Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-28
S|GNDOARD CURB
PROPOSAL STUDIED
Montgomery County Zoning
/ Change Would Restrict
AID Posters.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
stan Correspondent of The Star

BETHESDA, Md, May 28.-Proposed
amendments to the coming law of the
metropolitan district of Montgomery
County, which have been before the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission for several
months are being considered today by
a special committee of that body, with
a view to preparing report to the full
commission scheduled to be made at
the meeting tonight.
One of the principal provisions of
this planned new code Is that which
would impose restrictions on the placing
of advertising sign boards in the indus
trial areas, and eliminate any provision
for their erection in the commercial
zone.
Under one of the provisions of the
uroposed new code, 1t will be necessary
for any one seeking to erect an adver-
Using structure to undertake lengthy
procedure 10 obtain the permit. After
fhe application is made, it is proposed
that it shall be advertised and public
hearing held, if the planning commits
sion approves the request for permit,
and then. if the District Council decides
to issue the permit, it would be neces-
Sary to publish formal ordinance.
Procedure Would Be Lengthy.
While it is possible for such permits
20 be issued. it was pointed out that the
procedure is so lengthy and the cost so
Increased that it Is unlikely that those
seeking to erect such structures would
be willing TO undertake 1t, especially In
view of the uncertainty as to whether
the permit would be issued after a
public hearing The same procedure
also would have to be gone through even
30 repair any signboard now erected.
such, for instance, as the replacing of a
single plank. or restoring a sign that
had blown down.
While it was said that no signboards
have been erected in the residential
zones for many months, 1t was added
that some have been put up in the COM
mercial and industrial zones. Under
the present coming ordinance, it was
pointed out. there is no way of refus-
ing a permit. and affirmative action
usually is taken as matter of course
on an application. The first Signboard
has been erected on the new east-west
highway.
Companies Unheard From.
Some months ago, the county au-
khorities, representatives of the planning
commissioners and agents of the sign
board advertising companies, held a
conference on the matter of signboard
elimination in Montgomery County, and
st that time, the latter indicated a
disposition to remove their signs from
the residential areas if they would be
permitted to place them in the COM
Inercial and industrial zones. Since
that time, nothing has been done on the
matter. 1t was said by j. Bond Smith
general counsel of the commission, that
he has heard nothing from the COM
panies since the publication of the pro-
posal to place further restrictions or
the signs in the industrial areas.
The special committee also is giving
consider alton today to the matter OF
Eliminating a provision that requires
that prior to a rezoning of any par
ticular parcel of land to be used for q
special purpose. a certain percentage OF
the property owners within q specified
radius of the land shall indicate theil
approval in a petition.
! Mr.. Smith said that study of the
decisions of the United States SUPREME
Court had held that such a provision
was illegal, in that, in effect, it trans.
TERED the rezoning power to the prop.
erty owners. 1t was indicated that the
proposed new coming ordinance woulc
not have such provision as, with the
Supreme Court decision, it might be q
difncult task to attempt to defend il
IN court action.