Evening star., 1949-11-30
PriinceGeorges
Master zoniinq
a Reality
Adopted Unanimously
By Commissioners
After Public Hearing

Prince Georges County's long
sought master zoning plan, its
first major change in land use con-
troll since 1880, today was reality.
The new regulations, including
a completely revised zoning ordi-
nance, went into effect Immediate
ly after the county commissioners
unanimously voted last night to
adopt the plan.
The action was taken after a
212 hour public hearing in the
County Service Building, Hyatts-
vile. Nearly 200 county residents.
including municipal leaders and
representatives of civic groups,
urged immediate adoption Of the
plan. Only two persons asked that
final action be deferred, although
several questioned certain provi-
sions of the ordinance.
Tuemmler Defends Plan.
A fear that the new plan might
permit construction of row houses
was expressed by Daniel M. Greene
of Avondale, representative OF
both the Queens Chapel Citizens
Association and the County Civic
Federation.
In reply, Fred w. Tuemmler,
planning director for the Park
and Planning Commission, ex-
planned that the only new fea-
lures in this respect are the RIO
classification permitting one
family, triple-detached homes.
and the R-35 category which per-
mits one-family, semidetached
homes or two-family detached
homes. The ordinance also in
cludes a provision that up to five
units can be built next to one
another, but these are restricted
to the Rib and Rio classif1ca-
tions, low and medium density
apartments, respectively. he added.
Another new feature is the
rep category for residential
planned communities such as
Greenbelt. Other classifications
under the new plan are the R-R
rural residentiaD, R-55 (single
family individual homes, C-1 and
CO Digit and heavy commercially
and IL and IL Qight and heavy
industriaD.
Heretofore there have been only
residential A for single homes,
residential B for two-family dwell
ings, residential C for apartments,
commercial D and industrial E.
Classifications Raised to IL.
Mr.. Tuemmler said the new or
dinance and accompany ing zoning
map do not change existing classi-
fcations, although the planning
agency has another map listing
recommended classiflcations and
zoning extensions, which will be
followed as a guide.
Following the hearing, Commis-
sioner Harry w. McNamee. presi-
dent of the board. announced that
all pending rezoning applications
would be considered in the light of
provisions of the new ordinance.
There now are II claSsifications.
instead of S, and the regulations
embrace an area previously not
covered by any such control.
The plan has been under prep
aration for several years.
Hohensee Hits Definitions.
During last nights session, Jer-
rold v. Powers. the boards at
torney and a member of its Zon-
ing Committee, reported his group
had simplified the plan and recon-
mended that it be adopted.
His brother. Attorney Ralph w.
Powers, another member of the
committee, advised the commits
sioners that the ordinance can be
amended. He said the committee
had mo illusions that this is the
perfect document"
One of the opponents, Erwin
Hohensee, College Park, attacked
some of the definitions in the
ordinance and said it would take
a Philadelphia lawyer to UNDER
stand it," He urged the commits
sioners to postpone action for at
least six months.
William c. Steele of Suitland.
who said his citizens association
had given him no instructions as
to which way to vote, also asked
that the decision be held in abey-
ance