Evening star., 1942-04-25
Honle-RooIner
Permits Sought
By0nIy 200
Need Of Randolph
Bill Discounted
In Some Quarters

Only about 200 applications have
been fled with the once Of the
building inspector for special per-
nnits TO operate rooming or boarding
houses In restricted residential
areas under a recent relaxation of
zoning regulations for the emer-
Rency. IL was disclosed today.
AT the same time IL was learned
only about 20 permits have been
issued. due to the necessity OF in
specting the premises and the short
age OF building inspectors.
Even IL each applicant so far ap-
proved took In the maximum Of four
roomers permitted. 1t would mean
about 90 persons provided for, and
II all 400 were TO take the maximum
only 800 OF the incoming thousands
of war workers would have accom-
modations.
The probability was not discount
ed. however. that rooms have been
provided In many other instances
where the home ewner has simply
tTbfEtsLd 70 ac3utot NiAc AcN0ASo
permit.
The easing of restrictions became
effective several months ago after a
public hearing In December.
Question Need Of Legislation.
Meanwhile. although there Is
passive acceptance at the District
Building of the Randolph bill TO lift
zoning bars in residential areas to
permit roomers and boarders during
the emergency. the question has
been raised In some quarters as to
whether there is any need for such
legislation.
The Commissioners have signifed
they have no objection to the
measure and Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee
is planning to call public hearing
soon.
Although the opinion prevails that
the bill contains adequate safe
guards TO insure discontinuance of
rooming and boarding house oper-
alton after the emergency. some
ofiicials we're reported to feel that
the entire situation could be ham
died by the Zoning Commission.
Further Easing Possible.
The commissioner which the
three Commissioners are members
already has let down the bars in A
restricted and A semi-restricted
zones and. it was argued, could per-
nit further relaxation If the situa-
ton calls for it, thus obyiating the
legislation.
IT was added civic groups might
prefer actively to campaign in their
areas for greater participation of
home owners in the Zoning Commis-
sion plan rather than have the leg
islation.
Principal difference between the
Zoning Commission change and the
proposed bill, officials explained, is
that the bill would permit larger
number of roomers than four. No
number is specified, it was pointed
out, but provision that the ROOM
ing and boarding privilege 60 only
to the point where no fire escape is
required acts as bar. Under the
fire escape law. house of three
stories or 3o-foot height cannot have
more than nine roomers above the
first floor without fire escape.
Health Department Limitation.
The number that could be ac-
commodated on the first floor or in
the basement is limited only by the
sanitary regulations of the Health
Department, 1t was disclosed. These
rules require a minimum of 400
cubic feet of air space per person
and also toilet facilities for every
four bedrooms or every 10 persons
Thus, it was stated, the size of the
house alone would determine the
number of roomers accommodated
on the first floor or basement, If
the bill became law.
The Zoning Commission as q
body has not offlcially acted on the
bill but may be represented at the
hearings.
In sending a no objection" to the
Capitol day before yesterday the
Commissioners reiterated a similar
comment made before the District
Committee a week or more ago.
Chairman Randolph said the meas
ure was so important that he
wanted definite disapproval or a
recommendation for the measure.
The city heads. however, felt that
the no objection" was as far as they
could 60 in the matter, 1t is under
stood.