Evening star., 1946-12-20
Playground Use
OF Silver Spring
Tract Studied
Lee Presents Revision
Of Plan to Have Auto
Parking Lot at Armory

A revised plan for development OF
the tract in the rear Of the Silver
Spring Armory as playground and
recreational building site, instead of
a parking lot, today was being stud-
led by the Board of Montgomery
County Commissioners in connec-
ton with the requested rezoning of
portion of the property.
The revision was submitted by
Vice Chairman E. Brooke Lee of the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission at hearing
yesterday. Mr.. Lee said he spoke only
as an individual, however. The hear
ing involved only the proposed re-
zoning of 220 feet east of Fenton
street. The total tract of approx
mately acres has been held by the
planning agency for several years as
a part OF its park system.
Proximity of the armory and the
Silver Spring business district, how
ever, prompted the park commission
to recommend rezoning of the 220-
foot strip to commercial use. Under
the first proposal from the planners,
the balance of the land would have
been utilized for public parking lot.
Mr.. Lee yesterday offered to sell
portion of the rear section along
Wayne avenue to st. MichaePs
Church at SO cents square foot for
use as playground. The balance
Of the tract, fronting Pershing drive
and adjoining the church's property
would be used for a community and
recreation building.
Pastor is Hesitant.
The Rev. Joseph j. Deppe, pastor
Of st. Michaels, said after the hear
ing: II would be very hesitant about
accepting any such proposal. The
matter is so controversial / would
be afraid to touch it, no matter how
attractive the offer might be-"
Mr.. Lee said that If the Commits
sioners grant the planners request
to rezone the 220 feet from Fenton
street and the area can be sold at
current land values, 1t is anticipated
the commission will receive between
$500, 900 and 5000, 900 to reinvest in
park land. Failure to take advantage
of this opportunity, he asserted,
would be unfair to the taxpayers.
More than 100 persons, virtually
all of whom were opponents Of the
rezoning, attended the two-hour
hearing in the Silver Spring Dis
pensary Building. Under the chair
manship of Attorney James H. Pugh
Of Chevy Chase, representatives Of
organizations in the area added
their protests to those of members
of st. Michael's parish and individ-
ual property owners.
Arguments were supported by
petitions bearing the names of $50
pupils Of st. Michael,s School, 4l0.
names OF their fathers, 433 names
Of their mothers and 2,742 names Of
individuals Resolutions of protest
were presented from the Allied Civic
Groups Of Silver Spring, the Mont
gorlery County Civic Federation,
Pinecr est Citizens Association,
Seven Oaks Manor Citizens Associa-
tion, Sligo -Branview Citizens Asso-
citation, Woodside Park Civic Asso-
citation, Silver Spring Library
Association, Woodside Parent Teach
er Association and st. Michael,s
Parent Teacher Association.
Cleric Fears Death Tran.
Father Deppe declared If the re-
zoning is carried out it will create
a death trap" for the nearly TOO
children attending st. Michaelis
School.
Speaking for the trustees Of the
Silver Spring Public Library AS
sociation, of which she is president,
Mrs. C. w. Mitchell cited the need
for a new library building site and
stated the board considered the
area back Of the armory as ideal.
Others who spoke against the
proposed rezoning included Will
liam F. Carlin, George T. ONeilI
Of the Allied Civic Groups of Silver
Spring and the Pinecrest Citizens
and william Fox and
Mrs. Margaret M. brennan rep
resenting parents of St. Michael's
School children.
Among a other zoning petitions
studied yesterday were two requests
for commercial zoning of residen-
tial property in the vicinity of Old
BladenSburg road and Buckingham
drive, Silver Spring. Both were op-
posed by the Long Branch Citizens
Association and the Clifton Park
Citizens Association.
Other Changes Opposed.
Also opposed by residents in the
area were applications of John M.
Phillips asking residential 2 zon-
ing for lot on Holly street, Takoma
Park; Nicholas G. Frederick, agent,
seeking commercial coming for two
lots at Sligo and Ridge avenue, Ta-
koma Park, and of James H. Pugh,
agent, for commercial coming of
hand on Summit avenue, Kensing-
ton.
No objection was voiced to sew
eral petitions for rezoning to COM
mercial Of land In the commercial
area added by the Maryland Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission in the recently adopted
master land use plan foax xensing-
ton. One Of the lots, II rezoned,
viii be the site Of a 1,000-seat the
ater to be built by Sidney Lust.
The petitions were taken under
advisement.