Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-14
.ZONING APPEALS
BOARD URGED BY
JOINT COMMITTEE
Continued From First Page.)

the coming advisory committee of repre-
ssentatives Of the trade groups, which
meets with Mai. Dawson prior to each
coming hearing to analyze and pass
judgment on each petition for change
in coming classifications.'
Under the proposed change, the
board of appeals would be charged
with passing upon all applications seek
ing exceptions to or notifications Of
coming classifit atoms Of property in
specific cases, leaving matters of the
fundamental coming to the commission
proper.
The whole purpose Of the proposed
enlargement of the scope Of coming is
10 make the code here flexible" so as
to grant relief to individual property
owners who can show the need of mod
flying zone classifications, without
harming neighbors or the community,
1t is explained. The new movement is
designed, not to upset or counterfeit
coming, its proponents declare, but
rather to place coming on q more Sc
cure and satisfactory basis.
Control Under Plan.
Under the proposed plan the appeals
body could exercise a control over the
types Of structures to be erected, If
and when 1t is convinced q property
should have relief afforded by an ex-
ception ruling or change in coming
classification, by granting an adjust
rnent with the proviso that the owner
could erect building Of only a
certain specified size, type, shape, use
end so forth. Under the present code
the Zoning Commission has no such
control, it is contended. The commits
sion. 1t is pointed out. can grant relief
fn on nYalvy hv, Nl1 r,ofy1ey "a
ing classification of his property. This,
proponents Of the appeals board sys-
tenn point out, leaves the door wide
open for owners Of adjoining property
to appeal for the same change, though
they may have no valid reason for the
change sought.
The letter of the advisory coming
committee, filed with Maj. Donald A.
Dawson, commission executive, reads
as follows:
THE Zoning Commission recently an
nounced that beginning with January,
public hearings would be held only
three times year. The apparent pur-
pose of this Is to stabilize the coming
ordinance and not have 1t subject to
so frequent changes. We doubt II this
result, which on the whole is desirable,
will be obtained by having fewer hear
ings:
Some property owner may become
discouraged because he has to wait SO
long to have a decision made, but as a
rule II the matter is Of any Importance,
The owner Of the property will go right
ahead even though he has to wait
four months. The hearing this month
is an example. The last hearing took
place 81 days ago. There are 80 cases
on the docket this month, or more
than twice the average number.
Hardship Probabilities.
"In many instances, hardship !:
bound to result if hearings are post
poned. In business matters, uncertainty
is always liability and even though
a decision goes against an appellant
and can be forgotten. Under the new
plan when amendments are considered
it will almost always take eight months
to make a decision. since 1t has been
the wise policy of the commission moi
to take ACTION on important amend-
meECs until two public hearings have
been held.
IF suitable legislation were enacted
creating a board Of coming appeals. 9
very large part Of the work now
handled by the Zoning Commission
would be considered by this board. we
are very much in favor Of the creation
of such board, and after 1t Is actually
functioning, we would be In favor Of
the present decision of the Zoning Com
mission to reduce the number Of hear
ings.
IT the coming ordinance could be 50
amended as to give committee OF the
present Zoning Commission board Of
appeal powers 1t might not be necessary
to set UP separate board. Such a COM
mittee should meet frequently to handle
individual adjustment cases.
Until such o time, however, We, "a
members Of the zoaing advisory cOrp-
mtttee, are strongly opposed TO any re-
dnction In the number Of coming hear