Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-06
Most Citizens
OK Zone Plan
independently
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

Upper Montgomery County drew
a favorable reception at its first
public hearing last night.
Objections arose from only two
major sources-the Montgomery
County Civic Federation and the
Montgomery County Planning
Association.
Both favor an agricultural
zone for most of the rural area
with q minimum lot size Of five
acres. The proposed ordinance
sets the minimum lot size at only
a. half acre.
1t was the night of the big
Iturnabout.
Those who in the past have
attacked Upper County Planning
Commission proposal were
among its supporters at the
hearing in Rockville. Former
supporters were fighting the lat
est proposals. About 200 at
tended.
Effective Compromise
The compromising nature OF
the ordinance which establishes
two estate areas-one in the Po-
tomac -Darnestown area and the
other in the shadow Of Sugarloaf
Mountain - broke the back OF
IUp-county opposition.
The two-acre minimum lot size
for the estate areas drew ap-
proval of Herman Schmidt as
representative of the West Mont
gomery Citizens Association
which embraces the Potomac
Hunt Country area.
Mr.. Schmidt spoke as a sup
porter Of the ordinance.
Hunter Davidson. long an ad-
vocate of the now dead five
acre agricultural zone, also sup
ported the measure.
/ Mr.. Davidson, who lives in
the Jamestown area, suggested,
however. that a one-acre mini
mum lot size be substituted for
the half-acre tract coming.
Ward w. Fetrow, president of
the Farm Bureau. also expressed
substantial agreement" with the
proposed ordinance which is
slated to go to the County
Council by January II.
Urges Greater Setback
Jerry L. Cook. president OF the
Damascus Chamber Of Com
merce. urged adoption of the
ordinance. but suggested that
the minimum building setback
be increased from Is to IS feet
from road right Of ways.
E. r. Jones. of the Damascus
Planning Committee. backed the
ordinance but urged a new
street classification for remote
residential areas that would
have a 40 to so foot right Of way
and Is feet Of paving.
The bitterest attack on the
ordinance came from Arthur
Kelsey, president of the Mont
gomery County Planning Associ-
alton.
Mr.. Kelsey described as an
"absurdity" and as stupid" the
agricultural residential half-acre
| lot zone that would permit
farming operations on such a
lot.
! He also expressed doubt that
the ordinance would stand up in
court as he contended 1t was
arbitrary and capricious" and
discriminatory"
Backs COnsultant
/ Mr.. Kelsey also objected to
the planning commissions re-
lection of recommendations
from its consultant, Irving C,
Root, who urged the five-acre
minimum lot size for most Of the
area, a country home zone and
a residential zone with a halt
acre minimum lot size.
Although urging adoption of
the Root recommendations, MIR.
Kelsey at another point attacked
the commissions commercial and
industrial zones. which were
based almost. entirely on Mr..
Roots proposals.
| Mr.. Root and the commission
technical staff were accused by
E. Brooke Lee Of attempting to
keep families of moderate means
from moving into the upper
county.
Mr.. Lee charged that the pro-
posed five-acre lot size would
make subdivision prohibitive be-
cause Of high street construction
costs and would bar eventual
extension of sewer and water
lines into the up-county area.
Jerome j. Harris Of the County
Civic Federation read a fedora
ton resolution supporting the
Root proposals.
Mr.. Harris commended Mr.. Root
had recommended more half
acre lots than has been estimated
would be needed by 1880 for new
homes.
i Adoption of the ordinance
would lead to indiscriminate
growth and ribbon development"
along highways, Mr.. Harris said.
Watershed Protection
Both Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Kelsey
urged protection Of the water
sheds in the upper county.
i Bartlett Atwood, Of the Glen
Hills Citizens Association, urged
that instead of a half-acre lot
size for the Glen Hills area, a
Ione-acre minimum should be re-