Evening star., 1954-05-20
Suit|and Group
Wins Shopping
Center Protest
Rezoning is Denied
8-Acre Site on
Silver Hill Rood

SIIVST TIL NOQO
The Prince Georges County
Commissioners have rejected zon-
ing changes that would have
cleared the way for construction
OF a 81 million shopping center
on Silver Hill road, where the
proposed relocation of Marlboro
pike would intersect.
About 100 residents of the
area, led by the Suitland (Md.)
Citizens Association and Attor-
ney Samuel j. De Blasts, pro-
tested the rezoning at the
commissioners monthly. zoning
meeting in Hyattsville yesterday.
They argued that they do not
need another big shopping CEN
ter, since the commissioners re-
Gently approved commercial zon-
ing on an adjacent 26-acre tract,
where Harry Boswell and Asso-
ciateS plan to construct a large
commercial center.
The tract in question yester-
day contains eight acres. It's
owner is Joseph Franklin. The
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission sup
ported Mr.. Franklin's applica-
ton, saying that the relocation
Of Marlboro pike would spur de-
velopment of that area and JUS
tify additional commercial es-
tablishments.
Opposed as Premature.
In successfully moving rejec-
tion of the application, however.
Commissioner Daniel A. Abbott
said he believes the granting of
further commercial zoning along
Silver Hill road at this time
would be premature.
The persons appearing to pro-
test Mr.. Franklin's application
made up only a part of the huge
audience of over 500 which
jammed the hearing room of
the County Service Building.
Only about half could find seats.
The resultant confusion and
discomfort brought protests from
many of the attorneys and civic
leaders who had to wait hours in
the hot hearing room for their
cases to be heard. Some of them
suggested that the commission
ers schedule their zoning hear
ings by hours, if they must hold
them all on one day as they do
now, or schedule them on various.
days during the month. y.
Two other stoutly opposed ap-
plications yesterday were with
drawn by the property owners
George M. Beltz, Robert w
Amman and Byron P. Pope.
They sought zoning approval to
build apartments and a small
shopping center on a 10-acre
tract on Southern avenue, near
Branch avenue. It was eSti-
mated that about 100 persons
in the audience had appeared to
protest this rezoning.
Decision Postponed.
The commissioners decided to
postpone decision for one month
on hotly-conteSted application
by Mr.. Boswell to build additional
apartments for colored and a
small shopping center on Addi-
sen road in Beaver Heights. Mr..
Boswell'S Mount Rainier real
estate firm now operates one
apartment development in that.
community.
About so colored residents of
the area opposed the proposed
apartment house, maintaining it
would bring a transient element
into their substantial residential
community"
In other actions, the Commits
sionerS approved commercial
Zoning for small tracts at De-
fense highway and Fifty-sixth
place. At 4808 Annapolis road,
BladenSburg and at Branch
avenue, near Naylor road.
They also granted industrial
zoning for about 16 acres of land
belonging to Daniel Kallen on
Kenilworth avenue. near Newton
Village.
They denied commercial zon-
ing for lot on Wood road, near
Route in the Wood lane sub
division belonging to Mr.. and
Mrs. George C. Grier.
Special Exception Denied.
A special exception sought by
Samuel Bevard for the an
nounced purpose of clearing and
levelling for future development
95 acres of land off St. Barnabas
road adjacent to Temple Hills
was denied. Scores of protest.
ing residents claimed the project
would be nothing more than a
huge gravel pit and they have
too many gravel pits in their
area as it is.
Adrian P. Fisher, Mr.. Bevard's
attorney, indicated he would ap-
peal the denial to circuit court.
The Commissioners also turned
down a special exception to per-
NIT continued operation of a car
wash on New Hampshire avenue
near University lane. The county
building inspectors office recently
served warrant on the car wash
concern charging that it was op-
Grating illegally in a light COM
mercial coming classification.
Virginia Odd Fellows