Evening star., 1941-03-10
Fight Expected
Tonight Over
zoniing Plan
Montgomery Civic
Federation Meeting
To Discuss Proposal

A fight over proposed rezoning OF
property abutting Sligo Valley Park
to permit apartment house construc-
ton is in prospect at meeting at
8 o'clock tonight of the Montgomery
County Md Civic Federation in
the Bethesda Elementary School.
AS opponents today prepared ar
guments against the rezoning and
planned to obtain civic federation
action tonight as an emergency
measure, Lacy Shaw, member of the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, issued q
statement showing why the commits
sion considers the property "appro-
pirate" for apartment use.
The change in zoning has been
requested by Sligo Park Properties,
Inc, and would reclassify it from
residential A to residential c.
Area Twice Approved.
Commenting on "a renewed effort
to excite opposition" to the pending
request, Mr.. Shaw said the COM
mission already has studied the en-
tire area affected and has twice
approved the idea as appropriate
for apartments.
Between 1884 and 1888 the former
Fusion Board of County
Commissioners, with the approval
of this commission, created new
apartment zoning for approximately
800 apartment units within a mile
of the intersection of Sligo Valley
Park and Piney Branch road Cthen
Sligo avenue) >" Mr.. Shaw said. we
recommend this area for general
apartment development because Of
its appropriateness for that type Of
residential occupancy just as Six
teenth street at the District line and
Eastern avenue for several squares
on both sides of Georgia avenue
have always been so regarded.
ITO indicate that there was no
original or unagitated opposition to
/ large-scale apartment occupancy Of
the Sligo Park section adjacent TO
| Piney Branch road it is only neces-
/ sary to note that no protests were
made at the more than half dozen
publicly advertised hearings follow
ing which these original petitions for
rezoning were approved.
400 Units Already Built.
More than 400 apartment units
have been already built in this inn
mediate section and no disadvan-
tageous or burdensome conditions
have developed because Of their
occupancy.
"As a matter of fact, the zoning
now requested on the east side OF
Sligo Valley Park is separated by
several hundred feet of wooded, de-
| tached-house zoning in the sans
ownership on the north and east,
is adjacent to existing apartment
zoning. on the south and to Shgo
Valley Park on the west and is con-
/ seuuently the most completely
screened parcel for which apart
ment zoning has been asked In this
area. 1t should again be remem-
bered that this location is immedi-
ately adjacent to one site upon
which nearly $50 apartments have
been built and a second site OF
existing apartment zoning equally
as large.
LAS a general matter, this COM
mission considers apartment house
construction of a desirable type as
proper, constructive and necessary
in appropriate portions of the gen.
eral Silver Spring area, including
sections north of the town of Ia
koma Park, in the Sligo Valley Sec
ton adjacent to Piney Branch road.
The residents of the 1900 to
1900 apartments now occupied in
this community are among our best
citizens: their average salary earn
ings are high; they make valuabls
contributions to every type of ac-
| tivity in our community"
Hearing Set Friday.
A hearing on the requested change
will be held at pm. Friday in the
Silver Spring Liquor Control Board
Building by the Montgomery County
! Commissioners.
Gilbert H. Wiley, chairman of
special Zoning Committee of the
Sligo Park Hills Citizens Associa-
ton and the Sligo Park Hills Gar
den Club, has been named chair
man of a special committee of the
Allied Civic Groups to oppose the
application.
Organized citizens have opposed
apartment house construction in the
e. 1ofv -
have been successful in maintaining
residential A zones throughout most
of the territory. They contend
apartments lower property values,
create traffic congestion and create
school problems.
A proposed increased appropria-
ton for the Montgomery County
health department will be given
final consideration at tonights
meeting of the federation.
Notice Already Filed.
According to o. M Kile, fedora
ton president, notice of a motion to
dispose of the question has already
been filed and other officers and &C.
tive members are also anxious to
settle the matter.
At the same time the Brookings
Institutions report on the county's
government will also receive atten-
ton and orders for copies Of thu
report will be taken at the meeting.
Carey Quinn, chairman Of the
Legislation and Legal Action Com
mittee will report on the progress OF
the federation's legislative program
at Annapolis
A subcommittee of Mr.. Quinn's
committee, headed by Richard
Barker, will report on the proposed
zoning regulations and its own
recommendations for changes.
Also, it is expected that prelirni-
nary arrangements for the fedora
tons annual banquet will be made.
Salisbury Mon Honored
SALISBURY. Md, March 10 P!-