Evening star., 1947-12-11
Apartment Plea
For CheWChase
Up for Hearing
Zoning Of Troct Near
Connecticut Ave. to
Be Studied Tuesday

Be Studied Tuesday
A petition to rezone q 30-acre
tract to permit construction Of q
S8S-unit apartment project between
Connecticut avenue and the Rock
Greek Knoll subdivision north Of
East-West highway will be heard
by tho Montgomery County COM
missioners Tuesday.
The application has been filed by
the Chevy Chase Land Co. The
hearing will be held at 2:O5 pm. in
the Bethesda County Building.
The site is bisected by the Balti-
more 81 Ohio Railroad and is part
Of q 16e-acre tract owned by the
company, bounded by Dunlop street
on the south, Jones Bridge road on
the north, Connecticut avenue on
the west and the Pennington and
Rock Creek Knoll subdivisions on
the east.
Commercial Area Indicated.
The company's land use plan for
the entire tract shows large Sec
ton fronting Connecticut avenue
just north of the Chevy Chase Fire
house, to be set aside for possible
commercial use in the future.
Mr.. Farr emphasized, however,
that the company has no immediate
plans for such a move, adding that
1t depends on whether additional
commercial land is needed as the
area Is developed.
Strong opposition to a commercial
area next to the f1rehouse was voiced
by Mrs. r. ]. Danneniller, president
Of the Chevy Chase Woman's Club.
The clubs property adjoins the fire.
house on the south.
Pointing out she did not speak
for the other club members, Mrs.
Dannemiller said she wouldn't like
to see a commercial zone so close
to our clubhouse" She said she
would discuss the matter at the
January IA meeting Of the Execu-
tive Board.
Church Official Reserves Opinion.
At the same time Mrs. Dame
miller said she would not oppose
the proposed apartment zoning if
the project was to be erected along
the railroad, some distance north
Of the club.
She asserted club members had
been told the apartments would be
built next to the club property and
that they opposed such a location.
Immediately to the south Of the
club Is land owned by the First
Church Of Christ Scientist of Chevy
Chase, which plans to build church
there.
Edward p. Felker, chairman of
the church Board of Trustees, said
he would reserve opinion on the
possible commercial development
until he speaks with Mr.. Farr. He
added he intends to discuss the mat
ter with Mr.. Farr In day or two.
Both the church and the womans
club are expected to send repre-
sentatives to the zoning hearing.
Expected to Ask Approval.
Although the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission will not make q recommen-
dation on the petition until Monday,
1t is reported both the commission
and its planning staff will ask that
1t be approved.
The attitude of Planning Engineer
William c. Burrage and Chief Engi-
neer Thomas A. Morton is that
where apartment zoning can be es-
tablished in the Bethesda Chevy
Chase area without damaging ex-
isting single-family developments,
the proposed zoning change should
be granted.
A similar position is taken by
commission members.
Garden Type Apartments.
According to William S. Farr,
company president, the project
would consist of garden-type apart
ments, two stories high and of Co.
lonial design. Construction prob
ably would start next spring If the
petition is approved, he added. No
estimate Of the cost has been OBJ
tained, he said.
Fifty per cent Of the proposed 388
units would contain two bedrooms,
Mr.. Farf said, while the remainder
would be divided equally into one
bedroom and three-bedroom apart
ments.
The 80 acres involved is split into
two sections with about IA acres
south of the railroad and 16 acres
north of the tracks.
The southern portion of the prof.
ect would; be separated from exist
ing residential property by a 20
acre park strip. North of the To-
acre portion and adjoining it would
be 10 acres to be set aside as a
school site, Mr.. Farr said.
The proposed apartments would
be owned and operated by the Chevy
Chase Land Co., Mr.. Farr asserted.
while the remainder OF the 150-
acre tract would be developed with
single-family homes.
Land Held Since 1890.
The entire tract, he said, has been
In the company's hands since 1890.
In 1s41, he said, the company
studied the possibility Of developing
the property on purely residential
basis but was unable to interest
builders in erecting homes in the
area adjoining the railroad.
AS a result, he said, the company,
as far back as year and half ago,
started drafting land-use plan for
the property providing for apart
ment houses along both sides Of the
railroad tracks and surrounded by
single-family homes.
I'VE have no desire to damage
property values in nearby areas, !"
Mr.. Farr said, 'but this land has
been idle for 81 years and must be
used. We believe this plan is the
best method Of putting It to use."
Vepeo Superintendent