Evening star., 1947-12-17
Apartment Plea
InChevYChase
Under Study
Change in Zoning
Argued at Hearing
By Commissioners
by byN0mmISSionefS

Argued at heuFIng
By Commissioners
Arguments that apartment zoning
lowers the residential status of
Chevy Chase and places dispropor-
tionate burdens on schools, police
and other public services, were being
studied today by the Board Of Mont
gomery County Commissioners.
At public hearing yesterday in
the County Service Building in
Bethesda, the commissioners also
heard proponents of the application
Of the Chevy Chase Land Co. to
rezone 80 acres on both sides of the
Baltimore 6 Ohio Railroad near
Connecticut avenue for apartment
use.
The Chevy Chase application was
the most controversial of five hear
ings held yesterday and required two
hours to be aired. All applications
were taken under advisement.
William Doherty, East Kirk
street, president of the Chevy
Chase Village Citizens Association,
argued that taxes from the pro-
posed apartments would not be
sufilcient to maintain schools,
police, drainage and other services
created by a high-density popula-
tion.
Resolution Submitted.
He said the hearing would have
been attended by many more OBJ
jectors had they known they would
be needed.
Sam Ansell, jr., 1904 East West
highway, read statement by r. M.
Defandorf. 205 West Bradley lane,
who was unable to attend and who
opposed the application on the
same grounds as Mr.. Doherty.
S. A. Snyder, president of the
Rollingwood Citizens Association,
submitted resolution from his
Executive Committee opposing the
application because 1t would impose
additional tax burdens on home
owners.
Lewis B. Sims, 6513 Brennan lane,
chairman Of the Public Finance and
Budget Committee of the Mont
gomery County Civic Federation,
supported the arguments Of Mr..
Snyder.
Harold e. Carter, owner of a lot
on Curtis street between East-We
highway and Dunlop street, said a
real estate agent informed him
when he made the purchase the
area would contain only single
family homes, and there would be
no commercial properties In the
area.
Delay In Decision Urged.
Ralph B. Stewart, 312 Elm street,
representing the Citizens Commit
tee Of section 4, Chevy Chase, was
one of several who asked q delay
in the boards decision to permit
additional study.
Several claimed they had not re-
ceived sufficient official notice Of the
application and knew OF 1t only
through news stories that have ap-
peared in The Star.
Frederick Stohlman, attorney for
the company, said the only alterna-
tive to apartments on the site is the
construction Of small, single family
homes ION the smallest possible
lots"
At the conclusion Of the hearing.
Board President Brooke Johns told
those opposing the petition, you're
overlooking the fact that Montgom-
cry County is becoming top heavy
with cheaply constructed homes"
Statement Is Applauded.
His statement met with applause,
but Mr.. Johns hastened to add,
"This doesn't mean we are going to
approve this petition" He went on
to say:
IF we could get an attractive gar
den-type apartment project on this
property, it would stay there a lot
longer than the type of cheap homes
going up in the county ="
Mr.. Stohlman said the company
plans to build 388 apartments on
the tract, which is part of $50 acres
owned by the applicant, extending
from Dunlop street north to Jones
Bridge road.
He told the board the apartments
would be erected by Monroe Warren
The southern portion of the prof.
ect, Mr.. Stohlman explained, would
be separated from existing residen-
tial property by 20-acre park strip
North Of the 30 acres would be II
acres to be set aside as q school site
He presented proposed land-use
plan for the entire 130-acre tract
showing q portion along Connect
cut avenue north of the Chevy
Chase firehouse to be used for pos
sible commercial development in the
future.
He denied a charge that taxes de-
rived from apartments are made.
quate to support schools.
Others urging approval of the ap.
phcation included T. w. Perry
whose coal yard is in front of the
tract involved; Mrs. Laura Gillland
BIOS Kensington parkway, who pre-.
sented a resolution from the Citi.
zens' Committee of North Chevy
Chase favoring the petition; Capt
Chester Wells, represented by At.
torney r. Duncan Clark; George
Dunlop, who owns 10 acres opposite
the proposed apartment sites; H. B
Leary, who owns commercial prop.
erty opposite Mr.. l erry's coal yard
and Harry WEIGH, who lives jus
south Of East-West highway.
When Mr. Johns asked those VIII.
favored the petition to stand 4
persons responded.
When Mr.. Johns asked opponent
Of the petition to stand IA re
sponded.
civitans Taak YuIa Gifte