Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
Montgomery Board
Studies Rezoning for
S20,OO0,000 Hotel

A petition to rezone the former
116-acre Corby tract on the Rock
vile pike near the Naval Medical
Center from residential A to resi-
dental G to permit construction of
"a $20,000,000 hotel was being stud
led today by the Montgomery
County Commissioners.
George C. Bowie, representing the
applicant, Benjamin F. Fields, said
the owner of the land, Diplomat
Properties, Inc, plans to erect a
l,000-room hotel on the site. He
appeared before the commission
yesterday at Rockville.
Plans also call for an 18-hole golf
course. tennis courts, stables, KEN
nels and approximately 40 houses,
each of which will cost not less than
$4,000. The homes are to be To-
Gated in the rear of the property.
Plan February Construction.
Declaring the project will be "of
untold benefit" to the county, Mr..
Bowie assured the board the hotel
would be operated on very high
plane" He added that construction
probably will begin next February.
While not opposing the request,
Paul V. johnson. representing the
Garrett Park Town Council, said
the council favored recommended
tons of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion concerning the proposed re-
coming.
The commission recently an
nounced its support of the project,
with the provision that the land
should be rezoned to commercial
with suitable protective restric-
tons by way of building setbacks
and against the display of COM
mercial activities incident to the
hotel project on the main road
frontage of the property"
Asks Funding Status.
Dean M Rathbun, who lives OPP
posite the site, asked the commits
sioners to investigate further to
make certain adequate funds are
available to complete the project as
planned. He also expressed fear
that the land might be used for
speculative purposes. He empha-
sized he did not oppose the petition.
Joseph A. Cantrel, attorney to
the board. pointed out, however,
that the Commissioners have no
authority to take such action. He
said if the board approves the
petition, 1t can add provision that
the applicant must comply with
plans for the project. as submitted
to the Commissioners.
The board also took under advise
ment protests by B. w. Parker and
George A. Sacks, owners of a 213-
acre tract on River road, Potomac,
concerning the county assessment
of $4,000 on the property.
Wrong Value Claimed.
They commended the land had been
assessed on the basis of its prospec-
tive value as subdivided and not as
a farm. They suggested an assess
ment of 500 an acre.
Wilton Allen, supervisor of assess
ments, said the tract was assessed
in comparison with the value of
other property in the area, adding
that land opposite the tract in ques-
ton recently sold for $500 an acre.
A permit was granted Miriam E.
Roth to operate convalescent
home at Poplar avenue. Takoma
Park, subject to the approval of the
Health Department.
George N. Mathews, Chevy Chase,
was reappointed county chairman
of Nation wide campaign to COL
lect used clothing for war torn areas
in Europe, beginning January /. Mr..
Mathews was chairman of the 1915
drive.
All county employees will be given
halliday holiday Monday, it was
announced.