Evening star., 1949-01-12
County Heads
bestow zoniinq
Favor on Shaw
Johns Denounces
Action Taken After
Formal Adjournment
By John v. Horner

Oy JOHU v. TlUIHST
In an explosive finale to their
two-year terms, the Republican
dominated Montgomery County COM
missioners yesterday bestowed prize
zoning favor on Lacy Shaw, leader
of the Democratic organization
headed by E. Brooke Lee.
Their action, which came after
formal adjournment, was denounced
by Brooke Johns, president, ano
Oliver w. Youngblood, both Republi-
cans. 1t represented reversal OF
action taken three weeks earlier.
Gathering informally after their
regular meeting, the commissioners
voted 3 to 2 to rezone from resi-
dental A to commercial D a strip
of land in the exclusive Meadowood
development on Colesville road. The
rezoning was recommended by the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, of which Mr.
Lee is a member, but was rejected
December 81 after protests were filed
by scores of area residents. 1t was
reported unofficially that a service
station will be built. on the lot.
Jamison Offers Motion.
Yesterday, Charles H. Jamison
lone Democratic commissioner and
a member Of the Lee-ShaW organ
ization, told his associates that he
was absent in December when they
voted on Mr.. Shaw's application and
that Ne wanted his vote recorded
in favor of the petition.
He moved to rescind the previous
action. The motion was seconded
by George c. (Ace) Esworthy, a
Republican. who abstained from vot-
ing December 81. These two and
Republican Commissioner Wesley I
Sauter voted to rescind. while Mr.
Johns and Mr.. Youngblood voted
negatively.
Then Mr.. Jamison moved that the
Shaw application be approved. 1t
was, by the same lineup.
Mr.. Johns branded the reversal
the worst thing that has been done
in the whole "a months of our serv-
ice as commissioners" He accused
Mr.. Jamison of playing politics fo1
and with the Democratic organiza-
ton in the hope of getting himself
elected sheriff.
Calls Action Unfair.
Mr.. Johns said it was unfair and
improper to rezone the property for
Mr.. Shaw when the commissioners
had rejected similar applications
from others.
He also said that he had been
put under pressure by real estate
men in Montgomery. the District
of Columbia and Baltimore to have
certain property rezoned favorable
10 them. He said he refused be-
cause he considered 1.-The changes
against the citizens interest. He
said the real estate dealers had
asked him what wanted them to
do Tor men tn exchange for the
favors.
The question Immediately arose
whether the action, taken after ad-
journment, was legal. Mr.. Young
blood said he would ask an opinion
from F. Barnard Welsh, board at
torney.
It was pointed out that the mo-
ton was not offered by a member
who had voted with the majority
in the previous instance. The mo-
tion's second came from a member
who had abstained from voting De-
cember 81.
It was disclosed for the first time
that the commissioners had ap-
proved a petition of Grady Motors,
Inc, to rezone from residential A
to C tract next to its building In
Bethesda for apartment house use.
Vote Inaugural Holiday.
During the regular session, which
was believed to be the last for the
commissioner council. holiday was
granted to county employees Janu-
ary 20 so they may attend the
inaugural ceremonies.
The commissioners also overruled
Wilton T. Allen, assessment officer,
who billed the Landon School for
Boys $1,000 on their Wilson lane
property. Bethesda.
Thornton Owen, chairman of the
Landon board, and Arthur J. Phelan,
attorney, said they had been as
sured by Mr.. Johns that the school
would be tax-exempt because it is
a nonprofit educational institution.
Mr.. Allen said the school was billed
because 1t failed to protest the
assessment at public hearing. The
case will be carried to the Maryland
Tax Commission on appeal for final