Evening star., 1941-07-16
Rezoning Vote
Clears Way
For Apartment
Commissioners Act
On Tract Adjacent
To Sligo Parkway

By stair correspondent OF The star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, July 16.-A
fight by civic organizations In the
Silver Spring area against rezoning
of about 16 acres adjacent to Sligo
Parkway to permit apartment house
construction had ended in defeat
today.
BY a vote of to 2, the Mont
gomery County Board of Commits
sioners yesterday rezoned the prop
erty owned by Sligo Park Properties,
Inc, from residential A to residential
C. Similar action had previously
been taken, but because of an error
in the legal advertisement new action
was necessary.
President Thomas E. Hampton of
the commissioners told the other
members yesterday petitions signed
by more than 900 persons had been
presented approving the change,
while petitions of about 200 residents
opposed the rezoning.
Oxley and johnson Opposed.
Commissioners John E. Oxley,
Independent Democrat, and Walter
johnson, Republican, voted against
the rezoning which was approved by
Mr.. Hampton on motion of Commits
sioners o. w. Roby, seconded by r.
Watts Farmer.
Mr.. Oxley said that to approve
the change would be defeating the
purpose of the law which was
designed to protect the interests Of
the homeowners.
When Mr.. Oxley suggested that
an opinion be obtained from the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission before action was taken,
Mr.. Hampton inquired, in apparent
surprise:
why should we do that when
they don't ask our opinion about
zoning in Washington"
IF the parks of this county are
to be developed at public expense
so only the commercial interests can
benefit" Mr.. Oxley asserted, "the
taxpayers will be the losers"
Other ZOning Action Taken.
The change had been approved
| by tAlC wal SdDlldl
Park and Planning Commission.
Other zoning action taken included
approval of the request of the Mont
gomery Land Co., by Douglas Hatch,
president, to change from reSiden-
tial C to commercial D three parcels
at the southwest corner of Four
| Corners-Wheaton road and the
Colesville road. This was approved
by the Park and Planning Commits
| sion.
The commissioners reversed
| recommendation of the Park and
Planning Commission by approving
the request Of the United Clay Prod
ucts Co.. Inc, by E. Taylor Chewn-
| ing, president. to rezone from resi-
Dental A to c tract on the east
side of Blair road near Eastern
avenue and abutting the Baltimore
g. Ohio Railroad tracks.
The request Of P. Blair Lee. owner,
to change from residential C to COM
mercial D a track on Eastern ave-
nue. and Newell road was granted
on the recommendation of the park
and planning group. The request
of Curtis Walker to change from
residential A to C track at Chi
cago and Gist avenues, Takoma
Park. Md, was similarly approved.
Other Petitions Granted.
Others granted included the re-
| quest of Meyer Seegal, owner, to
change from residential A to COM
mercial D part of lot on the west
side of Flower avenue and north OF
Piney Branch road, as recommended
by the planning group.
A request of the heirs of Sarah
E. Shoemaker to change from resi-
Dental A to industrial E two lots
| in the Wilbert estate near Bethesda
was modified on recommendation
OF the planning body so as to change
this site to a commercial D zone.
A contract for a street improve
ment project at Erie and Green
wood avenues, Takoma Park, was
awarded to F. Irving Ray of Bethes-
da for $6,329.49, which was the low
est bid. The project will include
paving.
The board authorized the adver-
! tiSement of bids for an automobile
for Richard H. Lansdale, newly ap-
pointed chairman of the Board of
/ Assessments, to be used in the
assessment work throughout the
| county.