Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-09-25

Mont9omeryOouncIls
New Zoning Provision
Under Fire Toody
Petitions bearing about 1850
signatures of persons opposed
to- new coming 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.
Oney, and said he knew many of
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 Tilden
lane9 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. "it
seems we have trusted you I'M
duly"
The petitions. circulated Sum-
day and Monday among residents
Of all parts of Montgomery
County, were gathered last night
at a meeting in Montrose. The
meeting was called at the home
of Albert Gotch for members of
the executive committee of the
Route 24o Citizens Association.
Improper Notice Charged.
However, more than 40 county
residents attended the meeting to
discuss strategy.
The petition, circulated among
residents of a dozen county COM
munities from Silver Spring to
Damascus. charged that the
council improperly advertised no.
tice of the proposed change.
The Allied Civic Group of Silver
Spring also opposed the PROPOSE
ton last night. The group asked
the council to rescind its action
because the cemeteries would de-
crease county revenue by removing
land from the tax rolls; would in
terfere with development of roads
and underground utilities and
would decrease adjoining proper
ty values.
Planners Could Advise.
The amendment was adopted
last Tuesday. It provides for
establishment of cemeteries in
Residential A communities, pro-
vided only that "the appropriate
planning agencies" be given an
opportunity to study the proposal
and that the cemetery owner
comply with the licensing provi-
Sions Of Chapter 1876 of the Mont
gomery County Code. The plan
ming commission would serve only
as an advisory body to the County
Council in the matter.
The licensing provisions con-
tanned in Chapter 1876 require
that no cemetery be operated in
the county until use permit is
obtained from the County Coun-
Gil. Advertisement of the intention
to establish a cemetery must be
made in newspaper, and a pub
lie hearing must be held on a
specified date before the council
may act on permit request
The council was to act today on
permit request that would allow
establishment of a cemetery be-
tween Rockville pike and Viers
Mill road. near Halpine. However,
opponents of the coming amend
ment, which paved the way for
the cemetery permit request by the
North Washington Cemetery Asso-
citation asked that no permits be
granted until adequate hearing has
been afforded citizens protesting
the coming change.
Involves wilkins Tract.
The permit would allow the
wilkins tract, containing more
than 400 acres, to be used as a
cemetery. Attorney for the cene-
terry association is Walter w.
Dawson, Montgomery County
States Attorney.
Both the zoning change and
the request for the permit to
operate cemetery on the Wilkins
tract were discussed in a public
hearing in Rockville on August 10.
1t was then discovered that the
coming change had not been ad-
vertised publicly as required by
law. Subsequently it was adver-
tised for hearing in the Mont
gomery County Sentinel and the
Bethesda Chevy Chase Tribune on
August is. The hearing date was
set for September IT in Bethesda.
At the August Is hearing, only
slight opposition to the coming
change was recorded by citizens
groups and the planning commits
sion. No opposition at all was ex-
pressed to allowing the Wilkins
tract to be used as cemetery.
But at the September II hear
ings. opposition was directed at
both the coming change and the
permit request. The next day the
council adopted the coming change
but continued the Wilkins tract
request until today to enable citi-
zens to file written statements on
the issue,