Evening star., 1953-01-11
Spot|ightIs on zonine
As Alexandra Goes
To Polls tuesday
By Mary Lou Werner

By Mary Lou Werner
Interest centers on a complex
zoning issue as Alexandria voters
prepare to go to the polls Tues
day in special election.
The zoning referedum will be
on one ballot. On the second
ballo twill appear the names of
three candidates for one vacancy
on the city council. Polls will
be open from 6 am. to 6 pm.
The referendum question is
whether present zoning regula-
tions in the city charter shall
be amended by permitting a ma
jority vote of city council to
override negative decisions Of the
planning commission.
At present, three-fourths
vote of the seven-member coun-
Gil is required to upset the PLAN
ming commission anytime it
recommends denial of a rezoning
request.
Residents Stirred.
To someone unfamiliar with
the issue this probably sounds
like dull question. But it has
stirred the people in Alexandria
more than any municipal election
in recent years. Tine zoning
controversy has almost obscured
the council contest.
The city council put the Zon-
ing dispute up to the voters af-
ter first trying to have the
charter amended without refer
endum. Five members of coun-
Gil are in favor of the amend
ment. Results of the referendum
are not legally binding. but the
city council has said it will act
accordingly.
If the voters favor the change,
it would be necessary for the
city council to request passage
of such an amendment at the
next session of the General AS
Sembly.
A majority of the active civic
groups in the city have lined up
in opposition to the change.
Such groups as the North Ridge
Citizens Association, Old Town
Civic Association, Seminary Hill
Association and Yates Gardens
Association have campaiened
actively against the zoning regu-
lation change.
Opposition Organizes.
Principal argument offered
against the change has been that
it would weaken the city'S Zon-
ing procedure and threaten sta
bility of the master plan.
About so civic leaders organ
lied a committee for the Three
Fourths Rule to campaign
against the proposed change.
Albert A. Smoot, former vice
mayor, served as chairman of
that committee.
One member of council, Frank
Mann, also has been an out
spoken foe of the change.
Another group of civic and
business leaders organized a
Citizens Committee for Repre-
sentative Government to fight
for the proposed change. Harry
Bendall, ST., has served as chair
man OF this committee.
Those in favor of the change
say members of council are the
elected representatives of the
people. and should not b SUBJ
ject to restrictions of an ap-
pointed group like the planning
commission. Council appoints
members of the planning COM
mission.
Candidates Named.
One member of the group
campaigning for the change is
Edward S. Holland, jr., who
served on the charter commission
at the time the controversial
three-fourth rule was adopted.
Mr.. Holland said he favored the
three-fourths rule at that time,
but believes it had been used by
small, organized minorities to
retard development of the city.
Candidates in the three-way
contest for one vacancy on the
city council are Daniel Fairfax
O'Flaherty. 1905 Prince street,
and Mayo Edwin Barrett, At, of
304 West Glendale avenue.
They are seeking the council
seat left vacant when Franklin
P. Backus was appointed to the
Corporation Court bench last
November.
Mr.. O'Flaherty and Mr.. Bar
rett have come out against the
proposed change in coming pro-
cedure, and MIR. Luckett has sup
ported it.