Opinion ID: 2075958
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Public need for rezoning.

Text: The Commission found that the public welfare would be served by rezoning because Fourways' proposed structure would contribute to the housing stock and help relieve the District's housing shortage. [9] Petitioners contend that Fourways can erect its proposed apartment building on its parcel as a matter-of-right, without rezoning, and that thus the public welfare is not served by rezoning the parcel. This contention is supported by an earlier Commission finding, issued in its August 1987 Order denying Fourways' rezoning application, [10] and by a March 1987 memorandum to the Commission from Walter J. Cohen, Deputy Administrator of the Department of Public Works, concluding that Fourways could build a 35-unit apartment building without rezoning. But Cohen's conclusion, upon which the Commission seemed to rely for its earlier finding, was based upon use of the entire parcel, which would mean that Fourways would have to demolish the Fraser Mansion, a national historic landmark, in order to build that 35-unit apartment building. The unlikelihood that Fourways could obtain approval to tear down the Fraser Mansion is self-evident and adequately supports the Commission's later finding that rezoning will make a contribution to the housing stock possible. [11]