Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-18
Citizens Meet
On Silver Spring
zoniing Issue
Committee Chosen
To Oppose Change Of
Truct Near Armory

~ SPPoSC SIuitSS VI
Tract Near Armory
, An organized civic fight against
the proposed commercial coming of
the large tract in the rear of the
Silver Spring Armory, previously
designated as a recreation area, was
under way today after a protest
meeting in st. Michael's School.
Support Of parent-teacher and
other groups in the community will
be sought by committee appointed
last night at the meeting in the
school, which is directly across from
the center of the tract.
Citizens attending the meeting,
including property owners as well
as parishioners, insisted their chill
dren had no other recreation facili-
ties. They also commended that the
proposed rezoning would create a
trafic hazard, especially for chill
dren, and ruin the residential char
acter of their community.
The committee was directed to
present to the Montgomery County
commissioners tomorrow a rcsolu-
ton appealing to their good judy
ment and civic-mindedness to retain
the tract for recreational purposes. Z"
Cariin Heads Committee.
The Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission an
nounced last Friday that it had
abandoned plans to develop the site
for recreation purposes and would
seek to have q portion of it zoned
commercial and the rest sold to the
county for parking lot.
The committee which will present
the resolution is headed by William
r. Carlin and includes former Coun-
ty Commissioner Paul M. Coughlan,
Comdr. Stephen Jurika, u. S. NJ;
Orville Megby, DR.. Henry w. Bla-
lock, Mrs. Claude w. Mitchell,
Lawrence McKim and Eugene Rup-
pert.
A hearing on the proposed recon-
ing is scheduled in the Silver Spring
dispensary at 8 pm. December 10.
MIR. Coughlan told the meeting
there are q other hearings sched-
uled by the board that day at Sill
yer Spring.
Mr.. Coughlan, who was elected
to the County Board on the fusion
ticket in 1884, told the audience
which filled the basement meeting
room Of the church that the hear
ing probably would be held by the
present Democratic Board of Com
missioners.
The Republicans elected Novem-
Der cannot take Office until the
Governor issues their commissions,
he explained. Gov. O'Conor, a
Democrat, can hardly be expected
to issue the commissions until after
the Democratic board has disposed
OF o controversial coming case in
which it is interested, Mr.. Cough
Ian stated.
Sold to County by Lee.
The. former commissioner also
said that the tract in question was
sold to the county In 1883 for SIS, 900
by E.lRrooke Lee, Democratic leader
and vice chairman of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. At that time, he said.
the land was assessed at $25 900.
About two years ago the county
commissioners decided the property
to the park commission, Mr.. Cough
Ian said. The announcement last
Friday said part of the tract would
be sold back to the county for the
parking lot.
The Rev. Joseph j. Deppe, pastor
Of st. Michael's Church, told the
meeting that after he had announced
plans to fight the rezoning Mr.. Lee
called on him and claimed the plans
to zone the area commercial were
long standing and well known.
In a prepared statement, Father
Deppe challenged many of Mr.. Lees
reported assertions and termed the
plan a base betrayal" of the COM
munity's understanding that the
tract would be used for recreation
purposes.
Traffic Hazard Seen.
In challenging the spirit of the
change" Father Deppe said the park
commissions claim that the property
might bring the county $500, 900 and
was too valuable to keep for recrea-
ton purposes was unsound in view
Of the many downtown recreation
areas in big cities.
Father Deppe and other speakers
said the proposed developments
would create traffic hazard for 675
pupils attending st. Michael's
School. They also challenged the
commissions claim that other rec
reation areas such as Jesup Blair
Park and the Montgomery Blair
High School area are accessible.
Comdr. Jurika suggested the citizens
themselves start building baseball
diamonds and tennis courts on the
arnory tract.
Oliver w. Youngblood, newly
elected Republican county commits
sioner from the Silver Spring.
Takoma area, and Ralph Boyd of
the Allied Civic Groups of Silver
Spring spoke briefly but did not
commit themselves on the coming
issue.
Mr.. Rupert told the group their
pleas would be given just consider
alton by the county commissioners.
Mrs. Mitchell offered the support of
the board of trustees of the Silver
Spring Library in the fight to block
rezoning. The library, she said,
considers the area back of the
armory the best site for its new
building.
Others who spoke included Al
bert MaSerick of the Parent Teacher
Association of the Academy of the
Holy Names, Mr.. McKim represent
ing the Mems Club of st. Michael's,
and William Jouvenal. Stephen
Toughy presided.
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