Evening star., 1938-11-30

The commissioners proposal w
non conforming zoning uses in the
county and would make them con-
forming as of the date the amend
ment becomes operative.
Civic leaders today expressed the
fear that such an amendment not
only would weaken the whole plan
ming structure of the county, but also
could easily invite an immediate
period of wild. unsupervised devel-
opment with consequent deprecia-
ton of property values.
Offers Lawless Period.
They declared the entire metro
politan area, which has been de-
veloped along co-ordinated and
well-planned lines under Zonlng
regulations. would be thrown open
to any type development an owner
might care to make of his property
during the period between enact
ment of the amendment and the
date it would 60 into effect.
Heretofore non-conforming use
the use of property not in con-
formity with the zoning regulations
set for the area in which it is
Situated-had been restricted to uses
in existence when the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission was created in 1928.
Opponents of the proposed amend
ment stated they will first go before
the planning commission at hear
ing set for noon Friday and urge
that body, which serves in an ad-
visory capacity to the county COM
missioners on zoning problems, to
recommend the proposal be dropped.
1t is further planned to carry the
fight to the county commissioners
themselves and perhaps, if neces-
sary, to go into court with the
matter The fact that the amend
ment would legalize violations which
already have occurred might be suf-
ficient grounds to have it thrown
out, opponents asserted.
Mystery Seen in Purpose.
Frederic P. Lee of Edgemoor. former
member of the Park and Planning
Commission and an opponent of the
proposal, declared that "an air Of
mystery" surrounds the commits
sioners purpose in advocating the
amendment.
It was Mr.. Lee who asked for Fri
days hearing, which will be held in
the planning commissions offices in
the Tower Building at Fourteenth
and K streets NV.
Mr. Lee declared that county COM
missioners, who are supporting the
proposal. explained that the zoning
amendment would do away with liti-
CATION which, they claim. threatens
the Park and Planning Commis-
sion's efforts to obtain $500.0O0 in
Federal funds for park land pur-
chases and park development in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties.
The funds referred to are sought
under the Capper- -Cramton Act.
One-third of the money would be
an outright gift to the counties and
the remainder would be in the form
of loan Montgomery would get
100000 of the sum applied for and
Prince Georges the remaining $780,
900.
Litigation Withdrawn.
1.-THE litigation referred to by the
county commissioners already has
been withdrawn by the plaintiff and
I have it on good authority that the
S50O00O ALLEGATION would have been
made to the Maryland Park Com
mission irrespective of the suit then
pending Mr. Lee explained.
He declared the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission ap-
proved the ALLEGATION while the liti-
cation was pending and had agreed
to release the money as soon as a
few details could be ironed out.
The details, he said, pertained to
the language in the legal opinion
prepared by attorneys regarding the
Maryland commissions issuance of
bonds.
That seems to leave some other
line of reasoning behind the county
commissioners proposal" Mr.. Lee
added.
Cites Beer ParlOrS.
He said the granting of immunity
to all persons who have violated the
county's zoning regulations would
permit the continuance of some 200
beer parlors, temporary stands, busi-
ness shops, two, three and four
family apartments, signs and other
structures erected or maintained in
violation of the zoning regulations.
THE proposal apparently is in
tended also to legalize all struc-