Evening star., 1950-01-19
Neighbors Seek
Rezoning Of Site
AT Fairfax Circle
Ask Return of Tract
To Residential Status
In Unprecedented Act

.
In Unprecedented Act
The Fairfax County Board Of
Supervisors yesterday agreed to
consider rezoning an 8-acre tract
at Fairfax Circle to residential on
the application of two persons
who are not owners of the prop
erty.
The unprecedented action was
requested by E. A. Prichard, Fair
fax attorney representing Joseph
j. Mathy and Mrs. Lula R. Tan
ner, owners of nearby homes.
The property is a portion of the
Pobst estate south of Lee boule-
ward and west of Old Lee highway.
In his petition, Mr.. Prichard said
that the land was rezoned from
rural residence to rural business
in January, 1947, but has never
ben developed for commercial
use.
Mr.. Prichard termed the busi-
ness zoning "a constant threat to
the integrity of the area as a
substantial residential district"
Owners To Be Consulted.
commemorative Attorney Hugh
B. Marsh advised the board that
it could act to rezone property on
its own motion if requested by
petition to do so.
At the suggestion of Board
Member Maurice w. Fox it was
agreed the present owners would
be consulted before the next board
meeting to determine whether any
plans for development of the prop
erty are underway. Mr.. Marsh
said that action taken by the
owners subsequent to the filing Of
the petition will have no effect on
the boards decision.
The Commemorative attorney
pointed out that the supervisors
are not required to act on the
petition, but may do SO If they
wish.
In an earlier decision on another
portion of the Pobst estate east Of
Old Lee highway, the board denied
the application of Albert Aaron for
rezoning 80 acres from rural resi-
dence to general business. A shop
ping and recreation center was
planned for the area. The project
was opposed by nearby residents
through Mr.. Prichard.
Two Requests Denied.
The supervisors also denied two
requests for rezoning near Falls
Church which would have per-
mitted building homes on the
smallest size lots authorized by tha
zoning ordinance, 200 square feet.
Rezoning to urban residence of the
90-acre Kerns farm on Annandale
road and the 130-acre Brush tract
on Lee boulevard was requested. -
+ Board Chairman G. 'WaHacs
Carper declared that "The hous-
ing emergency is not so acute
that we need lots as small as
they proposed"
Supervisor Arthur I. Shaffer OF
Mount Vernon district termed
the homes already built on 1900
square foot lots "a disgrace to
the county" Mr.. Fox declared
he has voted for the last time
for development on urban-size
lots"
The proposal to rezone the
Kerns tract was opposed by the
County Planning Commission and
the Sleepy Hollow Citizens Asso-
citation. More than 10 residents
of the Sleepy Hollow area, where
homes range in value from $4,000
to 100000, crowded the board
room to protest rezoning of the
adjacent farm land.
Houses Planned.
E. E. Falk, of the Midway Con-
struction Co., Newport News, said
his firm planned to build houses
costing less than $4,000 on the
Kerns tract John C. Wood, at
torney for the company, and Law
renee Douglas, attorney for Mrs.
Jesse Kerns, asked the board to
approve the rezoning as a "transi-
ton" between Sleepy Hollow and
the West Lawn development
across Annandale road, where 395
homes costing approximately
$4,000 are being constructed.
Thomas Gray. ,Speepy Hollow
resident and an administrative Of
ficer in Federal Housing Admin
istration, presented the ). super
visors with mass of evidence op-
posing the project. The informa-
tion included letter from Sem
ator Byrd, Democrat. of Virginia.
Hearing on an application by
John E. Mcpherson for a rezoning
near Holm Hall Village was con-
tinued to May 8. Mr.. Mcpherson
is asking rezoning to urban resi-
dence of property on the west sidsN
Of Fort Hunt road.
A request by Hunton G.. Oliver
for rezoning to rural business of
tract near Culmore apartments be-
tween Falls Church and Baileys
Crossroads was denied.
Symphony Will Give