Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-15
Abattoirs and Zoning.

The case of the abattoir having been
brought into court by the petitioner, the
Commissioners can take no other ap-
propriate action at this time than to
leave 1t there. But 1t is encouraging to
those working for preservation of Wash
ington as beautiful Capital to find that
the Commissioners and the Federal
agencies concerned with Capital City de-
velopment are planning to fight issuance
of q permit for such an establishment
as long as legal methods are available
to them. Objections lodged against the
abattoir indicate plainly enough that its
location would be prejudicial'to the best
interests not only Of the adjacent area,
but to the present and future plans for
Capital development.
Development Of the city now has
reached a stage that makes location
Of such an establishment anywhere in
the District subject to strong and sus-
tanned attack. Unlike other cities OF the
country. the Federal City's boundaries
are fixed by the Constitution itself and
cannot be expanded at will to take in
adjacent territory, either for the pur-
poses of increasing the taxable resources
or for establishing areas for industrial
development Of type that should be
segregated and set apart from residen-
tial communities. There is no part OF
the city now that is not included in
future plans for Identification Of WASH
ington as a National Capital, and it is
unthinkable that commercial enterprise
Of an Objectionable nature should be per-
mitted to endanger such future plans
or to place in jeopardy the substantial
expenditures already made by the Ma
tional Government and the community
In park and other development.
The proposed coming amendments to
be considered the latter part of this
month should, Of course, become a part
Of the coming regulations and will doubt.
less receive vigorous community sup
port. The unfortunate part of the mat
ter is that they were not adopted long
ago. with the very condition in mind
that the abattoir business has empha-
sized. Under the proposed amendments
no permit for such establishments as
abattoirs. fertilizer manufactures, ETC.,
even in industrial zones. could be granted
without specific permission of the Zon-
ing Commission. And such permission
would not be forthcoming until the prof.
ect had been examined thoroughly by all
the agencies concerned with Capital de-
velopment. failure properly to take
under consideration the many factors
involved in granting permit for re-
establishment of the abattoir In Its old
location is to be blamed for the grant
Of the permit for the foundations SUBJ
ordinate officials at the District Build
ing were too willing to follow precedent
and establish routine, forgetful or care.
less of the need for coordination be-
tween municipal and Federal park and
planning officials.
The Shipstead law already protects
the investments of the Federal Govern.
ment in land and buildings by requiring
that commercial establishments receive
the approval Of the Fine Arts Commits
sion for location on land opposite or
adjacent to Federal property. The need
for this protection extends beyond such
limits, as in the case OF the abattoir.
Amendment Of the coming regulations, as
proposed, would go far to establish such
protection.