Evening star., 1943-05-28
'lot Rezoninq
In Kensiington
Sought Again
Commissioners Told
Election Is Proof
Shift Is Wanted

cSIdUllSllllcIlJ Ol COMMERCIAL ZOll.
ing on the north side of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad tracks in
Kensington, described as the issue
in the last municipal election and
center of number of stormy zoning
hearings in the past six years, again
was sought yesterday at a rezoning
hearing in Silver Spring.
Col. Clarence V. Sayer, Kensing-
ton Mayor. told the county commits
sioners the toWnspeople definitely
showed their desire for commercial
zoning for this area in June when
they elected him and two council
men who had publicly announced
they supported the rezoning. Former
Mayor Robert L. Lewis who was a
candidate for reelection, and the
two councilmen on his ticket were
defeated because they opposed the
coming, Col. Sayer asserted.
The Mayor argued that most of
the present business section is old
and not suitable for present day de-
mands. He said the town needs a
place for recreation for children and
adults, such as a theater and bowl
ing alleys
Lot Owner Appears.
Newman C. Carmack, owner of
one of the lots whose application
for rezoning was heard. said that
because of its proximity to the rail-
road it was not suitable for resi-
dental purposes. The property, To-
Gated at the intersection of Lin
coin avenue and Bladensburg road,
is opposite the lot on which the
Kenslngton firehouse is to be built,
he pointed out
Also urging the rezoning was Or
rice L, Murdock, agent for the prop
erty opposite the Carmack plot. He
presented petition bearing the sig
natures of more than 500 property
owners supporting the proposed
change and displayed plans for a
modern shopping center.
F. E. Chase, realty dealer, told
the council there is great demand
in Kensington for apartments and
stores. The only persons against
the rezoning, he said, are "bigots
who have always fought improve
mentS coming into the town"
Traffic Hazard Feared.
Opponents of the rezoning
charged that erection of shopping
center would create traffic hazard
and spot zoning and is unneces-
sary. The proposed commercial site
they said, is within walking dis
tance of the established business
district and might create a ghost
town."
Several citizens appeared to op-
pose the rezoning and a number of
letters in opposition were intro
duced. Opponents pointed out that
the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission has
recommended denial of the subject.
: Anotol1er application heard yes
esrtaay wAs the petition of Rose E.
De, Franceschi for reclassification of
.a lot std residential B for two-family
hotsst construction. No one ap-
peared to oppose the plea. The
Park and Planning Commission has
recommended its disapproval on the
ground that it is premature"
Petition Presented.
Also heard was an application Of
Ralph G. Shure. agent, for reclassi-
fcation from residential A to indus
trial E of property in Linden, and
also rezoning from residential to
commercial of another portion of the
site. Thomas Griffin presented
petition signed by 81 property own
ers in the neighborhood protesting
the application.
Regarding this petition, the Park
and Planning Commission at it's
meeting Wednesday voted to recon-
mend denial of the. application, over
riding the recommendation of Chief
Engineer Irwin I. Kaplan and Senior
Planner Earl D. Fraser.
The commission said it has in
spected the property and believes
that to rezone the site would create
an inequitable and heavy burden
upon the adjacent residential COM
munity of Linden and consequently
is unWarranted at this time"
Industrial zoning in this location
is expected to result in the establish
ment of coal dump or pocket. The
trucks distributing the coal so
dumped would be required to use
the streets of the residential COM
munity of Linden. These streets are
lightly paved and not wide To add
the operation of a large number of
coal trucks to the tarffic to be borne
by the street system would, we be-
lieve. considerably increase the
traffic dangers of the residents of
Linden, damage the residential value
of their property and generally in
terfere with Linden as long -estab-
lished residential community
Hearings were also heard yester-
day on the applications of Earl A.
Blundon for rezoning to residential
c of three lots in the vicinity of
Maple and Second avenues in Silver
Spring and of Opha Mays, agent,
for rezoning of property in Takoma
Park.
The Park and Planning Commits
sion last week announced it had
recommended denial of the Mays
application and approval of the
Blundon application.
The commissioners reserved de-
cision.
Pifr her knmod NJ Stounton