Evening star., 1951-12-29
Plan
Goes Into Effect
In Alexandria
City Council Adopts
1t After Four-Hour
| Study of Revisions


Study Of Revisions
Alexandria's new coming ordi-
nance, which includes q master
zoning plan, went into effect to-
day.
1t was unanimously voted by the
City Council last night after a
four-hour meeting in City Hall.
"A number of minor zone changes
were granted, but there were no
major revisions of the proposed
|zoning map published two days
ago.
The new ordinance will be pub
|lished with all last-minute re-
visions by Tuesday, council mem
bers said. The councilmen are
Mayor Franklin P. Backus, Vice
Mayor Albert A. Smoot, James NJ.
Duncan. jr.; Roy C. Bragg, r.
Samuel Luckett, Leroy S. Bend
helm and Marshall ]. Beverley.
Last nights hearing was the
third public one and the second
before the council.
Replaces Earlier One.
The ordinance was drafted by a
Isix-man body appointed by the
Alexandria Planning Committee.
1t replaces another dating back
to the early 1930's.
Several of an estimated 100 per-
SONS present asked the council to
protect historical properties from
encroachment by commercial es-
tablishments. Other residents
asked for zone changes to suit
their particular neighborhoods.
One of the most important
changes granted concerned the
200 block of King street. The
whole block was classified II, or
light industrial, except Nos. 202,
204, 206, 208 and 209 and the
historic Ramsey house, which were
designated C-3, or general COM
mercial.
Acts on Spot Zoning.
MIR. Smoot opposed four spot
zoning requests in the downtown
area, but not the one on King
street. He said the idea of the
map was to eliminate spot-zoning.
1"By doing this tonight" he de-
clared, I'VE are throwing away the
purpose of the whole map"
The council proceeded to act
on more spot-zoning requests
however.
One of them was brought up
by William Koontz, representing
Safeway Stores. It concerned the
block bounded by Alfred, Patrick,
Montgomery and First streets. Mr..
Koontz said Safeway, over a period
of time, had invested more than
$50,000 in property in the block
and planned to build a store. He
sought to have the whole block
Izoned commercial.
Attorney Stanley King said the
block was part Of land sought by
the Alexandria Housing Authority
for a low-cost housing project for
Negroes, which would contain 1874
units. Mr.. King said that coming
the block commercial would raise
the price for the housing author
ity. The property now is par
TALLY zoned RIB, or row houses,
and CO, commercial. No action
was taken by the council.
Commercial Corners Exempted.
The 200 block Of North Royal
street, with exception of Nos. 202,
204, 206 and 207, was designated
as an RIM zone, or of an his
torical nature, and the four places
named above. formerly C-3. or
commercial, were rezoned RIM, to
conform. The commercial corners
were not included.
Mr.. Bendheim defended SPOT
zoning. contending this was the
only way the old sections of the
city could be handled. He added
that the zoning problems in Alex
andria admittedly were unusual,
because there were old houses and
businesses, all scrambled together. {"
/ The current problem, he ex-
planned last night, is to try and
provide as much protection as pos
slble to all persons concerned. He
said he saw no way out except
spot-zoning, and declared that the
ordinance primarily will benefit
the underdeveloped 7.65 square
miles of territory recently annexed
from Fairfax County. The annex
alton becomes effective on Tues
day,
C0ngratulates Council.
Edward w. Alfriend ", presi-
dent of the Seminary Hill Asso-
clation, congratulated the council
Tor agreeing to rezone the entire
ldIlIleXatlon area as RIO, the high
est type of residential property,
until a plan can be adopted for
the whole annexed area.
Capt. Jacob Meyers, president
OF the Old Town Citizens Asso-
citation, supported adoption of the
ordinance last night.
He said that several of the
original difficulties had been over
come by spot-zoning, although
some new ones had arisen because
OF the same system. After he was
heard. the council decided to
create a special commission to
determine what height buildings
should be permitted in the old
sections of Alexandria.
Request Denied.
The council denied a request
which pertained to the North
Ridge-Braddock Heights area II
would have added an additional
RS classification, covering d,,nlev