Evening star., 1950-03-15
MoreApartment
zoniing Opposed
For County Area
Citizens Protest Plan
For Bethesda and
Chevy Chase


vidual home owners presented
united front last night in opposi-
tioH to a proposed increase in
land zoned for apartments in the
Bethesda Chevy Chase area.
Their protest was given at a
hearing in the Bethesda Elemen-
tary School by the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission on a master
plan for the area.
Spokesman for IA citizens as
sociations, four special taxing
areas and the Montgomery County
Civic Federation were joined by
nearly 500 individuals in vigorous
opposition to the proposed plan
which would increase apartment
house acreage in the area. There
now are SO acres of developed
apartments with an additional
272 acres rezoned but undevel-
oped. The plan would add 284
acres more.
Only two spoke for an increase
IN apartments-Marvin Simmons,
vice president of the Bethesda
Chamber of Commerce, and Earl
S. Draper. a professional con-
sultant on planning and housing.
Mr.. Draper was introduced by
Warren S. Browning, attorney for
the White Fathers of Africa and
the Parker Estate.
Burrage Explains Plan.
Owners of these two properties
have petitioned for apartment re-
zoning but their land is not des-
lgnated for apartment use on the
master plan.
Mr.. Simmons said the chamber
approved the master plan insofar
as it pertains to the Bethesda
area whose northern boundary is
GroSvenor lane. The plan extends
beyond that boundary for more
than half mile.
William C. Burrage, planning
engineer for the commission, ex-
planned that the plan is designed
to anticipate the areas need for
extended apartment, commercial
and industrial zones for at least
the next five years. Adoption of
these larger zoning areas now, he
said, would avoid indiscriminate,
undesirable and premature loca-
ton of the more intensive uses
at later time and with less dam
age to residential areas"
In other counties surrounding
Washington, so per cent of the
total home construction since the
war has been of the multi-family-
unit type, Mr.. Burrage explained.
Montgomery has not followed this
trend. he said, since less than
one-quarter of its total construc-
ton has been for apartments.
There was loud demonstra-
ton of approval at this point on
the part of citizens.
New Ordinance Prepared.
Special taxing areas opposing
the apartment feature of the plan
include Chevy Chase Village,
North Chevy Chase, Town of
Somerset and Chevy Chase View.
Citizens associations opposing in
clude Northwest Bethesda, Gros-
venor Lane, Lux Manor, Park
wood, Brookdale, Old Georgetown
Road, Maplewood, Friendship
Heights, Oakland Terrace, Rock
Creek Hill. Fairway Hill, Mont
gomery Lane and Chevy Chase
Terrace.
All stressed the desirability of
maintaining the present one
family dwelling characteristic of
the community. Most of them
said that if the community has
to have apartments they pre-
ferred the garden type. They
pointed out. however. that under
present zoning laws it is not pos
sible to regulate the type Of
apartments once the land is re-
zoned.
Blair Lee III, vice chairman of
the commission, who conducted
the meeting. said the commission
had prepared a new zoning ordi-
nance which would give several
apartment classifications instead
of the present single one.
DR.. Harold Morris, who has been
making special study of the eco
nomic aspect of land use in the
county for the civic federation,
said under present zoning law it
is possible also to build SO apart
ment units to the acre.
Mr.. Lee said the commission
would hold consideration of the
plan open for another 10 days,
during which petitions both for
and against the plan will be re-