Evening star., 1947-05-30
Re19aIIllsSSysht
For Apartments
In Montgomery
Boord Hears Petitions
For Three Projects
Costing n Millions
By ]. B. Zotmon

Construction of apartment house
projects containing 1,766 units at a
cost of more than $4,000, 900 is
contemplated in three of the 81
rezoning petitions being studied to-
day by the Montgomery County
Commissioners.
Hearings on the petitions were
held yesterday before the county
commissioners in Rockville.
More than 400 persons appeared
in opposition to several applica-
tions, which were heard in the
Circuit Court room because the COM
missioners' hearing room was too
small.
Largest of the three proposed
apartment projects would be located
on a o7-acre tract near River and
Goldsboro roads, Bethesda.
Redistribution Is Sought.
The applicant, Colonial Village,
Inc, sought the reclassiflcation of
the property from residential A to
C., with the promise that no re-
quest would be made to rezone the
remaining 200 acres, now classified as
residential A.
Attorneys Walter w. Dawson and
Thomas M. Anderson. representing
the petitioner, said 970 units are
planned st cost of approximately
S15.000,000. They said construction
could start Immediately if the petit
tion was approved. The rest of the
property would be used for single
family ZONES. they added.
Strong opposition to the proposal
was voiced by about 100 residents
of the ARIA, who contended it would
reduce the value of their homes and
would overburden existing water and
sewer lines.
"Spot" Zening Is Charged.
Declaring that approval of the
petition would constitute spot"
zoning, Bernard N. Siegel, president
of the English Village Bradley
Woods Citizens Association, as
serted:
Don't jeopardize our homes. 1t
Is unfair to expect us to take loss
because of this project. which would
be placed in the middle of purely
residential communities.
Also protesting the petition were
representative of the Bannockburn,
Fairway Hills, Kenwood and Wood
acres Citizens Associations.
Brooke Johns, president of the
Board of County Commissioners,
said 1t would help us to decide
such a case If all civic groups in
the county would adopt resolution
opposing any and all apartment
houses in the county"
500 Units In Project
In another petition, J. r. and
M. M. Clark asked for the reclassfl-
cation to apartment house use of
30-acre tract on New Hampshire
avenue opposite the Naval Ordi-
nance Laboratory.
They also sought the rezoning
from residential A to commercial
D of five acres at Colesville and
Columbia roads near the laboratory.
The applicants said they plan to
build 500 apartment units at a cost
of about $4,500,000 on the 30-acre
site. 1t would be designed to house
500 families, with construction
scheduled to start Immediately If
the petition is approved.
They submitted a letter from
Admiral Frank M. Beatty, COM
manding officer of the laboratory,
indorsing their petition on the
ground that 1t would materially
alleviate our housing situation
Residents Voice Opposition.
Noting that other applications for
apartment house zoning in the area
have been rejected, Admiral Beatty
said In his letter that such a type
of construction is peculiarly suitable
as a solution to providing the maxi
mum number Of accommodations in
the shortest possible time"
Both petitions were bitterly op-
posed by residents nearby Bannock-
burn. Burnt Mills Hills, Spring
brook and Hillandale.
They argued that the rezoning
was unnecessary" and would harm
the residential character of the area
The third proposed apartment
project would be built on a 20-acre
tract on the site of the Carroll
Springs Inn near Seminary road
and Monroe street, Silver Spring
The applicant, Shannon & Luchs
Co.. asked that the property be re-
zoned from residential A to C.
Cost Put at $4,000, 900.
William E. Shannon, represent
ing the firm, said it is planned to
erect 296 units at a cost of about
So 900 900. He added that construc-
ton could start Immediately.
Approximately $50 residents of the
area came to the hearing in a mo-
torcade of so automobiles to protest
the petition. They claimed approval
of the application would constitute
spot" zoning and reduce the value
of their homes.
Opposing the petition were rep
resentatives of the Woodside Knobs,
Montgomery Hills Forest, North
Woodside, Linden and Forest Glen
road sections. A petition bearing
the names Of 1856 residents of the
area also was presented.
Other Petitions Heard.
Other petitions heard were:
p. Moran Meconihs, from residential A
~ n Nf f~A Af q
east side of the Rockville pike near Rock
crest
Rose K Dawson. residential A to com
msrcial D Of 2; rs acres along the Rockville
l. L, and Jennie p. cohan, residential
A to commercial D of two lots on Tomlin-
son avenue. In Cabin John.
N. G. Frederick, residential to com
mercial % of two lots at Sligo and Ritchie
avenues, Takoma Park
Albert Fossa and Mr. Frederick resi-
dental to of 2S acres at White Oak
Orazio Mieeli, residential A to CONNER
cial D OF a lot on the south side of Sligo
avenue opposite schrider street, Silver
Takema Co, Inc, residential A to COM
Elm avenue east of Carroll avenue, Takoma
Kass Realty Co. Inc, residential A 10
G OF lot on the northwest side OF Co.
lun1eia avenue st Poplar .ayenue, Takoms
Van Week Property. Inc, residential A
10 commercial D OF lot on the west side
Of Georgia avenue north of Fidler lane
r. H. and Pearl B. Bellman. residential
TO commercial of a lot at the south