Evening star., 1938-11-29
Blanket Ban Placed
On Row Houses in
Arlington County
Amendment to Zoninq
Ordinance Voted by
Boord, 3 to 2

oSSsSf - w -
A blanket ban on row houses in
Arlington County was authorized by
the county board today through
adoption of the so-called Chew
amendment" to the county zoning
ordinance.
The new law was adopted by
3-to-2 vote. George M Yeatman
moved its passage, with the author,
F. Freeland Chew. and Mrs. Eliza
beth Magruder, board chairman,
supporting him. Board Members
William p Ames and William A. E.
McShea voted against it,
The action was taken despite con-
trary advice of the boards legal
adviser, Commemorative Attorney
Lawrence Douglas. who said Il am
compelled to say that if you adopt
the Chew amendment the courts
will hold the law void"
The Chew amendment was in
dorsed by civic groups at a hearing
conducted by the board last night.
The hearing also weighed second
amendment, drafted by several of
the countys departments, which
proposed to limit row houses to a
maximum of three units.
Civic Groups Back Ban.
Organized civic bodies we're we'll
represented last night and all fav-
ored Mr.. Chews proposal. Several
private individuals and represent
atives of commercial institutions
spoke in behalf of the measure.
I. Chance Buchanan, chairman of
a. special committee of the county
Civic Federation, was the first
speaker. His group has several times
opposed row houses in any form.
The position of the federation in
this matter is we'll known to each
and every member of the board"
Mr.. Buchanan said. The fedora
ton is primarily concerned with
the welfare of Arlington County and
the best way to stop, for all times,
construction of row houses here"
He said he could see no protective
value in the three-unit amendment
because a large collection of this
type of structure would result in
the same undesirable features as the
ordinary row house.
He told the board, you think YOU
have fine county and that YOU. as
commissioners, together with the
county manager, have a wonderful
record, but what are your neighbors
and friends in Arlington going to
say? The very people that have put
you in Office to look after their in
terests-what are they going to say
If you let them down now?
Sees Opportunity for Service.
You members of the County
Board are today facing a problem
that will be remembered long after
you go out of office. Today you have
the opportunity to render service
not to spectators and promoters
but to the people of Arlington who
have established their homes here"
The way to stop row houses is to
adopt the Chew proposal, he con-
cluded.
A. A. Carretta, a civic leader who,
however, spoke "as an Individual"
was the only speaker last night to
favor the three living unit regulatory
amendment. He stated he is opposed
to row houses In single-dwelling
communities but cited existence of
row houses already in some disrepu-
table sections of the county for
which he must apologize" to the
visitor. Il trust" he said, this board
will give earnest consideration to
the elimination of these slum areas
by the use of the proposed three
unit row house." which he said
could not possibly harm these slum
areas.
Mrs. Florence Cannon, represent
ing the Organized Women Voters,
directed strong criticism at two of
the board members after. stating
her group favors the Chew amend
ment. She asked why are the two
board members, who happen to be in
the construction materials business,
in favor of row houses?"
Would Avoid Barracks"
She asked the board to consider
carefully whether Arlington is to be
developed as a crowded barracks for
workers in the District of Columbia I"
Jack Lockwood, representing the
Northern Virginia Builders Associa-
ton, referred to existing row houses
and voiced approval Of the Chew
proposal to prohibit similar future
developments.
Julian D. Simpson, federation Sec
retary, discussed legal aspects. cit
ing numerous court cases showing
that the board has authority to pro-
hibit the dwellings. A. D. Adams of
the Lyon Park Citizens Association
supported Mr.. Simpsons arguments.
Gilbert Hall, chairman of the spe-
cial committee which drafted the
three-unit amendment, said, II hold
no brief for row houses" but ex-