Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
BUILDING PERMIT
V|OLATORS WARNED
Planning Commission Ready
to Enforce Law Within Its
Jurisdiction.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
STAT Correspondent Of the Star.

SILVER SPRING, Md. March Is
Failure of building inspectors Of in
corporated towns and special taxing
areas in Montgomery County to CO.
operate with the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion in the issuance of permits for the
construction of buildings is developing
a situation portending clash between
the several agencies which may culml-
nate In sending offenders into the
courts for violation of the park and
planning act, it was learned today.
Keeping Close Check.
Oficials of the park and planning
commission are keeping q close check
on buildings In the corporations and
taxing areas included within the metro
politan district, and it was indicated
that the matter would be brought to
q head within short time. The park
and planning act was intended to pro-
vide for an orderly development OF the
metropolitan district, including the
towns and taxing areas within Its
boundaries, and in the last legislature
the commission received specific au-
thority to control the construction OF
buildings as to coming, set backs, yard
spaces, ETC., even in the areas where
the newly adopted building code does
not apply. without such provision,
it was pointed out, there would be
only partial coming control.
Those in charge OF the development
of the county would like to see these
special taxing areas and incorporated
towns adopt the metropolitan district
building code in its entirety. This code
governs the use of construction, ma
terials, wiring, pipe lines, in fact every
thing which goes into home conStruc-
ton and its purpose is to insure only
modern buildings being erected. 1t was
patterned somewhat after the DlstrlcG
of Columbia code, and provides Tor
the approval Of plans and specifca-
tions by the building inspectors before
the permit Is issued.
It seems to have been the practice
in the offending areas to issue approVals
of permits and then send them direct
to Rockville where a regular county
permit is issued as a matter OF course,
without any examination as to whether
the buildings comply with any OF the
metropolitan district laws, particularly
the coming code. These permits are
merely required for the purpose OF
getting a record of construction 1or tne
use of the assessors In valulng the
property for tax purposes.
Violating Code.
It has been found in some instances
that buildings for which permits nave
been issued are being erected IN viola
ton of the coming code, as to set oacKS,
ward space. etc. Offlcials now are study
ing particular instances, and the Two
building inspectors, j. Fred In1irie Tor
the western metropolitan district, ana
Martin r. Iverson of the northern met
ropolitan district, have been caused no
end of trouble by the failure OF the Town
and taxing area authorities to cooper
ATE unless cooperation can be OBJ
tanned. it was explained, the metropoli-
tan district proper outside Of the cor
porations and taxing areas VIII De
Strictly according to coming, while In
those sections there will be hodge
podee development which the planning
act was designed to avoid.
The park and planning act makes II
a Ynisdemeanor, punishable by a t1ne OF
500 or 80 days in jail, or both, for the
issuance of a permit in violation OF the
areas Each day is made a separate
offense. It was said at the planning
commission headquarters that it Is the
officials' understanding of the law that
such violations would be charged
against the one who issued the permit,
and it is the plan now to enforce COM
pliance with the law by taking specific
cases into court.
The first step in the direction of CO.
operation with the planning officials was
taken last week by Takoma Park, when
the council at a special meeting adopt
ed the metropolitan district building
code in its entirety. This action was
taken as result of plea made before
the council by Mr.. Iverson. the build
ing inspector of the metropolitan dis
council.