Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1963-01-17
Damascus
Commercial
Plea Aired
Controversial
Rezoning Is
Reopened

nearing on a controversial
shopping center coming appli-
cation for downtown Damas-
Gus was taken under advise
ment by the Montgomery
County Council Tuesday to
await consideration by a full
Council.
Two members of the Council,
President John A. Floyd and
Councilman Jerry T. Williams,
were not on hand to hear at.
torneys argue opposing views
of a proponents rehearing ap.
plication of the previously re-
jected application.
Councilman Grover Walker.
who voted with Williams in an
unsuccessful attempt last Octo-
Der to get the original rezoning
request approved, pointed out
that both absent members "are
familiar with this case" but
he suggested 1t might not be
proper to act without their at.
tendance.
There was on indication when
the Council will make its decis.
ion.
Last years Democratic Coun.
Gil voted So to reject a request
for a 14.7 acre commercial dis.
trict in Damascus. The request
was brought by James C. Dulin,
former Washington banker and
national treasurer of Goodwill
Industries.
The tract Is located directly
behind the present business
area In the community. Real
tor Jerry Cook told the Coun-
ell hearing In October that
rejection Of the request will
ruin the community and allow
IL to die on the vine."
Concil rejection of the request
came over the recommended APP
plication approval given by the
Observation-Disclosures Capital Park
and Planning Commission. The
M-NCPPC staff, however, had
recommended rejection of the
Attorney Robert McCloskey,
representing Dulin In Tuesdays
hearing, told the Council that
the former Council committed
a great wrong to the people Of
Damascus" in rejecting the ap-
plication.
He admitted there has been
no physical change in the town
"a possible basis for rehear-
ing-but he pointed out that the
recently released Year 1000 plan
predicts that Damascus will
grow to small town of 10000 to
5000 residents.
Towns this size obviously
have 10 have a commercial
development adequate to pro.
vide for their needs" he said.
McClOsIey said Dulin Is ready
TO begin development.
Attorney Joe Blocher, who
said he represents opponent
Joseph Papiermeister, a Damas-
Gus druggist, argued that there
is no good cause to change the
decision Of the previous Coun-
Gil"
He pointed out that the pro-
posed 14.7-acre commercial dis
trict lis not in the Damascus
Master Plan Of 1857"
Blocher suggested the Coun.
ell reject the rehearing request
and "have the 1857 Master Plan
revised" before giving the ap.
plication further consideration.
BlOcher told the Council
that the sewage disposal situa-
ton "ls still the ma Or prob.
lem" He said the lay Of the
land precludes Use of the pro-
posed site as a major shop
ping center.
He told the Council that 1862
testimony on the application
shows that growth of Damascus
does not indicate such center
Is needed. He said new resident
ial construction in the entire
18th Election District shows a
growth of only 524
since 1858.
II the Council decides to reject
the rehearing request, the APP
plication for rezoning could not
be brought before the Council
again until April, 1864, unless
the Council decided to file the
on its own initiative.