Evening star., 1948-04-25
Land EvaIuation
Board Is Urged
For Arlington
Mrs. Cannon Asks
Move to Equolize
Property Values

A renewed plea for creation of an
Arlington County board of equaliza-
ton to evaluate property was made
yesterday by Mrs. Florence Cannon,
a county board member.
Mrs. Cannon reiterated her stand
in favor of the equalization board
after the County Board yesterday
authorized purchase of two tracts Of
land at 20 cents a square foot. She
said the tracts assessed at 21s cents
a square foot.
At that rate, Mrs Cannon said
the property theoretically had a
value of 712 cents a square foot.
Mrs. Cannon voted for purchase
of both properties at the 20 cent
rate, declaring she felt it was a fair
price. She said the two purchases
however, clearly indicated the need
for board of equalization that
would continually be re-evaluating
Arlington real estate.
Tracts Described.
One of the tracts purchased was
81 ,534.87 square feet from James F.
Ball for $6,306.88 to be used for con-
struction of an extension to South
George Mason drive. The other
tract purchased was 6,890.38 square
feet for 81 ,378.08 from Boris F. Yane
for another street extension.
A delegation of citizens from the
Bancroft School and Civic League
requested the board members to
rescind resolution passed March
27 to the effect that no business
property would be rezoned to resi-
Dental use without consent of the
owner.
The citizens protested that this
action had affected the master zon-
ing program which is to be presented
by planners to the County Board
later this month. l.. r. Stover said
the zoning changes originally in
cluded in this program had recon-
mended rezoning of certain isolated
commercial lots to residential. Mr..
Stover said that in his community,
Bancroft. the developer had small
plot rezoned commercial when the
area was first subdivided and al
though no commercial establishment
was built, the property is still zoned
commercial. He said he felt it would
be in the best interest of the county
to have property such as this re-
zoned to residential to conform with
the general character of surround
ing property.
Motion Lacks SecOnder,
| Mrs. Cannon made motion to
rescind the resolution but her mo-
ton was not seconded. Board Chair
man Daniel A. Dugan said he felt
the original resolution should be
modified to say, that no commercial
property should be re-zoned to resi-
Dental over objections of the owner
if he could show some valid reason
for not reZoning the property.
Basil M. DeLashmutt, sponsor Of
the original resolution, said he felt
owners of business property were
entitled to such protection and de-
clared he introduced the resolution
after hearing rllmors that such spot
commercial zones were to be wiped
out. He noted that in most cases
the property involved was CONNER
cial at the time people bought homes
in the area. Freeland Chew said
he felt the resolution was needed
because business interests might be
discouraged from coming into the
county if they felt the board could
rezone property at any time with
out consent of the owner Mr. Chew
said he did not feel. however, that
the boards resolution should have
any effect on recommendations Of
the planners.
Friday Meeting Set.
The board recessed until pm.
Friday when 1t will hold a meeting
on the proposed county budget. A
conference for board members Is
scheduled tomorrow to discuss the
budget. Sixteen Arlington police
men, Sheriff Elwood Clemmons and
the mother of a former Arlington
police clerk who was killed in the
war were presented Victory Medals
at the meeting. The County Board
members took turns presenting the
medals to the policemen. Mrs.
Harold E. Stelle, mother of Nelson
Stelle who was killed, received the
Victory Medal for her son from
Board Chairman Dugan.
Others who received medals we're:
Raymond S. Cole, John E. Conway,
Leroy w. Barber, Michael S. Sarifin,
William H. Dinsmore, Robert w.
Weekely, Jackey Shoots, Philip
Lucas, Ernest Summers, Russell
Runyon. Jack Sanders, Charlie
James, Charles Franklin, Theodore
Frederick, Raymond Wanner and
Frank Palmer.
DIannnve IN unId uo.r;nne