Evening star., 1941-03-19
Montgomery
Civic Groups 10
FightRezoning
Silver Spring
Associations Plan
Mass Meeting
BIJLIFTTN.


A mass meeting to protest the
Montgomery County Boards ac-
tion in granting the Sligo Park
way rezoning will be held in the
Parkside School at pm. today
under the sponsorship of the
Allied Civic Groups of Silver
Spring. it was announced this
afternoon.
Organized civic groups of the Sill
yer Spring, Md, area today were
laying plans for a mass meeting to
protest yesterdays rezoning by the
Montgomery County Board of Com,
mlSsioners of property near Sligo
Greek Parkway to permit apartment
construction.
The commissioners, meeting in
Rockville, approved the zoning
change from residential A to resi-
dental c by vote of 3 to 2. The
rezoning had been approved by the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Inc action was contrary to senti.
ment expressed by civic organiza-
tons in the Silver Spring area and
TO resolution adopted last week by
the Montgomery County Civic Fed
Grafton. The federation specifically
opposed the rezoning approved yes
terday and also expressed opposition
to the general idea of permitting
apartment house construction near
any parkway in the county.
Mass Meeting to Be Considered.
Among those who have fought the
change is the Allied Civic Groups Of
Silver Spring. President Philip J.
Austenson of the allied groups said
today he will call a special meeting
OF the Executive Committee to con-
slder mass meeting to request the
commissioners to reconsider their
action.
The rezoning was approved on
motion of Commissioner o. w. Roby,
representing the Silver Spring dis
trict, and was supported by Commits
sioner R. Watts Farmer and Presi-
dent of the Board Thomas Earls
Hampton, all organization Demo.
Gratis.
Commissioners John Oxley, in
dependent Democrat, and Walter
johnson, Republican, voted against
the change. Mr.. Robey told the
board that preceding Board Of
Commissioners, containing a ma
Jority of Republican-Fusion mem
bers. had approved similar coming
changes for 20 acres near Piney
Branch road and Sligo Valley Park
and thus clearly established the
area as suitable, in their opinion, for
apartment development.
The commissioners awarded q
contract for $500 to John D. Hamil-
ton, a public utilities consultant, to
survey costs and services of street
lighting in the suburban area. The
commissioners believe WASHINGTON
Is obtaining similar service at lower
rates and a study may effect a say.
ing for the county.
About 80 persons from the Federat.
ed Parent Teacher Associations ap.
peared at hearing requesting the
commissioners to approve at least
SSOO.OO0 OF the two-year school con-
struction program requested by the
Board of Education.
Homer A. Smith of Bethesda
acted as their spokesman and in.
troduced several members of their
delegation. who presented individ-
ual pleas for their respective areas,
Autos Stricken From Tax Rolls.
County Treasurer John B, Dia.
mond was authorized to strike from
the tax rolls a large number of
automobiles on the assessment
books of 1887 or earlier. The as
sessed value of the automobiles was
s1,394, ,420, representing a revenue
to the county of about $25,000. Mr..
Diamond told the board the auto
mobiles had been sold, wrecked or
removed from the county.
A request by John and Mary p.
3. lmlrle to rezone a tract on the
East-West highway opposite the
BetheSda-Chevy Chase High School
to residential c was denied.
Also denied was a request bv
Charles L. Stone to change from
residential A to B a tract on the
north side Of jackson avenue in
Takoma Park.
Apartment use was approved for
a tract on both sides of Garland
avenue between Hudson and Wa.
bash avenues when the commits
sioners granted the request of
Charles Seldom to reZnne from
residential A to G.