Evening star., 1952-12-18
Two Alternatives
Up to Commissioners
In Lund Use Change
By J. l. MichoeI


would keep levies down and al
the same time provide needed
services.
Spokesman for both schools oi
thought hotly debated the issues
yesterday in the County Service
Building at Hyattsville. Several
with small children were
delegations jammed in the
hearing room.
Surrounded by objectors anC
by clamor, the county Of.
f1cials voted to take one applica.
ton under study. The other wa.
thrown in their laps when two mo.
tions, one for denial and the othel
for approval, failed for lack o1
Rulings will be announced
January 81, the commissioners sale
at the end of the day-long wran.
giles. In calmer moments, two zon.
ing requests were denied, sever
were approved and three use.
permits were granted.
Veterans Club Denied.
The commissioners also founc
time to unanimously refuse Bla.
densburg war veterans the right tc
operate a clubhouse in a residen.
tial area. The commissioners dead.
locked on the question at theil
November meeting.
A recent circuit court ruling
mentioned frequently by both
sides, is expected to influence the
county's future zoning policy. The
opinion was given by Judge
Charles c. Marbury. He held that
lack Of public facilities is insuff-
cient reason for a court to reverse
a zoning board decision. Judge
did not say, however
that coming officials should reject
such factors in reaching conclu-
sionS.
Carl M. Freeman,s request for
permission to build apartments
and semidetached houses on a
30-acre tract in Carole Highlands
drew objections from more than
100 homeowners and representa-
tives Of citizens associations
They presented petitions with 54e
names. The commissioners voted
to take it under advisement.
The other bitterly fought petit
ton was filed by Henry M. and
Helen L. Witt. They asked that
their property at the corner OF
University lane and Twenty-third
avenue be rezoned from residen-
tial to commercial. Sponsors OF
denial and approval motions were
unable to obtain seconds. Oppos-
ing arguments in both cases fol-
lowed the usual pattern. Objec-
tors claimed their homes would
be deprecated, schools would be
crowded, roads jammed and water
and sewer systems overtaxed.
There were indications that the
old contention that apartments do
not carry their shares of the tax
burden is losing its effectiveness.
It was challenged recently by a
Bladensburg real estate develop
er.
Buffer Zone Urged.
Walter L. Green. counsel for
MIR. Freeman, told the commits
;ioners that the trend in Carole
is toward large apart
nents and commercial areas. He
presented a plan which called for
buffer zones between residences
and apartments. The commits
sioners said they would inspect
,he property personally.
Through their attorney, Adrian
?. Fisher. the Wits offered favor
ng petitions with SO names. The
owners said they planned to erect
;wo store and Office buildings
costing 100000 each. Opponents
handed in petitions which their
sponsors said had nearly 800
names. Mr.. Fisher reminded the
commissioners that the need for
county services is increasing and
declared that new business enter
,rises are needed to provide more
AK revenues.
Attorney Waldo M. Burnside
lsed the same argument in pre-
'enting a case for Helen M. Sauls.
She asked that part Of a 10-acre
tract. near the inter-
section of the Pennsylvania Rail-
Dad and the Landover- Marlboro
'verpass be rezoned for apartment
lse. j. Frank Lillard, sr., counsel
or the homeowners, said new
apartments would hem in their
louses on three sides. The appli-
'ation was denied.
Also rejected was a petition of
he Rev. Louis r. Jackson, col
red, asking reclassification of
and in Fairmount Heights from
esidential to commercial. Ap-
,roval would have been spot zon-
ng, the commissioners ruled.
These coming requests were sane
ioned:
Clifford I. and Mary Ann johnson, land
4 TUXEDO from residential to commercial;
ue near Owens road from residential to
partment use: Albert r. Hassall, agent,
AS acres at suitland road and Homer
venue, Suitland, from apartment to COM
Also. Blair H. Smith. agent, land in the
800 block Of Gallatin street, Hyattsville.
rom residential to commercial: Marshall
4. and Ruth c. McAdoo, one lot in West
'erwyn. College Park. from residential to
omme ,cial' Wallace L. and Margaret E.
lollins, one lot at Marlboro pike and
srs wn ;,tetion road, Forestville, from resi-
antiai to commercial, and Joseph Bern
leimer, agent, 16 acres on George Palmer
ighway near Buena Vista road. from
esid"7 tat to commercial.
;. Use permits were granted 70 Justine
n Baltimore avenue between Jefferson
ISsr,, IISsrr, for an IA ani%al LIB hoypit9, e. S70i
OF gas station on the west side of Balti-