Evening star., 1944-03-08
CoImar Manor Plans
Survey Of Residents
On zoning Changes
Mayor and Council Seek
Views on Revision of
Present Classification

The Mayor and Town Council OF
Colmar Manor today prepared to
launch a survey among residents of
the town to determine what changes,
II any, they wish to have made in
the coming of their property. The
move followed meeting last night
which was marked by sharp clashes
between Mayor John N. Torvestad
and representatives of the Mary-
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
The Council also rejected an offer
by the Prince GeorgeS CQuntxsBoarti
OF Education to- pay approximately
81 200 of $4,000 town. assessment
Tor Improvement of thea street in
front Of the Colmar Manor School
The group warned that legal action
WILL be taken unless the full amount
Is paid.
Decision to launch the zoning sur
vey was made after Mayor Torvestad
charged that present zoninp in the
town. which classifies property di-
rectly behind commercial establish
ments along the Baltimore boule-
ward as residential A, is "out of date
and not in accord with property
uses and popular needs.
Demands Reasonable Enforcement
he recalled that he was arrested
IN december on charge of con-
vertlng his home to an apartment
house, although hundreds of home
owners in the county have done the
same thing to help alleviate the wal
housing shortage. The charge will
be heard before a jury at the April
term of Circuit Court.
"The Park and Planning Comnis-
sion should be reasonable in enforc-
ing zoning laws, which should be
changed to meet present condi-
tons" the Mayor declared.
Dwight Gait, associate counsel fo,
the commission, pointed out, how.
ever. that the planning body has
nothing at all' to do with the ac-
tual zoning of property. He ex-
planned that the commission merel,
makes recommendations to the
county commissioners and tina,
these recommendations often arr
not In accord with the latter's deci.
sion.
Warns of Vacancies.
Declaring that the commission Is
now lin the process" of drawing ur
new zoning map for Colma,
Manor, Fred w. Tuemmler. plan.
ming director of the organization
warned that if areas are zoned res.
idential c "indiscriminately," the
result may be vacant buildings anc
"eyesores" after the war.
The commissions only desire '
HE asserted, lis to create the kline
OF community you want to live ir
ana to protect residents against un.
desirable uses of land"
He also contended that the con.
version of private dwellings tf
apartment houses in violation of the
zonlng law cannot be permitted
merely because of temporary condi-
tionS
After Mayor Torvestad described
the commission as an octopus
which fastenS its tentacles on ever,
property owner and tells him what
to do and what not to do" John F.
Lillard, an attorney, said that "it
isn't fair to permit hundreds OF
coming violations and then pick out
one man to enforce the law"
Raps Commission Policy.
The principal complaint agains
the commission, he added, is tina
1t has not enforced its ordinance
fairly. 1t should either arrest al
Vlolators or arrest none, he said.
In demanding that the Count,
Board of Education pay the full
amount of the street assessment. tn,
council pointed out that the worl
was done in 1887 and that the boarc
had been billed for the tax eaci
year since.
The county has the money t.
pay this assessment" the group de
clared. "and We don't see why W,
should accept compromise. Afte.
all, we are authorized to sell tn,
school for taxes if necessary"
In view of the Board of Educa.
tion's failure to pay the assessment
the council added a l0-cent specia
tax to the 3l-cent town levy to-
1944-5 SO that the town could pa,
off the bonds issued in 1887 TO
ctreet corctr,,ofion r,orL