Evening star., 1953-03-19
zoning Policy
Rages in
Prince Georges
300 Voice Opinions
In Spirited Session
Held at HyottsviIIe

Held at HyuttsvlIle
The Prince Georges commits
sioners are confronted with a
recurring question of whether to
heed pleas Of homeowners seek
ing to maintain residential char.
acter Of neighborhoods or from
businessmen warnings that hold
ing back industrial development
will necessitate higher taxes.
Arguments for both sides were
presented to the county heads
yesterday at Hyattsville in what
probably was the most contro-
versial zoning hearings in the
county'S history.
Packed in the County Service
Buildings small hearing room
were some 800 persons, many of
them women with toddling and
crying children.
The commissioners took two
petitions under study for deci-
SionS to be announced April Is
after personal inspections. Four
other applications were denied
and IL were approved. ..
Replies to Hecklers.
In one Of the cases on which
a decision was withheld, Attor-
ney Adrian P. Fisher, reacting to
Kisses, boos and assorted heck.
ling, shouted:
"The question is whether you
will be controlled by mob rule.
or will decide on the basis Of
proper land use. Prince Georges
has reached the point where, if
it does not have more commerce,
the tax rate will be staggering
and these complainants will be
among the first to move else
where for relief"
Mr.. Fisher spoke for joseph
Bernheimer who asked that 20
acres Of the Meitemiller Tract at
Powder Mill and Cherry Hill
roads be rezoned to commercial.
to permit a $750.00O open-air
theater there.
The proposal was opposed by
representatives of the Beltsville-
Vansville Citizens Association,
the BeltSville P. T. A., the Adel-
phi Citizens Association and a
parade Of objectors from miles
around.
Their protests followed the
general line of argument Of
fered in other cases. such as
traffic congestion, property de-
probation, school proximity and
overall resistance to business en-
croachment.
Medical Building Stirs Row.
DR.. Samuel j. N. Sugar filed
the second application taken
under advisement. He asked
commercial coming to allow erec-
tion OF a medical building on two
lots at Eastern avenue and
Queens Chapel road.
This was opposed by the Avon.
dale Citizens Association through
counsel, Daniel M. Greene. Mr..
Greene said the issue concerns
the entire county because the
property is alongside the only
respectable" entrance to Prince
Georges from the Nations Capt.
tai.
He contended that reclassifica-
ton would constitute spot zoning
and would pave the way for fur
ther commercialization of East
ern avenue. His supporters pre-.
sented petitions with 1873 names.
DR.. Sugar offered a petition list
ing 800 signatures Of persons
supporting his request.
Testimony disclosed that soma
homeowners signed one petition
while their wives signed the
other.
Some signatures appeared on
both petitions.
Petitions Rejected.
Rejected after heated debate
were these petitions:
Barney and Samuel Lenkin for coro-
mercial coming Of 3.6 acres near the
roads, eitsGn for use Of Fiess hand,M and Metzerott
CHARLES NJ Plunkert fnr
Classification of a. tract on the east
Siqe OF New Hampshire avenue; Whitney
": and Frances H. Irons, for CONNER.
seYeTn siSl deslgnation Of land on the Lanham
and Anna H. Anderson for apartment
sna a1nins gtIsna Ei Il scrss At Forestviile road
These reclassifications were
approved:
vilfsae lMSrsir ,.s;Srn;,. SSrp on lot in Randolph
ISm11s En,r11s 1srn. and Lillian shelton, two lots
residential; Harold L. Anderson, Ia
acres on Baltimore boulevard. COLLEGE
ss psrk srqoFs trom residential Dental to apartment
Edmonston road. BiadensSbuIrss.. Is.e resi- resi-
dental te cemmercial. - 80. -
mount Heights. residential to Industrial;
sSd New T. sysnSss srass At spa4s%sns EssTa
SsnH Hssh. LsRSy Msuns f..s i s.
K Teske. one lot Riverdale s E Psaf ark Msdy resi-.
Also. Edward x Sf 'penS Daniels. a tract on tn.
denta a. JOHN MSifsrs E. s.wsrt sss
road fesiaentsl 1Hussaco to commer sar
tions Tor tracts at TSirty.fiTs. AsVnsa avenue
iiR6t to heSv1 somm.rcasya ssreea; aayattsviLe' from