Evening star., 1937-01-29
KING TO SPONSOR
NEW z0N|NG LAW
Decision Follows Report by
City Planners Special ,
ConsuItants.

VUIISuIldIIlSs
Chairman King Of the Senate Dis
trict Committee informed his coll
leagues on the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission today he
will sponsor q new 1oning law and .
new real estate subdivision law for the
Capital.
The commission submitted the re-
port of its special consultants. Alfred
Bettman of Cincinnati and Harland
Bartholomew of st. Louis. who jointly
made study of the two problems here.
to the Zoning Commission and the Dis
trict Commissioner Special Commit
tee. These bills probably will not be
introduced for several weeks. as the
planners expect to hear from the Zon-
ing Commission and the Commission
ers by the time they meet again In
February.
Would Limit Heavy Industries.
Under these projected statutes the
District Commissioners and the zoning
Commission would be empowered to
issue detailed regulations. The law
and regulations would be aimed spe-
officially at the erection Of abattoirs.
glue factories and other so-called
heavy industries in the Capital.
While details Of the report were not
made public, it was disclosed that the
consultants recommend the law be
amended without delay. The present
zoning law. passed in 1920, is now
deemed inadequate.
Whether Congress will write spe-
cifically into the law a provision bar
ring abattoirs and other heavy indus.
tries. or q special permit be issued by
the District Commissioners, remains
to be determined.
Dram and West Speak.
Hugh P. Dram. director of inspec-
tion Of the District Engineer Depart
ment, and Vernon West, assistant
corporation counsel. appeared this
morning before the planners and dis
cussed the problem. These two ON
cials, together with E. A. Dent. Dis
trict surveyor, and John Nolen, jr.,
director Of planning of the commits
sion, constitute the special committee
of the District Commissioners studying
the subject.
The proposed closing of Sixth street,
across the Mall, and the widening OF
Seventh street to double its present
capacity, to accommodate the Mel
Ion Art Gallery. at Seventh street
and Constitution avenue received
special attention at the joint ses-
sion Of the National Capital Park
and Planning and Fine Arts Com
missions. Study Is likewise being given
to future Government buildings south
Of the Mall. in Southwest. bounded
by Maryland. Delaware and Virginia
avenues. which may contain . new
Social Security structure.
The Planning Commission yesterday
afternoon instructed its consulting
architect, William T. Partridge, to
submit detailed plans for development
of the new public buildings area in
Southwest at the February meeting.
Several studies, prepared by Partridge.
were presented yesterday in broad out
line. but the exact locations of future
buildings were not revealed. The COM
mission is about to do for Southwest
what 1t did in the triangle and in the
| Northwest rectangle-plan the loca-
tion Of new Government buildings in
q general layout.
Owns Half Area Needed.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary of the
Planning Commission, explained that
the Federal Government now owns
about half the area needed In South
west. as the Procurement Division Of
the Treasury Department has .,eri-
odically been purchasing lots. under
authority of Congress.
This afternoons Joint session Is be-
Ing devoted to consideration of the
new War Department building, for
which President Roosevelt has sug-
gested the expenditure Of $26, 6,000, 600,
and the location between Twenty
first, Twenty-third, c and z streets.
In the Northwest rectangle. In his
budget estimates. The new Pennsyl-
vania avenue bridge. spanning the
Anacostia River, Is another major
item on the agenda, and the Thomas
Jefferson memorial will receive de-
tailed discussion.
The proposed extension Of the jurisdic-
tion Of the Shipstead-Luce act, which
empow' the Federal Government to
have authority over the types of archi-
lecture t, be erected adjacent to pub
lie buildings and parks, Is yet another
topic on which the two commissions
will focus attention.
Due to the absence from the meet
ing yesterday afternoon of Arno B.
Cammerer, director Of the National
Park Service, who is also executive
officer Of the Planning Commission, a
suitable auditorium for Washington, in
which inaugural and other major
events might be held. was not dis
cussed. This Is likely to find its way
into the joint discussions this after
noon.
The planners directed the stan to
consult with the National Resources
Committee in the study Of the pro-
posed Potomac Valley Authority, Is
sponsored by Representative Rankin,
Democrat, Of Mississippi, to curb floods
and assist proper hydro-electric de-
velopment. The report Of the COM
mittee's own Water Resources Com
mittee, pertaining to the Potomac, will
also be studied by the stan in con-