Evening star., 1951-05-02
CountyCounci|.
Gets Wheaton
Parking Plea
81 Million Hospital
Request Is Refused;
3 Other Bills Filed
By J. B. Zotmon

BY }. B. Zotmon
Four bills including one to set
up a special taxing area in
Wheaton for the purchase of pub
lie parking lots. were before the
Montgomery County Council to-
day.
In opening its annual one
month legislative session yester-
day. the council also turned down
the recommendation of its Medi-
cal Care Commission for erection
Of a 81 million hospital between
Silver Spring and Bethesda.
The three other bills introduced
are:
1. BY Mrs. Stella Werner, to
permit the acquisition of Be-
thesda public parking sites out
side the community's business
district.
2. By Grover Walker, to increase
from 81 million to 50 million the
maximum amount the county may
borrow to finance street improve
ments on a front foot assessment
basis.
8. BY Mrs. Kathryn Lawlor, to
eliminate from the county code
a provision making political &C
tivity by a county employe a mis-
deameanor. Mrs. Lawlor explained
there is doubt as to the provisions
constitutionality. She added an
enploye found guilty of such
practice still would be subject to
dismissal.
Calls for Bond Issue.
The Wheaton public parking
bill, introduced by Councilman
Harold F. Hammond, is patterned
after similar laws in effect in the
Bethesda and Silver Spring busi-
ness districts.
It would authorize the council
to issue up to 100000 in bonds
at any one time to buy parking
sites and to adopt regulations for
the operation Of parking meters
along any, street in the COM
munity's parking-lot district.
The bonds would be repaid by
Ia Accent tax on land used for
commercial or industrial purposes
and a 20-cent tax on property
which, though not used for the
purposes now is so zoned or rec
commended for such. uses in the
Wheaton zoning plan adopted by
the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
Businesses already providing off,
parking facilities may apply for
exemption from the special taxes.
Points to Restrictions.
Mrs. Werner emphasized her
bill would not extend the present
Bethesda public parking district,
which corresponds to the COM
|munity's business area. She
claimed. however. that the line
defining this area seriously handi-
caps the council in acquiring
parking sites because it restricts
the county to commercially zoned
property.
She also said the rights Of
nearby property owners would be
protected by provision requiring
public hearing on all proposals to
buy land for public parking.
A hearing on her bill was sched-
uled for 8 pm. May 18 in the
Bethesda County Building.
The council. in rejecting the
proposal for a new hospital, cited
the Medical Care Commissions
statement that very little has
been available for developing CO.
ordination Of existing services and
utilizing existing resources"
Calls for Additional Study.
Consequently, the council said,
it "is Of the opinion that the full
est possible use TO existing hospital
facilities in the Greater Washing
ton Area must be thoroughly ex-
plored before the county invests
from 81 million to So million in a
county hospital"
Such q stand agrees with the
opinion voiced by officials of SUBJ
urban Hospital, Bethesda. But
lit conflicts sharply with state
ments Of the Silver Spring
Hospital Association, which has
indorsed the commissions recon-
mendation.
The Silver Spring group tried
unsuccessfully last year to have
legislation enacted for a new null
ti-million dollar hospital in the
suburban area.
Inc council took under advise
ment a request from Charles K,
Davies, attorney for the Gathers.
burg Washington Grove Fire De-
partment. that legislation be
adopted increasing the maximum
tax OF the area outside the sani-
tary district from to 10 cents.
Also taken under advisement
was letter from Wayne Birdsell.
recording secretary of the county
Civic Federation. asking that no
nearing be held before May Is on
a proposal to set up a Board of
Appeals to hear zoning cases. The
council was authorized to create
such an agency under an act
passed by the recent General AS
semoiy. zoning petitions now are
heard by the council.
On motion of Mrs. Werner, the
council decided to hold it's next
legislative meeting on Tuesday in
stead OF today. as required nor.