Evening star., 1940-10-11
zoning Commission
To Act October u on
Clergy Residences
Other Issues Include
Plans of Kirk for
Georgetown Apartment

Members Of the District Zoning
Commission will meet in executive
session October 81 to pass upon pro-
posed amendments to the zoning
regulations to permit converts, mon
asteries, houses of religious study
and residences of religious COM
munities to be established in re-
stricted residential areas.
The commission also will pass upon
the long list of proposed changes in
property classifications, including
the proposal of Alexander Kirk,
Charge d'Affairs of the American
Embassy at Berlin, to build an
apartment house on his Georgetown
estate, which was sharply opposed
by numerous socialites at a recent
hearing.
At yesterdays special public hear
ing on changes in zoning regulations,
vigorous opposition came from
spokesmen for the Federation of
Citizens Associations and five neigh
borhood bodies, while no witness
appeared to champion the program.
Wender Cites Federation Action.
Harry s. Wender, vice president
Of the federation, told the zoning
commissioners the federation had
voted unanimously at 1t last meeting
in opposing changes in rules which
would permit admission of the re-
ligious institutions in restricted resi-
dental areas. The plan. he declared,
was too broad" Under the adver-
tised plan, approval of such loca-
tionS would have to be given by the
Board of Zoning Adjustment. Leon
Pretzfelder, chairman of the Zoning
Committee of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, argued that
approval should be required by IS
per cent of property owners sur.
rounding the site, instead of merely
the Adjustment Board.
In this connection, it was recalled
that the Adjustment Board recently
approved establishment at 1915
Manchester lane NV, which is
restricted area, of a residence and
headquarters of religious order.
Engineer Commissioner McCoach,
who is chairman of the Zoning
Commission, explained that the pro-
posed amendments did not arise
because of the Manchester lane
case, but rather had been sug-
gested as a means of covering the
needs of Catholic University de-
velopments in Northeast Washing
ton.
Northwest Council Protests.
Among those who protested ap-
proval of the amendments we're
Henry L. Colman, president of the
Northwest Citizens Council; DR.. w.
H. Ross, vice president of the Con-
necticut Avenue Citizens Associa-
ton; Charles F. Consaul, represent
ing the Mount Pleasant Citizens
Association: Henry Sanders, of the
Forest Hills Citizens Association;
a representative of the Sixteenth
Street Heights Citizens Association,
and George M. Curtis, who appeared
as an individual.
The commission received letter
from Frederick A. Delano, chair
man of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, report
ing that that agency objected to
adoption of another proposed zon-
ing amendment which would elm
mate the limitation on the num-
ber of stories building might conf
tain in the various height districts.
The amendment was offered as a
means of clarifying definitions as
to what is a STORY" and what is a
cellar" Mr.. Delano said a limit
on number Of stories, as well as
the height of building, was needed
so as to control density Of popula-
ton.