Evening star., 1939-11-23
Filling Station
Foes Lose in
zoning Fight
Bourd Refuses to
Reopen Case; Convent
Laundry Weighed

Members of the Board of Zoning
Adjustment late yesterday disposed
of two hotly contested cases, hearc
at recent hearings, and took under
advisement number of other cases,
one of which provoked a spirited
fight at yesterdays public hearing.
The board ruled against a reopen
ing of its decision to grant to the
Blue Bell Realty Co. the right to
erect gasoline filling station on the
west side of Connecticut avenus
NV, near Idaho avenue, demanded
by spokesmen for the Northwest
Citizens Council
In another action, the board
granted to William Montgomery,
who is head of the Acacia Mutual
Life Insurance Co., permission to
build new stable for horses on his
estate at 5000 Nebraska avenue NV,
subject to approval of plans. At a
recent hearing, nearby residents
protested the new stable would be
too close to their front doors. A
new site for the new stable. it was
announced, would be closer to Mr..
Montgomery's own residence and
located in a depression in the ground.
Laundry Under Amusement.
The board took under advisement.
among other cases considered a:
yesterdays hearing, petition by the
Convent of Good Shepherd for the
erection of tWo-story addition to
tho nnnuaylt OF Thi irt,r ivtl,
streets NV, for use as a laundry.
A long list of property owners nearby
protested against enlargement" OF
the laundry plant.
1t was by a tie vote of to 2
that the board refused to grant a
rehearing on the Blue Bell gasoline
station. A letter had been filed from
DR. Lyman j. Briggs, head of the
Bureau of Standards, stating that
he had filed verbal protest against
the gasoline station Board men,
bers said they. personally, had re-
ceivet no protest.
When the issue came to decision,
E. O. Seaquist, assistant director of
the bureau. appeared to protest the
past action. on the grounds that
some time in the future the bureau
might obtain funds for construction
of monumental building near the
site of the proposed gasoline station.
Nolan Calls for Rehearing.
John Nolen, jr., city planner of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission moved for rehearing of
the case, and second came from
Capt. Hugh P Dram, executive
officer of the District Zoning Com
mission. However, Theodore I. Coe,
chairman Of the Adjustment Board,
voted against the plan, stating that
officials of the Bureau of Standards
had had full opportunity to protest
at the first hearing, and second OBJ
lection came from Harry Blake,
another member of the board. The
fifth member of the board died re-
Gently
Pleas for an exception to zoning
rules to permit the construction of a
new laundry for the Good Shepherd
Convent were made by George Ham
llton, jr., attorney; Frederick V.
Murphy, architect, and Paul A.
Goettelmann, designer 1t was ex-
planned the house was incorporated
in 1884 and was established on the
present site in 1889. 1t takes care of
l25 or more wayward girls ranging
up to ages of 18 and 20 years. 1t
was contended that smoke nuisance
probably would be less under the
new plan than under present
arrangements
Fear Further Characterization.
Vigorous protests came from
officials of the Burleith Citizens
Association and numerous nearby
residents, who argued that the laun-
dry operation was not conducted
only for the institution, but for other
lnstitC tlonS, that it was in the
nature of a commercial enterprise.
They voiced fears the new laundry
plant later would serve as an ENTER
ing wedge" for further commercial
ization of the property, to the detri-
ment OF nearby residential property
owners. Some objectors also argued
the new higher pressure steam boiler
plant woulo constitute a hazard to
pupils of nearby Western High
School. Nearby homeowners argued
there would be an increase in SCOT
and dirt blown on their properties.
Among objectors were Norman w.
Fields, chairman of a special COM
mittee of the Burleith Citizens As
sociation; Henry Gilligan, former
member of the Board of Education,
who appeared as counsel for two
Burleith property owners; Oliver B.
Lerch of 1927 S street, who declared
the plant would constitute an eve
sore" in the community and pro-
tested that the noise caused by the
blowing of steam from the present
boiler plant could be heard three
block away; and Herbert T. Shan
non, one of the builders of the SUBJ
division. who insisted that the laun-
dry constituted a commercial op-
Grafton. Mr.. Shannon praised the
ability of Architect Murphy and said
If he had free choice he would de-
sign a plan for the whole develop.
ment which likely would meet with
approval of Burleith residents.
The board is scheduled to meet at
2 pm tomorrow to act on this and