Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-16
Needed Zoning Changes.

&NCCOCU hVA4uE, SA0A6SSs
A property owner has built two semi
detached houses In an area that was
afterward zoned as "A restricted"
which permits only the erection Of de-
ing porches on these semi-detached
houses and the owner desires to in
close them with glass. The glass In
closures will improve, rather than de-
tract from, the appearance Of the semi
detached houses and will make them
more comfortable. But under the ex-
listing coming regulations no such add
tons can be made. The Zoning Com
mission is powerless to grant this rea-
sonable request unless 1t rezones the
area to "a semi-restricted," which
under the circumstances would not be
advisable.
That is only one example Of why the
Honing advisory committee Is recon-
mending the creation Of Board OF
Zoning Appeals. The contention is that
legislation setting up this new agency
would also amend the coming regula-
tions to make them more elastic, per-
hitting changes when common sense
and reasonable necessity support them.
The members Of the Zoning Commission
win probably be found In agreement
with their advisers, in so far as the
unwieldiness Of the zoning regulations
IS concerned. But whether the crea-
ton Of q Board Of Zoning Appeals Is
necessary or advisable remains for de-
cision after long and mature deibera-
ton. The success Of 1oning depends
upon strict observance Of its funda-
mental principles. While changes here
and there might be made without Sert-
ously affecting these fundamentals, an
additional 3oning agency, with broad
authority, could throw q monkey
wrench into the machinery that might
upset or seriously damage the entire
structure. That Is improbable, but pos
aible. It Is well to take every precau-
ton against possibilities.
But the crowded docket awaiting
Zoning Commission meetings, pressure
from the outside for changes considered
necessary and extremely important
from the petitioners point Of view and
the commissions recently announced
policy Of resisting this pressure through
the expedient Of holding only three
hearings q year, combine to center at
tention upon an agency OF our munich
peI government that Is, through no
fault Of its own, failing to perform the
service that it should be able to render
the community.
The commission itself receives ne ap-
preparations. It even borrows its
postage stamps. It's stenographic work
Is performed by a clerk borrowed from
Commissioner Dougherty's office. Its
clerk Is borrowed from the building In
spector's office. It's engineer and Stats
tician Is borrowed from the building
inspectors Office. Its efficient executive
of1cer, Maj. Dawson, Is senior Assistant
Engineer Commissioner, with many
other duties to perform. He devotes
only part Of his time to zoning work.
The commission itself is composed OF
Col. U. s. Grant, Sd; David Lynn, archi-
tect Of the Capitol, and the District
Commissioners. The time they give to
xoning is part time. Other duties re-
quire the major part Of their attention.
Yet the decisions Of this body should
be arrived at only after personal and
thorough inspection Of the areas in
question and lengthy hearings on the
petitions that come before it. These
decisions are vitality important, not only
to property owners and builders, but to
the community as . whole. The petit
tioning citizen has q right to be heard
aud quickly. II there is merit in his
petition, it should be granted without
delay.
The coming regulations should be
amended In accordance with recon-
mendations enanating from the zoning
Commission, based on its own mature
study Of the defects that may exist in
the zoning code. The personnel Of the
commission should be enlarged and q
committee thereof function in o manner
that will be Of help and service to peti-
TONERS, either by acting on certain types
Of petitions or referring them fer &C
ton to the full commission. Washing
ton has outgrown its part-time Zoning
Commission.
A.