Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
18-Month Rule
Intense
County zoning
Powerful Weapon
Against UnweIcome
Montgomery Projects

Y
Montgomery County residents
have a powerful weapon in the
"18-month rule" in their efforts
to stave of intensified rezoning
Of land in the suburban area.
The County Council yesterday
pointed up the method by re-
fusing to accept an application
OF the owners who want heavier
density apartment houses on q
five-acre tract at Grub road
and the Brookeville- Tenleytown
road. Silver Spring.
The 18-month rule bars the
acceptance of a coming applica-
ton within 18 months of a
previous decision on the same
land.
In the Grubb road case, nearby
residents last January sought
unsuccesSfully to have the land
rezoned from its present low
density apartments to single
family residential lots.
Must Wait q Year.
AS a result, under the law,
the owner is now barred from
seeking any Redistribution until
the filing period next July.
'"This appears to be a handy
gadget if some one wants to
postpone action" Council Presi-
dent Harold F. Hammond OBJ
served.
He added that nearby resi-
dents by jumping the gun on a
commercial or apartment house
developer could file an unreason-
able application for rezoning to
block the developers plans.
County Attorney David Mac
donald said Ellis Jones, who
submitted the Grubb road APP
plication last Friday, may go to
court to upset the councils
ruling.
The council, however, now that
it is faced with the situation,
may amend the coming ordinance
in regard to the 18-month rule.
81 Hearings Coming Up.
The council will hold public
hearings on 80 coming applica-
tons between September and
october %. Five other applica-
lions on which hearings already
have been held, still have to be
decided by the council.
Mrs. Stella B. Werner yeSter.
day told the council that MEM
bers of All Saints Church on
Chevy Chase Circle had COM
planned to her about getting
parking tickets while attending
services.
The District permits church,
goers to park on the District side
of the circle between 8 am. and
pm. Sundays. The Maryland
States Roads Commission, how
ever, has refused to lift its ban
even during the four-hoT period.
Mr.. Hammond yesterday sug-
gested that the church complain
to the roads commission. He
also advised Acting County Man
ager Mason Butcher to discuss
the matter with the commission.
County officials yesterday were
told to set up meeting with
residents of Lyttonsville to de-
termine how far they will go in
getting sewer and water into
the area.
Establishing street grades and
property lines III the colored
community will cost the county
about $4,000, Mr.. Butcher said.
Both are prerequisites. for the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission to carry their lines
into the area.
Other Actions.
In other actions, the council:
/. Approved a coming code
amendment lifting building area
limitations off church sites.
2. Directed the recreation de-
partment to work toward estab-
lishment of rife ranges in the
county.
3. Announced the huge armory
lot in Silver Spring would DO
paved for parking by about Sep
TENDER /.
4. Gave tentative approval to
the purchase for $4,000 Of a
parking lot at Second avenue and
Elders lane, Silver Spring.