Evening star., 1941-11-09
Citizens Map
ZoningStand
For Hearing
Boarding House
Plan to Come Up
December 8
Bv John w. THOMPSON, Jr.

DOSalS TO relax zOnmg 1eguldllOils
10 permit boarding and rooming
houses to operate temporarily in "A"
and ser1i-restrlcted areas
for the duration of the national
Basic plea behind the suggested
relaxation is that it will provide an
answer to the housing shortage here
for defense workers.
Realizing that the proposed
change is a radical deviation from
general zoning policy, the zoning
Commission has not made up It's
own mind on the matter and Is
definitely looking to the public hear
ing December 3 for complete ex-
preston of public opinion.
While Zoning authorities are with.
holding all opinion until after the
hearing, it is unofflcially believed
a concerted opposition would be
sufficient to kill the proposal.
To get the matter before the citi-
zens NE commission has drafted
tentative amendments to the present
zoning regulations which, under the
Zoning Act, requires public hear
ing. Specifically, the changes would:
Opinions Split on Issue.
/. Permit persons who obtained
special permit from the building
office to operate boarding and room
ing houses in "a" restricted and
semi-restricted areas for the dura-
ton of the emergency or in any
event not beyond December 81, l943.
2. Subject persons operating such
houses in those areas after the ex.
piration date to the penalties pre-.
scribed in the zoning Act for viola
tions of regulations.
3. Would terminate the permis-
sion whenever the President de-
clared an end to the state of ma
tional emergency or the December
81, 1943, date, whichever comes
earlier.
Leaders in the Federation of Citi-
zenS' Associations clashed on the
issue at their last meeting when
Chairman Leon Pretzfelder of the
Zoning Committee sought instruc-
tions from the delegates on how to
represent them at the December 3
hearing. He moved approval Of the
proposal on the ground that 1t was
an emergency proposition with ade-
quate safeguard against permanency.
A motion to recommit the matter to
the Zoning Committee carried and
effectively killed Federation repre-
sentation on that particular issue
since the next Federation meeting is
December 6-three days after the
hearing.
In general, the argument for the
suggested amendments breaks down
into the need for temporary hous-
ing by a large number Of persons
brought here by the defense activi-
ties Of the Capital, which need IS
expected to evaporate after the
emergency. 1t is contended that
many persons in the A restricted
and semi-restricted areas already
are operating rooming and boarding
houses in limited way on the @.
T." and that the proposed changes
would only legalize an existing sit
uation. 1t has even been argued
that persons taking in roomers in
these residential areas during the
emergency are performing a pa
triotic duty and should be encour-
aged rather than discouraged.
Destroys Zoning Basis.
On the opposition side. 1t is con-
tended that the proposal destroys
the fundamental basis of zoning and
would iniure the values of property
purchased in the belief 1t would be
free from such operations. There
is no assurance that the regulation
might not be extended at its expira-
ton date, or that any large scale
checkup would be made to close up
the houses when expiration Is Or
dered, opponents argue. To comply
with rooming house laws regarding
| fire escapes and the like would re-
quire investment by the landlord
he might be unwilling to see lost at
the expiration date.
Change in the character Of the
neighborhood is generally considered
the easiest basis for asking re-
zoning, say opponents, and even
temporary concentration of a large
number Of rooming and boarding
houses in given area, with at
tendant financial tie-ups from
changes to the building to turn 1t
| into a rooming establishment, might
eventually be pleaded. they say, as
Just cause for changing the zoning
and making permanent the change.
Supporters of the suggested amend
ments, however, say the exodus of
population after the emergency will
not leave enough persons here to
make continued operation attractive
or profitable.
The hearing December 8 will be
primarily on the relaxation amend
ments, it was announced, and will
not include discussion Of the re-
Gently proposed amendment to the
Zoning Act to give the commission
power to compel provision Of off,
street parking facilities by all new
construction in the District.
Concensus is that this latter pro-
posal requires congressional authori-
zation and until such authorization
/ might be granted will not be the
! subject Ol E)uDlIC Ilcdl ulSS OS tllC
| Zoning Commission. In the event
of passage by Congress Of such au-
thorization, anv regulations drawn
under the authorization would be
the subject of public discussion. it
was said. The Federation approved
this compulsory proviso of off street
parking requirement.
At the outset there was some ques-
ton as to whether the boarding
house proposal might not also re-
quire congressional authorization,
but after two sessions of discussion
the Zoning Commission believed the
situation could best be handled by
commission regulations. Under pres
ent rules not more than two paying
roomers are permitted in homes in
A restricted and semi-restricted
areas.