Evening star., 1952-07-11
Proposed zoning
Law Drafted
For Montgomery
Tukomu Park Plan
Also Is Adopted
| By Commission

A proposed Montgomery County
zoning Ordinance and Takoma
Park Zoning Plan were adopted
by the Maryland-Na-
;ional Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Both the ordinance and the
soning map were Immediately sent
10 the County Council for its con-
Completion of the ordinance, q
75-page document, climaxed two
years of work by the
planning commission, its technical
staff and a Citizens Advisory
Committee. The present ordinance
was adopted in 1928.
The ordinance would regulate
zoning IN the Montgomery County
portion of the Maryland-Wash-
ington Regional District. About
80 per cent of the county's popula-
ton lives In the area.
The proposed ordinance in
creases the present five building
zones to IA. The new system
provides for four residential zones
of single-family dwellings, q zone
for one-family semi-detached and
two-family detached homes. three
zones for apartment houses, q zone
for a planned residential COM
munity to include several types Of
homes. three commercial zones
and two industrial zones.
Sets Up Conversion Areas.
The ordinance has several
unique features, including a spe-
cial designation of conversion
areas"
According to the ordinance, con-
version areas could be set up to
permit spotting of two-family
dwellings in areas long zoned for
Single-family residences.
The proposal is aimed at allow
ing homeownerS unable to afford
the upkeep of large old houses to
transform them into apartments
for two or more families. The
building would have to be at least
20 years old to be eligible for such
conversion. The proposal would
relieve hardship cases without
wholesale rezoning Of residential
property.
Conversion areas probably would
be set up in Takoma Park where
city officials have estimated there
are some 700 violations of coming
regulations. There many elderly
persons find it impossible to main
tain the large rambling houses.
built a number of years ago.
The actual conversion Of a
|single-family residence into q
|multiple-family dwelling in the
specially designated areas, will be
strictly regulated by the ordinance.
RIA Zone Set Up.
Another feature of the ordinance
lis a provision for a RA, or agricul-
ture residential zone. The RA
zone is designed to protect owners
of homes on large estates. Lots in
this zone would have to contain at
least two acres.
The proposed ordinance also
would prohibit construction of liv-
ing quarters above stores in COM
mercial areas.
One of the most demanded fea-
lures of the proposed ordinance
is a prohibition of all of billboards
or directiona! signs which exceed
20 square feet in area.
The Takoma Park Zoning plan
is detailed land use map of the
city on which the commission and
its staff have been working three
years.
The original draft of the plan
was released last spring and both
the commission and the city
fathers have held a number Of
public hearings on it,
Changes Adopted.
The plan adopted yesterday con-
tains a number Of changes in the
Montgomery sector from the orig
inal draft, including the following:
/. The area on both sides Of
Flower avenue bounded by Hous-
ton, Carroll, Garland and Maple
avenues is proposed for apart
ment use instead Of two-family
dwellings.
2. The apartment house zoning
recommended along Sligo Creek
south of Carroll avenue is elimi-
mated in favor of present single-
family zoning.
8. The recommendation for off,
street parking on Willow avenue
between Tulip and Carroll avenues
Is eliminated.
| 4. An extension of two-family
coming is recommended along the
northwest side of Columbia ave-
nue. between Pine and Poplar ave-
nues and on the southeast side
of Holt place between Park and
Philadelphia avenues.
Prince Georges Changes.
The changes in the Prince
lGeoges section include the follow.
ing:
/. The recommendation for ex-
tension of apartment house coming
Ialong Sligo Greek between Lincoln
avenue and the Montgomery
County line was eliminated with
exception Of land along parkway
between Cherry and Aspen ave-
Inues.
2. The recommendation for
apartment zoning in area west
|of New Hampshire avenue be-
tween Elm and Heather avenues
was eliminated.
8. The major portion Of the land
|on the south side Of Anne avenue
from Lockne street to University
lane is recommended for apart
|ment coming.
4. An apartment zone Is rec.
commended for area at New Hamp-
shire avenue and University lane
acr0SS from the TanUIav port,