Evening star., 1953-05-21
Rezoniing Vote
baIks Landoyer
Area Project
Spectators Cheer
As Board Rejects
Housing Community

Rez0nlng Tor q $40 million
housing project, proposed for the
Landover area of Prince Georges
County, has been unanimously
denied by the county commits
sionerS.
About 500 Landover area resi-
dents jammed the County Serv-
ice Building In Hyattsville yes
terday to protest the 3.000-unit
development planned for a ass
acre tract between Landover
road, George Palmer highway
and Sheriff road.
They cheered and applauded
when the commissioners voted
the denial after a two hour
hearing. Before ta.at, the crowd
had booed and jeered Fred w.
Tuemmler. planning consultant.
who drew up the plan for the
huge project. and State Senator
j. Raymond Fletcher, Republi-
can, Of Prince Georges, attorney
for the would-be developers.
Joseph D. Grigsby, Landover
civic leader, expressed the feel
ings Of many Of the residents
when he said. I'VE don't want
Prince Georges County to be-
come the dumping ground for
Southeast Washington"
Complains of Agent.
1--WE are totally unsatisfied
with the sales agent of this prof.
ect," Mr.. Grigsby told the COM
missioners. He referred to Rob-
ert Creme, Washington real
estate man, who developed Greg
ory Estates and who is associated
in the proposed Landover prof.
ect with a group Of st. Paul-Min-
neapolis construction people.
The would-be developers
sought to have the tract rezoned
from rural residential to rural
planned community. That would
have permitted them to construct
a development combining apart
ments, triple detached, semi-de-
tached and detached homes and
shopping facilities.
The plan prepared by Mr..
Tuemmler showed two shopping
centers. two public school sites
and 58.3 acres of parks.
Those protesting, represented
by Attorney T. Hammond Welsh,
jr., based their case on the i'm
pact a 10,000-resident develop
ment would have on the area.
Schools and roads already are
overcrowded, and police and fire
protection would become a seri-
Gus problem in the urea, they
argued. ri
Let this coming hearing stand
as an object lesson to builders
in this area" Mr.. Welsh de-
clared. 1--WE want development,
but we want good development"
Fletcher Statement Booed.
Senator Fletcher was booed
when he told the commissioners:
II have gone into this because
I was sold on the idea that to
have an orderly planned COM
munity on this ass acres would
enhance the value Of the sur
rounding area. >. The de-
velopers have assured us that
this project is to be developed
entirely in keeping with Kent
land and Kent Village"
Kentland and Kent Village are
located on Landover road near
the proposed development, which
carried the name of Palmer
Park.
Commissioner Dan Abbott, in
moving that the rezoning appli-
cation be rejected, said the
money required to provide facili-
ties for the huge project would
be a burden on all the taxpayers
of the county.
Other Z0ning Actions.
Three other zoning applica-
tionS were voted down, and IL
were granted, in a session lasting
until $3.50 pm. One use permit
was denied and two were an
proved.
zoning requests refused: orvin d.
Brunk and Ray =: Ogburn, agents. land
on south side Of Branchviile road, west
Sensa e oaG EayGd Pyes from 5is
Silver hin, residential to commerciai:
tersection Of Emerson street and Ed
monston road. residential to CONNER
aeSss the of SlsssF asOrs: pai
residential TO- a-c commerciaI: "cn Clyde el'V5 ).
residential to con eSmmercisl; ne i0n L. Lesshls. yohn.
son, tract on Forty-ninth avenue, Ber-
SCr1' %y1' lishs to heavy, comnaeTcial: al:
street and Utah avenue, Brentwood.
residential to commercial.
Also T. Hammond Welsh. two petitions
lane RiSerSse residsnsiai 3 sSlei to On
and two-family dwelling use: John c.
Dorsey. two lots Riverdale Park. River
dale, residential to apartment; Harold
Melman, agent. property near inter:
section OF New Hampshire avenue and
Ray road, light to heavy commercial.
ct Kenilworth and Quincy avenue. Bla-
densburg. residential to apartment:
George c. Sullivan. 1.3 acres on Cherry
Hill road. near Powder Mill road. resi-
Dental to commercial; Thomas F. HALEY.
agent. one lot at Sixtyfourth avenue and
Dental to commercial; Morris and Henry
near Cherrv Hin road, residential TO
commercial.
The commissioners refused to permit
Dewey NJ Freeman. agent, to use prop
erty ct 5000 Suitland road for a raso-
line Mling station. They granted these
Eugene Darcy. one acre on Mayhew
road. Morningside. for . gasoline sta
ton. Thomas SCmerville and John r.
Clark were authorised to remove sand
from "A acres on the Beltsville -Muirkirk
road. near Muirkirk
Fred Rosenberg for reEoning Of five acres
ON the north side of Muirkirk road.
Muirkirk for use as junk yard. A group
Of homeowners Of the section opposed the
petition.
Stanley Speakers Group
To Be Directed by Edwards