Evening star., 1948-12-08
ShoppingCente|
zoning Opposed
In Montgomery
Apartment Projects
In Chevy Chase and
Bethesda Protested

heZOnlng appIlcatlOnS WHICH WoulC
permit establishment of two new
shopping centers on the Ole
Georgetown road and apartment
projects in Bethesda and Chevy
Chase drew sharp objections yes
terday at hearing conducted by
the Montgomery County Council.
The Council took testimony or
q total of seven applications, but
reserved its decisions. 1t met ir
Bethesda.
In one of the contested cases AZ
residents of Bethesda urged tina,
Grady Motors, Inc, be denied per-
mission to build an apartment house
on five lots on the west side Of
Tilbury street, one block east Of
Wisconsin avenue.
The delegation even expressed
doubt that the property would be
used as indicated. Their spokesman
G.. R. Gallaird, and several men,
bers declared that the motor firm
had been using the property as a
dump. They said they were not GER
tain how it would be used if re-
zoned from residential A to resi-
dental C.
Could Be Used for Garage.
To the surprise of the Council
w. H. Holmes, jr., 4607 Harling lane
said residential c classiticatlons
permit the establishment of public
storage garages When the council
men told Mr.. Holmes he was wrong
he cited the law and proved his
point.
Among those opposing the appli-
cation were Rodney P. Currier, Miss
Cleona Lewis. Charles Ward, Mrs.
Dorothy Shriver and J. C. Goolsby
On application of James w. and
Nancy S. Richards, the Council re-
opened a hearing to rezone property
in Jones Bridge Court, Rock Greek
Knolls, for an apartment project.
The change in this case also would
be from residential A to c.
The Maryland-N National Capital
Park and Planning Commission rec
commended that this application be
denied on grounds that it would be
unfair to citizens who purchased
recently built single family homes
in the development. Previously, the
Montgomery authorities had denied
a similar petition.
Notice Held Inadequate.
John L. Laskey and w. T, Esther
brook led the opposition yesterday
They said the apartments would be
undesirable for residents and
charged that the petitioners had
placed public notice of their zoning
application at a remote, inaccessible
point of their property. They main
tanned that affected. property owners
were not adequately informed.
The applications for shopping
center developments were filed by
Samuel E. Bogley of Bethesda. and
Henry ]. Connor. Inc, Bethesda
builders.
The Bogley property is at the
intersection of Greentree road and
Old Georgetown road. The petitioner
said he would begin construction on
the first of three stores there within
30 days after the applications
approval.
w. c. Holland said that 200
property owners in the immediate
vicinity were against the application
and Mrs. Rebecca Splitter appeared
as spokesman for the Old George
town Road Citizens Association in
opposition to the development. Pres
ton Haines, A. w. Dallas and j. l..
INLAY also objected.
Both Petitions Opposed.
John NJ McInerney, Bethesda at
torney. opposed both the Bogley and
Connor petitions, noting that the
latter was for property farther out
the Old Georgetown road. He said
approval of both would constitute a
squeeze of commercial zones on
residential areas.
Jack H. Bryan, G. Wady Imirie
and Robert w. Beall were among
those who spoke in opposition to the
Connor plea to rezone a tract at
Wyngate for a s250,000 shopping
center.
John r. Reeves, attorney for the
builders, said the development would
greatly enhance property values,
provide shopping conveniences and
contribute otherwise to community
life.
In other cases, the council heard
views on the application of Metro
politan Properties Co., Inc, to rezone
from residential A to C a tract of
more than 10000 square feet at
Chevy Chase drive and Nottingham
street, Bradley Hills, and to rezone
from residential A to commercial z
several lots on Cordell and St. Elmo
avenues, Woodmont, Bethesda.
The petition of Annie Mae Dellin-
ger to rezone the Hilltop Inn prop
erty in Westbrook from residential
A to commercial D was withdrawn.
Earlier, at Rockville. the County
Council authorized the installation
of seven traffic signal lights on
Georgia avenue. Silver Spring, at a
cost of approximately $4,000. The
council decided to insist that the
State Roads Commission maintain
all light signals on State roads.
Yesterdays meeting was the first
since the county commissioners be-
came the County Council under
Montgomerys charter, which went
into effect Thursday. The board
however, did not go through the
formality of reorganizing.
Montgomery Educators
e. as