Evening star., 1951-04-18
Council 10 Seek
Grants for u. 5.
Dispersal Sites
Zoning Law Eosed
For Rooming Houses
In Residence Areas

Inc montgomery County Coun-
Gil is opposed to the erection Of
any Office buildings in the county
under the Governments proposed
dispersal program unless Federal
funds are mafss available for the
necessary roads and schools.
Councilman Lathrop E. Smith
made this clear at the groups
meeting yesterday.
At the same time. the council
amended the zoning ordinance to
permit up to two roomers in
single family homes and authoriz-
ing the Board of Zoning Appeals
to allow the temporary use Of a
single-family home in a residen-
tial A zone as a rooming house.
provided it will not constitute a
nuisance.
Mr.. Smith expressed the coun-
cil's attitude on the dispersal pro-
gram after he said he had been
asked by members of the Senate
committee considering the pro-
posal whether the county had
changed the stand it took when he
appeared before the committee
about two months ago.
At that hearing, Mr.. Smith ex-,
pressed the opinion the county
was neither for nor against the
bill.
Proposes Federal Grant.
eve believe now" he asserted,
that if the bill goes through, the
Federal Government should share
expenses arising out of the loca-I
tion Of Government buildings here.
We feel we should get a definite
grant in lieu of taxes on the land
the Government would take over.
We can't keep putting additional
costs for schools and roads on the
backs of county taxpayers"
He also indorsed the bill intro
duced by Senator Neely, Demo-
Icrat, of West Virginia, which
would reorganize the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission and set up regional ad-
Ivisory committee to plan for near
by Maryland and Virginia.
The councils action on the zon-
ing ordinance affects hundreds Of
homes which now rent rooms in
violation of the regulation.
Many of the violators sought to
have their properties rezoned to
permit them to continue to rent
rooms. but were turned down by !
the council. They then appealed
to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
which suggested the only solution
would be an amendment of the
existing ordinance.
The Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
entered the dispute when it recon-
mended the enforcement drive be
Slowed down pending completion
of a new zoning ordinance. which
lit is drafting.
Tree Inspection Ordered.
In other business, the council
adopted an ordinance directing
the county forester to inspect any
trees in the suburban area which
he believes is infected with Dutch
elm disease or elm blight. Such
trees then may be removed and
burned to prevent spread of the
diseases.
Councilman Harold F. Ham
mond announced he has directed
the Public Works Department to
start work Immediately on a new
foot bridge connecting Thayer
avenue and the East Silver Spring
Elementary School.
Two top county officials sub
mitted their designations. They
are Assistant County Attorney
j. Hodge Smith. who will leave
in June to go into private prac-
tlce with Thomas C. Kelley, for.
mer councilman, and Ben B. Hall,
VINO is quitting April 80 as per-
sonnel assistant to the county
manager to take a State Depart
ment job.
Council President ]. Louis Mon
arch said the council has denied
requests by the County Historical
society for use of the county farm
near Rockville and by the Christ
Child Home for exemption from
the county's license fee for such
organizations.
10 Discuss Closed Meetings.
IN response to request by
Ernie Tannen, president of the
Montgomery Press Association, the
council agreed to meet with the
association next Tuesday to dis
cuss the county heads closed
meetings.
hearings on two proposed street
improvement projects were set for
May Is in the Rockville Court
mousse. One of the proposals, to
be heard at 8 pm. involves College
View drive, Chorus place, Gail
street and Gail place in the Con-
nectlcut Avenue Gardens and
Hammond Wood subdivisions near
Wheaton. The other affects Sagi-
nav street in the Indian Spring
Hills subdivision. Silver Spring. It
will be heard at 3:45 pm.
E~~~1~ H. T. AsF