Evening star., 1953-08-09
Planners Lose
Powerin
Zone Disputes
Arlington Board
Curbs Commission
In Lengthy Dispute


yesterday striped the County
Planning Commission of its
function of hearing and making
recommendations on zoning
questions.
The action was the climax to
a situation created last May
when the county board de-
manded the resignation of all IS
members of the commission. At
that time, Board Member George
M. Rowzee. jr.. Republican. said
the commission was "unwieldy."
He termed its record one Of
inertia"
The number of commission
members was increased from
nine to Is last year by the previ-
Gus County Board on which a
majority of the members were
Non-Partisans.
Five hold-out members of the
commission last June elected a
new chairman. Meanwhile, the
County Board ignored the hold
outs and referred zoning prob
lens to the paid county. staff.
Won't Help Commission.
The boards decision will not
do away with the planning
commission. Alvin F. Kimel, In
dependent board member who
last May dissented when the
board asked for the IS reSig-
nations, said yesterday;
ITO clear the record, I want to
say we have analyzed the work
loads of our committees. The
Planning Commission should
have more time for planning.
For quicker and better decisions.
it was our plan to give zoning
to another advisory committee"
Board Chairman Robert A.
Peck, Republican, told citizens
who appeared to oppose the
change that they would still
have the right to express their
views on zoning before final de-
cisionS are made.
PeddIer Permit Blasted.
During the boards session yes
terday a hearing on a proposed
ordinance to require statesmen
and itinerant merchants to apply
for county permits was continued
to october 3.
The ordinance, drawn up in
the wake of public outcry over
recent crimes charged to per-
sons representing themselves as
statesmen, was bitterly opposed
by more than so sales company
representatives and employees at
the session.
The principal objection to the
proposed law was a provision to
fingerprint all applicants for a
selling permit. Statesmen de-
clared the registration and fin
getprinting would cast a stigma
on their occupation and would
discriminate against them.
Deny Rezoning Plea.
The board denied a rezonings
request to permit use Of a por-.
ton of 2107 North Monroe street
as a taxicab Office and yard.
Two taxi companies were rep
resented by Attorney Oren r.
Lewis in the request. After resi-
dents of the area protested that
a taxicab center would disturb
the peace and tranquility of the
entire neighborhood," the board
voted 3 to 2 to deny. Dissenting
votes were cast by DR.. Robert
H. Detwiler, Independent, and
Mr.. Kimel.
The board. following a recon-
mendation of County Treasurer
Colin c. Macpherson, rescinded
a tax code requirement on de-
linquent real estate taxes from
1927 through 1882.
Mr.. Macpherson advised the
board that tax liens are limited
by law to 20 years and that
$9,226.54 worth of real estate
bills for the years 1927 through
1882 are practically uncollect-
able.
The board also voted to certify
tax lists for 1852 delinquencies
reported by the treasurer. Local
real estate taxes uncollected for
1852 amounted to $l53,671.10;
personal taxes to $199,473.1l.