Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-25
Prince Georges
Heads 10 Back
Rural zoning

The Prince Georges County
Commissioners indicated yester-
day they favor a modified form
of coming and planning con-
troll throughout the county's
rural area.
The commissioners said. at a
meeting in Upper Marlboro. they
agree a bill must be introduced
during the next session Of the
Legislature in January to extend
the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission's
regional district.
What control should be exertec
over the remaining rural portion
of the county still remains q
knotty problem, said Boarc
Chairman Jesse S. Baggett.
Mr.. Baggett told a delegation
representing the Careybrook
Cedar Ridge and Potomac Vista
Citizens Association of the Oxor
Hill area the commissioners be-
lieve Prince Georges needs some
form of coming and planning
machinery in outlying areas In
line for future development.
Asked to Act Now
The group, composed of r. r
Black, association president; w
H. Haggard and James F. Vance
asked the commissioners to ex-
lercise Immediately their author
|ity under Maryland's zoning and
planning law.
The area lies outside the re-
gional district, but the commits
sioners have the power, under the
law, to set up county planning
commission that would control
development beyond the district
boundary.
The group has made several
appearances before the commits
lsioners during recent months
with a plea that county officials
help them in influencing the de-
veloper Of the proposed River
Ridge Estates to increase lot
sizes In the subdivision.
The new homes are planned
for a site adjacent to the area
covered by the citizens associa-
ton. where lot sizes are at least
one-half acre. Plats show lot
sizes in River Ridge Estates will
average $500 square feet.
Depreciation Feared
Association members said they
feel the smaller lots will de-
Ipreciate property values Of the
older homes.
"You should head of these
characters who are hurting our
county by putting up small
houses that don't pay their way"
Mr.. Vance said.
II think you are going to find
lit necessary, to have q county
planning commission under the
States coming and planning
law" he added. You might as
well face it and do it. Our prob
lem is immediate. Next year
there will be others. think we
should use what we've got until
we can get something better"
Commissioner Herbert w
Reichelt baked at this proposal
pointing out that creation OF
small islands of control in the
rural areas without preliminary
study would not solve the total
problem. He said the board has
given unanimous approval to an
extension Of the regional district
into the Oxon Hill area and
cited Friendly road as a new
boundary possibility.
The district ends in the vicinity
Of Rosecroft Raceway.
Sentiment for Extension
Mr.. Baggett said the county's
Legislative delegation has ex-
pressed willingness to push legis-
lation enlarging the regional dis
|trict. but not to include the en-
tire county.
County Attorney william l.
Kahler said officials are consid-
lering drafting legislation that
would grant local control over
outlying areas but would moi
necessitate creation of a costly
county planning commission and
staff in duplication of that al.
| q