Evening star., 1938-07-31
D.C.zON|NGUN|TS
ARE REBE|NGFORMED
Officials Begin Drafting New
Regulations to Conform
to Statute.
By DON s. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
District officials acted yesterday to
bring into force as soon as possible
the substantial changes in admins
tration Of the zoning laws which were
incorporated in legislation enacted at
the last session of Congress.
Steps were taken toward creation
Of board of zoning adjustment and
a zoning advisory council as zoning
officials and Acting Corporation Coun-
sci Vernon E. West began drafting
regulations necessary under the mod
ernized zoning statute.
The advisory council, the District
Commissioners said, would consist of
Capt Hugh P. Dram, executive off,
Ger of the zoning Commission and a
member of the Co-ordinating Com
mittee Of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission; John No.
len. jr, director of planning of the
Park and Planning Commission. and
S. G. Lindholm, zoning engineer Of
the Zoning Commission
This new agency has been given
the responsibility Of submitting rec
concentrations to the Zoning Com
mission on all proposals for changes
in regulations or in changes in prop
erty classiflcations.
Some of Members Recommended.
Recommendations for only a por-
ton of the membership on the zoning
Adjustment Board have been received
to date The Planning Commission
has designated Mr.. Nolen as its repre-
sentative and the Zoning Commission
will nominate Capt. Dram. The Com
missioners said they would approve
both nominations.
Three District residents will be ap-
pointed by the District Commissioners
to complete this agency's membership.
Among names being considered are
those of DR.. Luther H. Reichelderfer,
former Commissioner; Harry E. Blake,
a director of the firm Of Barber &
Ross, who is chairman of the Zoning
Committee of the Board of Trade;
Theodore l. Coe of the Construction
Service Division of the American In
stitute Of Architects. who is president
of the Washington Building Congress
and chairman of the Municipal Art
Committee Of the Board Of Trade; DR..
George c. Havenner, veteran civic
leader, and an unnamed university
professor Of city planning and engi-
neering.
The membership of the zoning
Commission will remain as at present.
consisting of the three District Com
missioners, David Lynn. architect OF
the Capitol, and Arno B. Cammerer,
chief of the National Parks Service.
The Adjustment Board will be en-
powered to grant exceptions from the
rigid Interpretation of the zoning reg
ulations, to grant "variances." but 1t
may not override the zoning Commits
sion in making changes in the zoning
maps or regulations, officials said.
Seeks to Relieve Hardships.
This agency was created with the
purpose of relieving hardships on
property owners existing under strict
interpretations of the regulations and
property classifcations. which arise
because of peculiar circumstances Of
typography. shape Of lots or the like.
Supposing. for instance, a lot zoned
only for residential use has very
steep grade or triangular shape
which makes construction Of dwell
ing practically impossible under the
established rules for lot occupancy,
side and rear yards. Upon petition,
the Adjustment Board may waive some
of the mechanical rules, without order
ing any change in the zoning maps or
regulations.
Oficials say hundreds of such cases
have come before the commission in
the past. The commission, by con-
structive Interpretation of its past
stated powers, has granted some "vari-
ances" to prevent a test of the old law
on the ground that constitutional
rights had been violated, but in other
instances it has been forced to refuse
petitions or to make undesirable
changes in zoning classifications in
order to avoid undue hardships on
individual property owners.
Powers as Legally Stated.
The powers of the Board of Zoning
Adjustment, as stated in the new law,
are:
ITO hear and decide appeals where
IT is alleged by the appellant that
there is error in any order, require
ment, decision. determination or re-
fusal made by the inspector Of build
ings or the Commissioners of the Dis
trict Of Columbia or any other ad-
ministrative officer or body in the
carrying out or enforcement Of any
regulation adopted pursuant to this
act.
ITO hear and decide, in accordance
with the provisions Of the regulations
adopted by the zoning Conmission,
requests for special exceptions OF map