Evening star., 1941-12-19
Height Limit
On Arlington
|Bui|dingsR Rit
Chew Challenges
Park Commission S
Authority

A ruling by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
limiting the height Of Arlington
County (Va) buildings in the area
close to the Potomac River to 80
feet-that fixed by the District
today drew quick challenge OF the
commissions authority to make
regulations for Arlington.
Chairman F. Freeland Chew OF
the Arlington County Board said
the county intends to hold every
inch of its ground against the en-
croachment of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission"
The Park Commission claims au-
thority over zoning and related mat
ters in Washington "and environs."
The Arlington County Board, how
ever. has enacted an ordinance per-
mitting the erection of buildings
ITO feet in height.
Apartment Project Disapproved.
A delegation of Arlington County
Board members and officials, includ-
ing County Manager Frank c. Han
rahan, conferred for several hours
yesterday with commission mem
bers as the group began its two-day
December meeting. Specifically. the
planners turned thumbs down on
a proposal to put up an apartment
hotel on the Nevius tract near
Arlington Ridge road and Lee
boulevard.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary. said
the. commission disapproved erection
of the building for the particular
reason that it has sought the land
for 10 years as an addition to
Arlington National Cemetery, point
ing out that bill now before Con-
gress would authorize its purchase
for public use
Chew's Statement.
In his statement Mr.. Chew said:
"As result of yesterdays confer
ence, it is quite apparent that WASH
ington officials are not familiar with
either our zoning ordinance or the
planning that is being done in Ar
lington County. The effort of the
Park and Planning Commission to
hold the so-called Nevius property
at the entrance of the county for
the extension of Arlington National
Cemetery is reprehensible.
1T is apparent that the commits
sion has determined that Arlington
County shall be nothing but a series
of road approaches and a huge cem-
etery for the Nations Capital. The
commission also believes that if it
can dry up all sources of revenue
in Arlington County by preventing
such major developments as fine
hotels, it can ultimately get Arling-
ton County back into the District
of Columbia.
This county intends to hold every
inch of its ground against the en-
croachment of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
No Spirit of Animosity.
Mr.. Settle said no excessively
high" buildings would be permitted
in the general Arlington area
bounded by Columbia pike, Lee
highway, Court House road and the
river. adding that Arlington had
Loned this territory so as to permit
erection of high structures of the
apartment-hotel type.
The Arlington Board previously
had offered to limit the height Of
an apartment-hotel project designed
for the Nevius tract to go feet in
order to secure the planning COM
missions approval
Mr.. Settle said there was no
spirit of animosity on the part of
the commission or county represent
tatives, adding that the planners
had offered their services to Arling-
ton at any time. He emphasized
that indications pointed to exhaus-
ton OF Arlington Cemetery land by
1850 under normal circumstances
and offered this as evidence of the
need for more land. Besides the
commission, the National Commits
sion of Fine Arts and War Depart
ment also are backing acquisition
of the Nevius tract, he said.
Develop Anacostia Park.
Other actions of the commission
yesterday included:
Approving in principle a plan Of
fered by the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission to develop the Anacostia
River Park from the District line
to Bladensburg at cost of $4,000.
Included in the plan are provisions
for swimming pool near Magruder
Park and a park and playground
area near Rhode Island avenue,
among other recreation facilities.
Approving the War Departments
plan to d\ole the size of Boundary
Channel Bay in front of the new
War Department Building in Arling-
ton. To be undertaken by the
Army as a scenic project, the ex-
pansion of the bay will fit in with
the commissions plan to provide
water recreation facilities there.
Belvoir Bypass Considered.
Agreeing to take UP with the
Virginia Zoning Commission the
possibility of securing freeway and
parkway regulations for the pro-
jected Alexandria and Fort Belvoir
bypass road to be built as an alter
nate to U. S. Route l.
Voting to furnish the National
Archives with copies of important
plans and papers for safekeeping
during the war.
Approving narrowing Summit
place NV. at the intersection of
Adams Mill road to conform with
, the widths of other streets in the