Evening star., 1943-05-19
Clashes Mark
Sligo Park Hills
zoning Hearing
FDIC Aide AssuiIs
Planners Decision
On Apartment Site

ssshSsS SSsSsSss
On Apartment Site
Several verbal tilts between repre-
sentatives of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corp. and residents of the
Sligo Park Hills area enlivened a
hearing before the Montgomery
County commissioners yesterday in
the Silver Spring County Building on
an FDIC application to rezone for
apartment house use a 1O-acre site
bounded by Piney Branch road,
Devon road and Sligo Creek park
way.
Hearings on three other rezoning
applications in the eastern suburban
area of the county also were held
during the afternoon by the commits
sloners sitting as a district council.
Takes Issue on Decision.
Taking sharp issue with the Mary
land-Nation Capital Park and
Planning Commission for it's decision
last week recommending disapproval
OF the proposed rezoning, Walter j.
Owens. FDIC liquidator, said in a
formal statement that there ap-
pears to be no basis for objection on
the part of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion other than to defer to the
wishes Of the local citizens associa-
tions, who have always voiced obiec-
tions to rezoning anywhere in Mont
gomery County,"
The statement, read by E L. Bran
ham, assistant counsel for FDIC,
pointed out that both Irwin I.
Kaplan, chief engineer for the Plan
ming Commission, and Fred w.
Tuemmler, director of planning for
the commission, recommended
granting the rezoning petition.
Plans already are under way to
build apartment house units on the
tract, if the petition is granted, it
was revealed.
Since the property was acquired by
the FD1C to protect depositors of
the defunct Takoma Park Bank, Mr..
Owens contended it should derive
the mlxlmum possible return from
the property, which he said could
only be done if it is zoned for apart
ment house use.
Denies FDIC Threat"
Declaring that the property In
question is not suitable for the erec-
tlon of private dwellings, Mr.. Owens
warned that if the land is sold to
private interests, 'it probably would
be developed as a loW-cost housing
project"
Asked if this was a threat" Mr..
Branham said the FDIC doesn't
make threats" He added, however,
that I'VE have about 100000 in
vested in the property and we in
tend to dispose of the land as soon
as possible and to the best interests
OF the depositors of the defunct
Takoma Park Bank" He also
pointed out there are no restrictions
on the land
Mr.. Owens added that the Piney
Branch Apartments are located
diagonally across the road from the
site of the proposed apartment de-
velopment and that there is a COM
mercial district at the corner of
Devon road and Piney Branch road,
Opposition Voiced.
The fight against the rezoning
proposal was led by Stuart M. Arm
strong, president of the Sligo Park
Hills Citizens Association, who was
supported by number of residents
of that community. He also pre-
sented petition signed by 215 resi-
dents asking the commissioners to
deny the application.
Opposition to the apartment zon-
ing was voiced on the grounds that
it would cause serious financial dam
age to the property owners in the
district, overload school, transporta-
ton and sanitary facilities, and is
not a public necessity. Mr.. Arm
strong commended the Planning
Commission members for their liable
and intelligent efforts to adminis-
ter the spirit as well as the techni-
calities of our zoning regulations.
George Wheeler. president of the
Sligo Citizens Associa-
ton, was among those who objected
to the apartment zoning, announc-
ing that his association has gone on
record as opposing the proposed
change.
Other Petitions Heard.
The first petitions for reZoning
heard yesterday were those filed by
James H. Cissel and Walter L. Fun
derburk for apartment zoning on the
north side of Thayer avenue in Sill
yer Spring. Both of these petitions
were recommended for disapproval
last week by both the Planning Com
mission and its technical advisers.
Joseph B. Simpson, jr., States at
torney for Montgomery County.
represented 20 property owners in
the area who opposed the proposed
rezoning. Approximately 80 resi-
dents of the section also attended
the hearing to register disapproval
of the applications. James w. Gill
was attorney for the proponents.
Another request for apartment
zoning which drew fire from resi-
ton filed by Omer G. Kremkau.
This application asked apartment
zoning for a strip of land on the
east side of Georgia avenue above
Montgomery Hills and had been
recommended for denial by the
Planning Commission.
Charles A. Kelley, president of the
Woodside Knolls Citizens Associa-
ton, spoke in opposition to the pro-
posed rezoning, pointing out that
Subdivisions adjacent to the site are
strictly residential in character. A
petition signed by 200 citizens ask
ing the commissioners to disapprove
the request was presented by F.. G.
Moseley, attorney for the group.