Evening star., 1950-04-16
Board Accused
OF Politics in
Zone Decision
Bethesda Reversal
Of Apartment Plea
Called 'Expedient'

The National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits
sion was accused yesterday of
playing politics in reversing its
position on apartment zoning in
Bethesda.
John r. Reeves told the Mont
gomery County Council that the
commission reached an '"eXpedi-
ent decision" on political consid-
erations when it recommended
that no apartments be allowed
on fashionable tract on the
Rockville pike.
Mr.. Reeves. a Republican mem
ber of the Maryland House of
Delegates, Is attorney for Irene
Parker and the Congress Con-
struction Co. His clients have ap-
piled for rezoning of 42l2 acres
Of land just north of the National
Institutes of Health.
Points to Change of Mind.
In September, 1949, the attor-
ney said, the commission recon-
mended apartment Zoning for all
land alIg the Rockville pike be-
tween Cedar lane and Pook's Hill.
This includes the Parker prop
erty. More recently, he said, the
planners reversed themselves.
He said the Democratic con-
trolled commission changed its
mind latter feeling the pulse of
the political winds and determin-
ing the most expedient decision
to be made"
Mr.. Reeves also said, before the
council in Bethesda, that the
commission has done no real plan
ming. Otherwise. he said, it could
not have reversed itself in so short
a time.
Lee Replies at Once.
His statements drew immediate
reply from Blair Lee III, who sue
ceeded his father last fall as vice
chairman of the planning COM
mission. The apartment zoning
position was reversed by the COM
mission shortly after the younger
Mr.. Lee took office.
"The (originaD opinion of
September. 1949." Mr.. Lee told Mr..
Reeves, was written by your old
friend, Col. E. Brooke Lee, who
is no longer on the commission.
With all due respect for Col. Lee.
his view Is not the view of the
present commission.
Another attack was leveled at
the planners by James Gill, a
prominent member of the Demo-
cratic organization. He appeared
as attorney for owners of the Saul
tract, who are seeking an apart
ment classification. The 711a acres
in this tract are bounded by Rock
Greek Park. ParkWood subdivision,
Chevy Chase View and Larchmont
Knolls.
Poor Planning Charged.
Mr.. Gill accused the park COM
mission of poor planning and
planning for too short a period.
He objected to the citizens groups
filing of petitions against apart
ment re-zoning. The attorney de-
clared the council should decide
zoning applications on grounds of
good planning without pressure
from the public.
Mr.. Lee replied that the plan
ming commission acted in the light
of public opinion. as expressed at
a hearing in March.
What is the purpose OF hold
ing public hearings" he asked,
'if the commission is not to give
consideration to testimony taken
at those hearings?"
THE commission" he added,
"feels that community has a
right to set unusually high stand
ards if it so desires and that such
aspirations are properly within
the cognizance of this or any
other planning body"
100 Crowd Hearing.
Mr.. Lee asserted that Delegate
Reeves had introduced bills in
the Assembly to strip the commits
sion of it's powers because 1t was
not responsive to public opinion.
Now that it Is responsive" J"
said the commissioner. you claim
we have no right to be influenced
by public opinion"
The small hearing room in the
County Service building was
crowded with more than 100 home
owners who came to protest both
the Parker and Saul petitions
Among those opposed were the
following:
William E. Wyman, for the
Parkwood Citizens Association;
George E. Doying, Chevy Chase
View Citizens Association; l.. j.
Oliver, Locust Hills Estates Citi-
zens' Association, and c. B
Lyons, Maplewood Citizens Asso-
citation. Numerous citizens spoke
as property owners.
Spokesman for the petitioners
said the developers planned gar
den-type apartment projects with
setbackS and surrounded by one
family dwellings. Opponents saic
apartments would bring further
burdens to overcrowded schools
reduce values of residential prop
critics, increase taxes of home
owners and change the character
of residential communities.