Evening star., 1947-12-17
Apartment Plea
|nChevYChase
Under Study
Change in Zonine
Argued at Hearing
By Commissioners

~ ssSoituS
By Commissioners
Arguments that apartment zoning
lowers the residential status Of
Chevy Chase and places dispropor-
tlonate 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 -
Baltimore g. 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
SUFFICIENT to maintain schools,
police, drainage and other services
created by a high-density popula-
ton.
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 F. 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 it 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-West
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 a 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 it only
through news stories that have ap-
peared IN Tne 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 80 acres would be 10
acres to be set aside as a school site.
He presented a proposed land-use
plan for the entire 130-acre tract,
showing a portion along Connecti-
cut avenue north of the Chevy
Chase firehouse to be used for DOS
sible commercial development in the
future.
He denied charge that taxes de-
rived from apartments are made
quate to support schools.
Others urging approval of the ap-
plication included T. w. Perry,
whose coal yard is in front of the
tract involved: Mrs. Laura Gilliland,
BIOS Kensington parkway, who pre-
sented 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.. erry's coal yard,
and Harry WEIGH, who lives Just
south OF East-West highway.
When Mr.. Johns asked those who
favored the petition to stand Al
persons responded.
When Mr.. Johns asked opponents
Of the petition to stand IA re-
sponded.