Evening star., 1951-10-13
PIanners0ppose
Two Measures
For Rezoning
Bigger Cos Stations
And High Density
| Apartment Hit H..
By Nelson M. Shepard

sA sse
By Nelson N. Shepard
Sharp adverse reports on two
controversial zoning matters in the
city were ordered by the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission late yesterday. In closing
its monthly session.
One aims at q bill introduced by
Chairman Mcmillan Of the House
District Committee, permitting
certain oil companies to remodel
and enlarge filling stations lo-
Gated at the restricted intersec-
tions Of Massachusetts, and Wis
consin avenues NV. and Six
teenth and Taylor streets NV.
The legislation is drawn so broad
ly, the commission protested, that
it would "let down the bars" in
many other similar cases.
Objection also will be voiced
at the zoning rehearing on Oc-
tober 81 against the proposed "high
density" apartment Of 1000 fam
lily units designed for erection OF
Adams Mill road and Calvert
streets NV.
Restricted at Present.
The two filling stations repre-
sent legalized cases Of conform
ing use," having been In operation
on the premises before changes
were made in zoning. But owners
may not remodel or enlarge the
stations because Of present re-
|strictions. The Mcmillan bill. the
commissioners said, would have the
EFFECT Of waving the zoning regu-
llations and, II enacted, could be
fused to advantage by other sta
ltions similarly affected under reg
|ulations.
In the apartment house case,
the commission is restating the
position it has held previously in
opposing overloads in residential
areas. If the apartment was set
back sufficiently and reduced
about one-half, to a height Of so
feet, many Of the objections would
be removed, 1t was explained.
One Of the chief objections Of
the commission, however, is the
fact that the huge project would
have no access street other than
Adams Mill road, on which traffic
is already heavy at times.
| Joint Session Held.
A joint session was held in the
afternoon, with three officers of
the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission on
matters affecting Montgomery
County highway problems. The
Maryland representatives were
Richard s. Green. vice chairman:
William c. Burrage, planning en-
gineer, and Buford M. Hayden.
land designing engineer. No action
was taken on any Of the matters,
Except in connection with un-
founded reports concerning the
proposed route of the Northwest
Freeway from Frederick into the
outskirts of Washington along the
Potomac River.
The commission will send .
communication to the Maryland
State Roads Commission so there
will be no misunderstanding Of its
intentions to keep trucks from
using the George Washington
Memorial Parkway.
NCPPC always has held that the
truck entry into the city from the
Efreeway should be via Wisconsin
avenue. The freeway is now COM
lpleted to q point near Clarksburg
near the Montgomery Frederick
County line. Passenger cars would
be diverted into the George Wash
Iington and Little Falls parkways
from Cabin John.
/ Another matter under consid-
Ieration involves the question Of
what disposition should be made
of a tract of about 20 acres at the
lower end of the Little Branch and
George Washington parkways be-
tween Macarthur boulevard and
the river. It lies between Delacar-
liza Reservoir and Brookmont. and
the acreage is not within the
boundaries Of either parkway but
: close enough to serve to the ad-
vantage of each.
Maryland Views Sought.
1 Before further consideration,
the three Maryland officers viii
report back to their commission
to obtain its views on the matter.
Mr.. Hayden reported on traffic
counts at intersections in the
northeast corner Of the District
in connection with the proposed
short cut from Sixteenth street
into East-West highway to Sill
yer Spring. It has long been .
troublesome" problem.
It is proposed to eliminate one
of the turning movements from
the East-West highway for east
bound cars going into the Coles
vile road. The East-Wes high
way makes a sharp bend before
reaching this point. and it is be-
lieved a straight route into the
Colesville road would be advan-
tageous.
The traffic count at the inter-
section showed that more than
so per cent Of the cars turn left
toward Silver Spring, rather than
go through into Washington.
The traffic difficulties contem-
plated in connection with the
east side Of the proposed East
Capitol street bridge also were
under study again. Thomas C.
Jeffers Of the planning commits
Sion's staff showed new designs.
worked out with respect to the
approach intersection Of Mime
sofa avenue, East Capitol street
and Ridge road.
xanfen Calls on Residents
IT. ksls~ H>A.