Evening star., 1941-08-10
New Zone P Ian
In Arlington
Stirs Interest
Big Cities Study
Population Density
Control Program

A new plan of population density
control recently inaugurated in Ar
lington County. Va, Is gaining Ma
tion-wide attention from planners
and zoning authorities in cities with
populations larger than that OF
Washington.
The extension of this system along
with more strict land use control,
is included in a new ordinance
drafted by County zoning Admins
traitor Donald r. Locke which will
become effective August %.
Mr.. Locke inaugurated the popu-
lation density control system in June
last year and the regulations, now
proved to be acceptable to builders,
are to be expanded in the new ordi-
nance. The system was an lnnova-
ton when first proposed by Mr..
Locke. but since it's first years trial,
inquiries have been made by zoning
authorities in Cincinnati, Ohio; St.
Louis, Kansas City, Detroit and other
communities.
How System Operates.
The system does what the name
implies the density Of
population that. is allowed in a
specified zoning classification. The
new ordinance will continue and
enlarge upon previously adopted
regulations and will also break down
the existing zoning classifications-
which are regarded as too broad-so
that in the future specific zoning
classification will allow fewer types
of construction.
Hugh R. Pomeroy, director Of the
Virginia State Planning Board and
nationally known Zoning expert, re-
Gently wrote Mr. Locke:
I'm a community which has most
Of it's development ahead of it, a
type of zoning which sought merely
to prevent obvious abuses would fall
far short of its constructive possibili-
ties; it would permit the establish
ment of unsatisfactory conditions
which plague older communities and
which they have long since lost the
opportunity either to prevent or to
rectify. "' That Arlington County
is well aware of these principles Is
indicated by the forward looking
leadership which it has taken in
the field of zoning. In thus regard
ing Zoning as a constructive force
for guiding development. Arlington
County is in accord with some of
the finest principles enunciated in
significant zoning decisions by the
Supreme Court of Appeals of Vir-
ginia and by the United States Su-
preme Court"
Frequent Revision Urged.
Mr.. Locke contends that zoning
ordinance in any community should
be revised or at least amended every
two or four years to keep pace with
changing developments.
In the ordinance adopted last
year about the only attempt for
population density control was to
require that no residence should be
built on a lot less than 5000 square
feet in area and not less than so
feet of average width in residential
A zones. This provision is retained
but cannot be made retroactive to
apply to lots that have already
been laid out and prepared for
building sites.
The more strict land use control is
observed in the. breaking down of
what is now a residential B" claSSi-
flcation, which permits the erection
of single Or double family dwellings,
semi i-detached and duplex dwellings,
apartments, hotels and tourist
homes
After August % each of these
types of construction will require a
specific zone with fewer variations
permitted in each classification
thus giving zoning officials stricter
control of the country's develop
inent.
New Provisions Listed.
The new ordinance provides for
residential B-1 to allow semi
detached and duplex dwellings,
boarding houses, rooming houses
and accessory buildings. Residential
b. will allow only apartments
meeting certain specifications and
hotels. Residential B-3 will allow
apartments, tourist homes and &C
cessory buildings of required speci-
f1cations and residential B-4 will
permit apartment houses of still
other specifications.
In controlling population density
the ordinance requires that in a
residential B-1 zone any single
family dwelling occupy a land area
required in residential A zone, any
semi-detached dwelling shall occupy
a lot of not less than 1890 square
feet or not less than % feet wide
per family unit and that no dwelling
with an accessory building shall
occupy more than IS per cent of an