Evening star., 1939-03-12
A. A. A. Joins Protest
On Lee Boulevard
Business zoning
Arlington County OffieioIs
Declared Repudiotin9
Federul-Stote Poet

tederol-Sfote F0Ct
The American Automobile Asso-
citation last night joined forces with
II Arlington County (Va) organi-
cations in protesting the County
Boards action of February q es-
tablishing a local business zone on
the Cohen tract for a hotel on Lee
boulevard.
Arlington officials have done an
about-face, repudiated definite un-
derstanding with Federal and State
agencies. the motoring public. and
permitted a use of the highway
which was never intended" Wash
ington I. Cleveland, manager of the
A. A. A. District of Columbia Motor
Club, said.
He said that the County Boards
action may cause q closer scanning
Of future road projects in Arlington
County and jeopardize the interest
of motorists in fast growing sec
ton"
The same warning has been issued
by Thomas H. Macdonald. chief of
the United States Bureau of Public
Roads, the department that stood
most Of the cost of building Lee
boulevard
A similar warning came from
Frederick A. Delano. chairman of
the National Capital Parks and
Planning Commission. Arlington
residents in many of the II meet
ings held since the board acted. have
charged the board with violating
"gentlemen's agreement" to main
tain residential zones along the
boulevard.
Essential for Convenience.
when the Lee boulevard was first
proposed as means of quick access
to and from the National Capital
Mr.. Cleveland said, "all arguments
were that such highway was essen
tial to the safety and convenience OF
motorists in a heavily populated
suburban area. There was definite
understanding on the part of all
groups concerned that the highway
would be along n-commercia.
route"
Mr.. Cleveland said the action OF
the County Board is at variance with
public sentiment and the studied ad.
vice of highway and planning au-
thorities. The zoning action has
all the earmarks of politics in road
building" which marked the very
earliest days of road construction
the motor club manager said.
1T is to be earnestly hoped that
Arlington County officials will not
permit the important Lee boulevard
"a vital necessity to the free flow
OF traffic to and from Washington
to become stifled with Commercial
operations and resultant delay ir
traffic"
1t was announced last night by
officials of the Waycroft Citizens AS
sociation that it has added its voic.
to the chorus of protests. The Ar.
lington Chamber of Commerce is thu
only organization which indorses thu
business classification.
The Waycroft action was on a res.
olution submitted by w. Eugene Nc
Allister. The motion requested thu
County Board to reconsider its &C
tion and rezone the tract back to {
residential classification.
Issue Takes New Turn.
The Lee boulevard issue took nev
turn during last week when 1t wa.
announced that A. NJ Nevius. vic,
president of the Riggs National Banl
and large property owner at the cas-
end of the highway, proposes to con
struct an apartment hotel on hi.
tract overlooking the Potomac Rivel
and Washington.
Civic leaders were quick to in.
dorse this project when it was
announced that. while the project
Is to be situated on the Lee boule-
ward, the builder does not propose
to violate residential classifcations
along the thoroughfare.
j. Byron Brooks, assistant cashier
Of the Riggs Bank and an Arlington
resident, said last night that he
was authorized to state for Mr.
Nevius that two plans are now be-
ing prepared for "a magnifcien,
building" by two architect firms
one of Virginia and one of Wash
ington. The plans have been under
way for some time and will soon
be ready for approval, Mr.. Brooks
said.
THE hotel will be a credit to the
community in line with the beauti-
flcation of the area abutting the
boulevard" Mr.. Brooks said. He
declared that the proposed hotel
should satisfy all the needs for
hotel facilities in the county.
The need for a hotel was one
OF the chief reasons cited by the
county manager and County Board
members when they established a
local business zone on the Cohen
tract.
Protests sent to county officials
are expected to be read at the
County Boards meeting Tuesday
when the minutes involving the
1oning action come up for approval
Civic leaders will endeavor to have
the coming reconsidered before the
minutes are approved.
Wann.Hnur Ini,,nrfinn