University Hands Zoning Petition to City Council

University plans for development of Observatory and Botanical Garden land into a permanent real estate investment progressed this week as the Corporation field a petition with the City Council's Committee on Ordinances for a change in the zoning laws applying to the two areas.

Present laws forbied the building of more than one-family dweilings on the lots; the University's action in petitioning for a change Indicates its readiness to proceed on its own permanent housing program without walting for the city to take advantage of the offer to lease it the land at $1 a year for a Cambridge temporary housing project.