Evening star., 1938-10-11
DETAILS HOLD Up
NEW z0N|NG UNIT
Rules of Procedure and
Powers Approved With
Minor Changes.

Although rules and regulations gov
erning the powers and procedure Of
the newly-created Board OF Zoning
Adjustment have been formally ap-
proved, it was indicated today that
the board will not be ready to func-
ton for about three weeks, or at
least until few technical details Of
operation are worked out.
Capt. Hugh P. Dram, executive Of
ficer of the zoning Commission and a
member of the five-man adjustment
body, explained the board must await
an order by the District Commission
ers on the fees to be charged. and
that it must also be determined just
where the boards funds will be kept.
He estimated these problems and a
few other minor details will require
about three weeks work
The regulations, which were drafted
by the Zoning Commission in con-
sultation with the corporation coun-
sells office, were approved late yes
terday at a~joint n0eting of the
Zoning Commission and the Zoning
Advisory Council and Alfred Bettman.
legal zoning expert of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion.
Minor Changes Made.
Several minor changes in the orig
inal draft of the regulations were
approved at the joint meeting on
recommendation of the Zoning ad-
visory group. which held lengthy
meeting earlier in the day to discuss
revisions proposed at public hearing
last week.
The board was created in connec-
ton with the act undermining the
zoning laws of the District, which
was passed at the last session of
Congress. 1t will hear appeals from
decisions by the District inspector
of buildings. the director of inspec-
ton, the office of the Zoning Com
mission and the Commissioners rela-
tive to details of zoning regulations,
with the intent of preventing undue
hardships in special cases dealing with
specific requirements
The regulations, as amended. con-
tain list of 10 specific grants of
powers to the Board of Adjustment.
Two of the original grants were strick-
en- out because the zoning experts de-
cided they are embodied in the zoning
statutes. These were replaced by two
other provisions which in the orig
inal draft were included in the section
entitled Powers Relating to Nom
conforming Uses and Structures.
One of the grants dropped related
to the power to permit additions to
buildings where the yards. courts or
other open spaces do not meet regu-
lation requirements for the entire
building proposed.
Would Permit Excavation.
The wording of another Of the
grants of power was revised to give
the adjustment board authority to
permit, in a residential district, "the
temporary use of vacant land for
sand, gravel and clay pits, subject to
such restrictions and safeguards as
may in the opinion of the board be
necessary to protect the residential
property in the vicinity and not i'm
pair the use of such vacant land in
accordance with the zoning regulations
and maps"
A new section entitled Powers Re-
lating to Variance" was added to the
original draft, but it is merely COM
posed of q part of a section of the
zoning statutes
The rules of procedure were amend
ed to provide that three members
shall constitute q quorum but that
lesser number may meet and adjourn.
Another rule was changed to provide
that appeals. including all applica-
tions for variance or special excep-
tions, unless made on the appropriate
form, properly filled out with all re-
quired data attached, shall not be ac-
cepted for hearing"
The zoning experts left unchanged
the regulation relating to rehearing
of appeals that have been denied. This
rule says that any applicant whose
appeal has been denied by the board
may institute new appeal not less
than one year from the date on
which the board took action on the
previous appeal.
At the public hearing l.. A. Car
ruthers, president Of the Federation
Of Citizens Associations, had sug-
gested a new rule be included BAN
ming q rehearing of case of pro-
posed change in zoning once denied
until after a period Of i've years had
elapsed.