Evening star., 1941-10-12
Arlington Refuses
To Bar S15,OOO,0O0
Apartment Hotels
DeIono Request to Amend
Zoning ORDINANCE Is
Rejected by Boord

The Arlington County (VaD Board
yesterday informed Chairman Fred
eric A. Delano of the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission,
1t is unwilling TO amend a county
zoning ordinance to place further
restrictions on two proposed apart
ment hotels estimated to cost SIS
900 900.
County Manager Frank c. Han
rahan, in behalf of the county board
wrote the letter, in reply to one
from Mr.. Delano asking the board
to amend the county ordinance so
as to conform with District regula-
tons
Plans for the two projects were
first revealed Thursday in The Star
and it was reported that Federal
officials were seeking to have the
countys ordinance amended in
manner that county officials believe
would block the proposed construc-
ton.
One of the projects, for which
plans were presented TO the Park
and Planning Commission, would be
IL stories high on the NeviuS tract
at Arlington Ridge road and Lee
boulevard The second building
would be at the intersection of Co
lumbia pike and Arlington Ridge
road
Arlington Welcomes Project.
Chairman F. Freeland Chew of
the County Board, declared:
Members of the board have
always felt that there are certain
areas in Arlington County suitable
for high-class hotel development
and in adopting an ultramodern
zoning ordinance and building code
they had this fact in mind.
MY associates and I are in COM
plete agreement that any apartment
hotel project such as the two pro-
posed or others of a similar type
which conform to the high stand
ards of our new Zoning ordinance
and which meet our rigid require
ments as to set-backs, density of
population as related TO land COW
erage, rear and side yards, together
with off-street parking facilities,
would be most welcome in the county
and would be an asset not alone to
Arlington, but to the entire Metro
politan Area"
DelanO DisagreeS.
Asked to comment on the atti-
tude of the commissioners. MI
Delano last night said he would try
to get them to change their minds"
The zoning in Arlington County
which would permit construction of
these apartment hotels he de-
clared, lis entirely in conflict with
Washington Zoning laws. Such
structures, if built, would constitute
an eyesore in the area"
He admitted. however. that the
commission had no legal means to
compel the County Board to amend
the ordinance.
After all" he added there is
some question as to whether they
can get materials for the project. I
hope they can't"
Mr.. Chew said he had learned
the projects would be comparable
to any apartment hotel in the WASH
ington area and expressed the hope
that nothing would hinder develop
ment OF the section adjacent to the
Potomac River in keeping with the
highest standards.
Arlington Rules Held Stricter.
The boards reply to Mr.. Delano
was drafted after an informal con-
ference with Mr. Hanrahan. In
reply to an assertion by Mr.. Delano
that no hotel in residence district
of Washington may exceed eight
stories or 80 feet in height, the board
said:
I'VE disagree with your suggestion
that there is any inconsistency with
good zoning practice, or any prac-
tices which are at variance with
established policies of the District
of Columbia. except insofar as our
policies impose additional restric-
tions for parking areas and yard
space beyond those required in
Washington. In this respect We wish
to call your attention to the II and
13 story hotels in the District of
Columbia Immediately across the
street from the monumental Office
buildings along the Mall. We also
wish to deny that the height limit
is considerably greater than that
permitted in Washington. calling
your attention to the various hotels
in the District"
The board said the county has
long permitted maximum building
height of ITO feet in some zones.
Shoreham Hotel Cited.
ut is again emphasized" the
board said, that Arlington County
is not taking issue except to insure
conformity Of proposed develop
ments in this county with the high
standards imposed by our existing
zoning requirements Any other
issues raised with regard to the fun
damental zoning policy of the coun-
W, we feel. should have been raised
at the time public hearings were
held on these matters"
Concerning a reference by Mr..
Delano to the Columbia pike project
as planned for IA stories high, the
board said that. as III the case of
the Shoreham Hotel. the height is
measured from the street grade op-
posite the main entrance of the
building.
I'VE do not, of course. have def
mite information concerning the
number of stories" the board said,
but We assume that the IA stories
you mention is the result of the eX-
treme difference in grade between
Arlington Ridge road and Lynn
street. SIMILAR to the portion of the
Shoreham Hotel overlooking Rock
Greek Park
Arlington is taking the lead in
progressive zoning in the Nation
the board asserted to Mr.. Delano,
land we are as anxious as you to
see that this county is developed in
accordance with the highest stand
ards Of modern city planning"
OH;rinIe Aeld in 1heft