent money in the pur-
chase of property used for commercial
purposes. purely through civic interest
in improving the appearance OF the
roadway.
Karl Corby spoke against the recon-
ing, and pointed out that while he was
some distance from the proposed re-
waning nevertheless he thought it pro-