Evening star., 1935-10-31
CIRCLE TERMINAL
FACES OPPOSITION
Property Owners and Zone
Regulations Are Bar to
Bus Solution.

BUS Solution.
A proposal of the Capital Transit
Co. to erect modern bus terminal
in the vicinity of Chevy Chase Circle
as a permanent solution of the bus
parking problem in that area is des-
tined to meet serious opposition from
two sources-the zoning regulations
ard the property owners in the neigh
borhood, who, on several previous oc-
casionS, fought vigorously against fur
ther inroads of commercialism.
Officials of the Zoning Commission
explained today there are only two
unimproved sites along Connecticut
avenue in he vicinity of the circle,
and neither could be used under exist
ing coming for a bus terminal build
ing. One is on the west side of Con-
necticut avenue between Northamp-
ton street and the circle, facing the
present temporary curbstone ter
minal of the Chevy Chase bus line.
The other is on the east side of that
avenue between Morrison and Nc
Kinley streets, block away.
John H. Hanna. president of the
transit company, has said the pro-
posed terminal, to have any real
utilitarian value, should be located
within a block Of the circle. Zoning
oficials, however, are doubtful whether
the company could be successful in
arr move to have the residential zon-
ing on either of these two sites
changed because of the opposition
that met such a proposal In the past.
Owners Consent Necessary.
The consent of so per cent of the
property owners fronting on three
blocks in the area between Northamp-
ton street and the circle would be re-
ouired, it was pointed out. even before
the commission could consider a petit
ton for a change in zoning. On the
other site, it was said, there is pri-
vate deed restriction which will pre-
vent its use for any purpose other than
residential.
The only commercial zoning in the
vicinity Of the circle which would per-
init the construction of bus terminal
building, according to zoning authori-
ties, is on Connecticut avenue between
Livingston and Northampton streets,
AL of this property, however, has been
developed and occupied commercially.
C. Melvin Sharpe, executive assist
ant to Hanna, already has discussed
the Connecticut avenue zoning with
coming officials. He said the transit
company proposed to erect an attrac-
tive building that would harmonic
architecturally with other structures IN
the neighborhood that would get the
buses of the street and out of sight
during q layover period.
Two Other Alternatives.
II blocked by zoning regulations IN
building a terminal on Connecticut
avenue, the company, it was said,
would have only two other alterna-
tives in solving the terminal problem.
One would be to continue the opera
ton of all busses to Chevy Chase Lake
and use the car barn there as ter
minal, or else use the barn on Wis
consin avenue, which now feeds the
Chevy Chase line.
A joint letter protesting against al
legged mismanagement Of passenger
transfers at Chevy Chase Circle was
filed with the transit company today
b. three Montgomery County resi-
dents-Marile L. Obenauer, Marvin
Harrington and Helen harrington.
The writer's complained that a
change in the circle terminal was
made Tuesday without notice to bus
passengers and it resulted in consider
able inconvenience.
Excerpts From Letter.
The letter read, in part:
"As three of the thousands Of Chevy
Chase, Md, residents dependent upon
bus service, and striving to be rea-
sonably patient, we are writing to
know whether unparalleled indiffer-
ence to obligation to render public
service or unbelievable stupidity ac-
counts for the discomfort inflicted
upon bus patrons at the Chevy Chase
Circle this morning.
I'VE waited at various points along
Connecticut avenue above the circle,
some of us as long as Is minutes at
time when buses are not supposed to
be more than four minutes apart.
When we reached the circle the bus
stopped at the usual transfer point
north of the circle and no word was
said by the driver to the passengers,
stepping into the rain, that the trans
fer point had been shifted to the
south of the circle.
X X
1.-The bus patrons of Chevy Chase,
Md, are not willing to accept as an
excuse for the company's indifference
and stupidity the unwise and imma-
ature action of the States attorney"