Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-11
Lewis Zoning Plans
Being Toned Down
ConsuItunt to Cut
Restrictions on
Downtown Area

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Consultant Harold M. Lewis
controversial rezoning proposals
for Washington appeared con-
siderably Debated today, as the
National Capital Planning Com
mission prepared to study the
plan.
George Cater, Mr.. Lewis
Washington representative, indi.
Gated yesterday the consultants
would not now push their pro-
posalS for drastic restriction of
the size and types of downtown
buildings.
I'VE are going to propose
downtown coming pretty much
the way it is, pending compile
ton of the mass transportation
study and preparation of def
nitive planning" Mr.. Cater said.
Mr.. Cater said also that park
ing specifications have been re-
duced and that downtown they
would amount only to "a token
Requirement"
Plans Being Revised
The preliminary Lewis pro-
posals, including restrictions de-
signed to limit the number Of
additional people who could be
Iemployed in the central area,
are undergoing revision. for the
final report to the Commission
ers on the $4,000 study Now
ember 9.
The proposals have been
studied widely throughout the
. city, and the consultants have
reviewed $50 specific suggestions
as they prepared for the final
drafting.
1 Meanwhile, the executive COM
mttee of the Commissioners
zoning Advisory Committee APP
proved a report yesterday at
lacking Mr.. Lewis preliminary
proposals and charging the con-
Isultant with acceptance Of an
''untenable philosophy and
premise" leading to serious
Ierrors."
The adverse report, which at
. tacks the Lewis proposals on
several grounds, now goes to
the full Contender committee
which will meet September 20.
Seeks Compromise
1t was drafted by subcom-
mittee headed by James c.
Wilkes, specialist IN coming law.
Mrs. Walter Tobriner opposed
1.-THE report, after declaring she
believed "this committees re-
lport should indicate a greater
Willingness to compromise"
1T seems to me the general
tone Of this report is extremely
negative and not as constructive
as.the Commissioners would find
useful" she continued. She said
she felt the committee should be
more specific in what 1t con-
Sidered the weaknesses.
The committee received a re-
port from its parking subcom-
: mittee favoring the principle
that developers of property in
the central business district have
responsibility for seeing that
. a reasonable amount Of parking
space is provided in relation to
the needs which their new de-
. velopments create" This was OBJ
posed by L. B. Doggett and Rufus
S. Lusk. who submitted a
minority report.
The Wilkes report on the Lewis
proposals urged that "off-street
parking regulations, as proposed,
should be completely eliminated
as far as the downtown retail and
, central business district is con-
: cerned." 1t suggested the whole
subject be considered only after
completion of the 100000 study
OF metropolitan area transport
tation problems.
Reply Planned
The planning commission to-
day was to have before it a
comprehensive statement Of the
merits of the Lewis coming plan.
The statement, prepared by a
special committee of four, was
understood to outline the COM
mittee's replies to II points re-
quested by the coming engineer.
1t was learned the committee
also has outlined a general policy
on coming at Mr.. Lewis request.
What action the full planning
commission will take on the COM
mittee report on the Lewis pro-
posals remains to be seen. De-
tails Of the committee report
were not available early today.
The committee, appointed by
the planning commission, con-
sisted Of c. McKim Norton, New
York lawyer; Claude owen,
Washington businessman: Har-
Ian Bartholomew, chairman Of
the planning commission, and
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man emeritus Of the commission
and a member Of the Commits
sioners' Citizens Advisory Com
mittee.
The advisory committee has
, criticized the Lewis report.
The planning commission, ac-
: cording 10 John Nolen, IT,, its
director. has advisory powers
! only on coming reports. But It
was expecting 10 act today spe-
] sifically in response 10 the re-
quest Of Mr.. Lewis.
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