Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-08
District Asked
TO Alter zoninq
For Embassies
Proposal Offsets
Ruling on Building
Offices Neur Home
By JAMES G. DEANE


The State Department has
asked the District to change its
coming regulations so embassy
Office buildings may be built In
residential areas.
However. such buildings.
under rules now being drafted
for consideration by the Dis
trict Commissioners. would be
subject TO strict design controls.
The proposed rule change.
ofiicials disclosed. is taking
shape in the wake Of a Dis
trict Commissioners order last
month which for the first time
made foreign government prop
critics subject TO the Districts
regulations.
Voluntary Obedience
City legal officiers say they
cannot force compliance with
the order. but they hope en-
bassies will obey 1t voluntarily.
The Commissioners order.
which was approved by the
State Department. was inspired
by several recent embassy Of
fice-building projects which
were out of conformity with
city rules. Present rules ban
any ONCE building in noncom-
mercial areas. except on Six
tenth street NV.
Under the order. embassy
buildings are not entitled TO
preferential treatment. But
State Department protocol off,
GERS have informed city officials
they feel this works a hardship
on diplomatic missions. which
need Office space within con-
venient reach Of Official resi-
dences.
Lack Appropriate Space
Commercially zoned areas
lack enough appropriate space
for such Offices. the State De-
lpartment Spokesman said.
They suggested. therefore,
that the special coming exemp-
ton be incorporated in the new
set Of coming regulations now in
preparation for the entire city
The proposed provision. now
being drafted by the District
corporation counsel's Office. /,
expected to place authority for
deciding embassy building ques-
tions in the hands Of the Board
Of Zoning Adjustment.
/ II a foreign government
wished TO built a chancery OF
similar Office building in non-
commercial territory. 1t would
apply first to the State Depart
ment. The request would ther
go to the adjustment board
which would make its ruling In
accordance with standards tc
be written into the regulations
I The adjustment board pre-
faces its decisions with public
/ hearings at which both sup
porters and opponents Of vari-
ance requests have an opportu-
nifty to appear. This would
serve to help protect the in
terests of residents in affected
neighborhoods.
No Deluge Expected
Both State Department and
city officials told The Star they
do not expect any deluge OF
! requests to build in residential
zones. Nor is there any inten-
lion. they indicated. Of per-
hitting or encouraging such
projects in neighborhoods re-
mote from present embassy
concentrations. where buildings
Of the type involved would
clearly be unsuitable.
1 But State Department aides
feel strongly that such a pro-
vision is needed not merely in
1 the interest Of the foreign mis-
sions, but in order to help win
compliance with the new zon-
ing order.
Up to now, foreign govern
ments have been permitted tc
/ ignore the rules completely. Sc
it is to the city's advantage to
ease the regulations II 1t will
permit some control over the
embassy buildings. officials con.
tended.
State Department officers
also told the city they would
like to have the Districts rules
flexible enough to give them a
bargaining advantage when
they are seeking cooperation
Of foreign governments in
United states Government
building projects overseas,
The coming proposal must be
approved by the Zoning Com
mission. Engineer Commissioner
Alvin c. yelling. commission
chairman. said yesterday he
could not predict the commits
sion's action.