Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-16
Strict Zoning Urged
To Improve Parking
Action Asked
By ConsuItont
To Cure Tieups

SNNSS PeAA hAAAS 4QC4AAbACo Wdo P1O-
posed today by the city's coming
consultant.
Harold M, Lewis urged the new
program as at least a start
toward ending traffic strangu-
latlon here.
Strict though the formulas
may seem, Mr.. Lewis said, they
represent only middle course.
"a gradual approach to complete
coverage will be the most prac-
tical procedure" he explained.
Main Points Outlined
Generally, the consultant's
program consists of these main
points:
/. Adequate" parking made
available with all new buildings
in all sections of the city, spe-
officially including land redevel-
opment areas.
2. Development of parking IA
Icilities for existing buildings of
high residual value"
3. Enlarged street capacities
and speedier traffic flow specially
by means Of freeway construc-
ton.
4. Maintaining reasonable
balance between the intensity of
land use and the capacity of the
street system.
The main value of coming law
requirement for off street park
ing as we'll as truck loading ia
cilities is to avoid "thrusting"
the individual property owners
parking problems onto adjacent
and nearby properties, Mr.. Lewis
said.
With respect to parking" he
said, ANY land) use is incom-
patible with its neighbors if it's
parking spills over to take up
its neighbours curb space, reduce
its neighbors' street capacity and
throw an added traffic load on
its neighbors' streets from cars
hunting for parking"
This kind Of encroachment, he
emphasized, tends to deteriorate
property values and encourage
departure of home jewellers and
businesses to outlying areas.
1t happens all over town, the
consultant noted. offenders"
are found in every type of prop
erty owner. moreover. The cate
gories range all the way from
single family dwellings, multi
unit dwellings, business places
large and small, Federal and
District Government Offices, pri-
vate Office buildings, schools and
hospitals.
Sees Increase Continuing
Too many people drive their
own cars rather than rely on the
slower, usually less convenient
mass transit systems, Mr.. Lewis
said. Automobile use in the
present fabulous proportion was
never dreamed of by the builders
of WaShington's parking-space-
less structures which are pre-
dominant here. And the in
crease in car use in all likelihood
will continue, Mr.. Lewis added.
Other cities like Denver, Phil
adelphia and Los Angeles have
recognized the possibility of zon-
ing to help cure parking and re-
lated traffic ills, he pointed out.
Taking cues from their books,
and using Washington's limited
otf-street parking requirements
now in the coming code, the con-
sultant proposed these ratios of
parking space requirements:
SINGLE FAMILY DWELL
INGS-Present:: One space per
dwelling unit. Proposed: Retain
that ratio for building lots of
$500 square feet or less; require
an ultimate two spaces per unit
on lots larger than $500 square
feet.
An increasingly important fac
tor, Mr.. Lewis said, is the two
car family" In the light of the
rapid rise in the number of
these families, thought should
be given now to provide off,
street space for their vehicles.
Another special problem is posed
by row houses. Possible solu-
ton there might be strategically
located parking lots to accom-
modate whole groups Of houses.
APARTMENT HOUSES-Pres-
ent: A range of one space per
two dwelling units all the way
to one space per IL efficiency"
units. Proposed: An ultimate
one and one-half spaces for
most apartment and tenament
dwelling units. The ratio for
efficiency apartments downtown
would ultimately be one space
for every two units. There also
would be provisions for visitors
parking spaces in these cate
gorieS.
Construction of new apart
ment houses in the older part of
the city presents the chief prob
lem here. These areas typically
have little off-street parking.
Curb space is so packed with We
hicles daily after working hours
that finding parking space near
ones home may become some
thing akin to a treasure hunt"
the consultant said.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS-Pres-
ent: None. since District coming
laws cannot affect public prop
erty. Proposed. Nothing firm.
Mr.. Lewis made this observation,
however:
"A ratio of one parking space
for each two employees is now
provided by many industrial
plants as an elementary and
routine matter OF basic design"
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Present: No requirements. Pro-
posed: Approximately one space
for every two or four employees
tinon hnu central1v