Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-29
Lewis Retained
To File Report
Zoning Proposals
Muy Be Revised
BY JAMES G. DEANE

Zoning Consultant Harold M.
Lewis has been hired by the
District to make a new report on
his controversial rezoning pro-
lposals.
Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Lane,
Engineer Commissioner, yester-
day disclosed that Mr.. Lewis
has been asked to review the
transcript Of recent public hear
ings and submit possible revisions
Of his plan.
The new report has been asked
for by July IL. the same date the
coming commission expects to get
10 final report from the official
zoning Advisory Council.
Gen. Lane. who Is chairman OF
the coming commission, said the
two new reports will give the
commission, everything 1t needs
to settle the rezoning issue, ex-
Icept for the report Of the Citi-
zens Zoning Advisory Commit
tee headed by banker Thomas j.
Groom.
Meeting Set Monday
The Executive Committee Of
the Groom group 10 scheduled
to meet Monday and Gen. Lane
said he hopes after that meeting
to set up a target date for re-
ceiving its final report.
If the Groom Committee could
submit its views by mid-July
the commission might be able
to whip the new coming map into
shape in a month. Gen. Lane in
dictated. However. the citizen
group has indicated its work
might take longer.
Mr.. Lewis sat with members
of the Zoning Commission and
the Zoning Advisory Council
Thursday afternoon. going over
the coming issues raised at the
public hearings. Yesterday he re-
turned to New York with the
hearing transcript.
Gen. Lane said the New York
consultant is being paid $1,000
to carry out the newest report,
He has been asked to submit
an analysis of hearing testimony,
along with any new recommen-
dations for changes he chooses
to propose in the light Of the
hearings.
Gen. Lane, who sat with the
two official coming groups again
yesterday going over the detailed
rezoning questions and hearing
views. predicted that the Zoning
Council would propose "substan-
tial changes" in the Lewis plans.
But he declined to express per-
sonal views or to predict what
the Zoning Commission even
tually will decide.
The Lewis plans for outlying
areas of the city. he pointed out,
drew relatively little objection
at the hearings. But proposals
for downtown, including drastic
new off-street parking and build
ing-density rules, have aroused
strenuous opposition among real
estate groups and others.
No Decisions Yet
Gen. Lane said the Zoning Ad-
visory Councils recommended
tons are likely to serve as the
basis for the commissions de-
cisions. But he would not out
line any Of the councils present
thinking. No formal decisions
have yet been made, he said.
He said there is no legal re-
quirement that the commission
await the Groom groups views.
The Groom Committee only a
few days ago refused to meet a
suggested July deadline set by
Gen. Lane for submitting its rec
concentrations. The committee
also has been antagonistic to
many features Of the Lewis plan.
But Gen. Lane said he seer
tainly would like to have" the
non-offcial committees views
before going ahead on official de-
cisions. He added that his own
feeling was that obtaining the
committees recommendations
won't take too long"
The only other thing that
might hold up final action after
the official reports are in is the
possible need Of further study
on specific details. the Commits
sioner said.