Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-09-25
1850 Sign Petitions
For Council Reversal
OF Cemetery zoninq

Petitions bearing about 1850
signatures of persons opposed
to a new zoning provision that
allows cemeteries in residential
areas were presented to the Mont
gomery County Council today.
The petitions. presented by
about IS persons and their attor-
ney, James r. Miller of Rockville
ask for a rehearing on the Coun-
ellis action of last Tuesday.
Mr.. Miller said there are IA
cemeteries in the metropolitan
area of Montgomery County con-
tanning more than $4,000 unused
grave sites-enough for 20 years.
Councilman George Nesbitt dis
puted this. He is secretary treas
urer of the Woodside Cemetery
Olney, and said he knew many oil
the lots there could not be used
for burials.
Public Hearing Urged.
Mr.. Miller commended the public
had not been given full advance
information on the Councils pro-
posed action and now should be
given an opportunity to be heard
Raleigh M. Dawson, CLIO Tilder
lane. Bethesda, president of the
Lux Manor Citizens Association
said his group always had trusted
the Council to serve the best in.
terests of the people.
But this time" he added, I'll
seems we have trusted you un-
duly"
The petitions, circulated Sun.
day and Monday among resident!
of all parts of Montgomery
County, were gathered last nigh
at meeting in Montrose. Tht
meeting was called at the home
of Albert Gotch for members O.
the executive committee of thu
Route 240 Citizens Association.
Improper Notice Charged.
However, more than 40 county
residents attended the meeting tx
discuss strategy.
The petition, circulated among
residents of a dozen county COM
munities from Silver Spring t.
Damascus, charged that thu
council improperly advertised no.
tice of the proposed change.
The Allied Civic Group of Silvel
Spring also opposed the PROPOSE.
ton last night. The group asked
the council to rescind it's actor
because the cemeteries would de-
crease county revenue by removin,
land from the tax rolls; would in.
terfere with development of road
and underground utilities ant
would decrease adjoining proper
ty values.
Planners Could Advise.
The amendment was adoptet
last Tuesday. 1t provides TO
establishment of cemeteries il
Residential A communities, pro
vided only that "the appropriat,
planning agencies" be given al
opportunity to study the propose
and that the cemetery owner
comply with the licensing provi
Sions of Chapter 1875 of the Mont
gomery County Code. The plan
ming commission would serve onl,
as an advisory body to the Count,
Council in the matter.
The licensing provisions con
tanned in Chapter 1856 requir
that no cemetery be operated il
the county until a use permit
obtained from the County Coun
Gil. Advertisement of the intention
to establish a cemetery must b
made in a newspaper, and pub
lie hearing must be held on
specified date before the counc,
may act on a permit request.
The council was to act today O.
a permit request that would allo,
establishment of cemetery be
tween Rockville pike and Vier
Mill road, near Halpine. However
opponents of the coming amend
ment, which paved the way TO
the cemetery permit request by tn
North Washington Cemetery Asso
citation asked that no permits b
granted until adequate hearing ha
been afforded citizens protesting
the coming change.
The permit would allow tn
Wilkins tract, containing NOR
than 400 acres, to be used as
cemetery. Attorney for the GENE
terry association is Walter "
Dawson, Montgomery Count