The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
BROOKLYN HAS NEED
FOR MORE 'ZONING'
Factories Have Been Misplaced
in Past, Says Expert on
Zone Laws.
by EDWARD M. BAssETT.

Counsel for the Zonino Committee.
The coming plan is shown in three
official maps, one denoting the allow
able height Of new buildings in different
districts, another denoting the area Of
the lot which can be covered by now
buildings In different districts and an
other, called the use map" showing the
allowable uses Of buildings and land In
different districts. The use districts
are: % Unrestricted. In which all sorts
OF buildings, including Industrial. can
be placed; (2) business districts, In
which light industry to the extent OF
one-quarter OF the floor space, business
and residence, can be placed: CD resi-
dence districts, in which residences only
with accessory buildings can be placed
A considerable area In the Borough OF
Brooklyn has not been zoned and Is
marked Undetermined" on the use map.
This includes jamaica Bay and a con-
siderable part of its borders. At the
time tho zoning was prepared IL seemed
uncertain regarding its natural develop
ment. Since then II has become quite
clear that the portion of Jamaica Bay
and its shores lying east of Flatbush
avenue as extended to Barren Island
should be placed in the unrestricted or
industrial zone. and that part lying west
Of Flatbush avenue should be placed in
the residential district, with provision
for suitable business streets. The resi-
Dental districts Of Sheepshead Bay and
Manhattan Beach abut on this part of
jamaica Bay and should be protected.
The gift park from Messrs Pratt and
White at Gerritsen Basin will be the
recreation centre for thousands of fam
lilies whose workers will be employed In
the Jamaica Bay Industrial section lying
east OF F'latbush avenue. The city also
Gowns a large part OF the meadow land
south OF the new park. which ultimately
may be used for recreation purposes.
BY far the larger part of the Jamaica
Bay area Is east of Flatbush avenue.
and by all means the portion of the bay
west OF that avenue should be preserved
for home and recreation purposes. The
next step in the coming OF Brooklyn
should be the careful mapping of the
Jamaica Bay territory.
One of the Industrial evils OF Brook
Ign has been the placing OF factories
away from the waterfronts and from
railroad switch connections Such fac
tories have needed to haul their coal
over the public streets and then haul
away their products In trucks. Tho re-
suit ia a city expense for the repair of
streets which is enormous. When the
coming was adopted In July, 1915, the
Industrial areas were fixed to include
those localities which were already given
over TO industry, new areas along the
railroads and now areas accessible to
water transportation. Nearly half OF
the area of Brooklyn 10 unrestricted.
Consequently. there Is the greatest pos
sible provision for future factories near
the waterfronts and along The railroads.
Home districts lie In all cases near the
Industrial districts, so that the future
workers of the city can reside among
other homes and not be compelled 10
reside In homes that are sandwlched In
between factories. The question Is
sometimes asked. what good Is the
zoning TO Industry" The answer is
that there will always be In Brooklyn
light and beautiful home districts for
workingmen that cannot be invaded by
hurtful uses. If n city cannot provide
healthful and attractive homes for it's
workingmen industry In that city will
suffer. Ono OF the greatest attractions
q future Brooklyn for industry is the
protected home districts for working
men The coming plan means that ia
maica Bay and It's shores and surround
ing territory will he developed during
the next twenty years In way that
would have been impossible twenty
years ago. There will be the factory
areas, the home areas and the recrea-
ton parks and Fairgrounds. Brooklyn
is growing TO be an orderly city In Its
upbuilding, The benefits OF tho coming
plan will become more and more appar-
emit No city IN tie country will be more
accessible for water, coal and SHIPMENT
Of manufactured products by land and
water.
When the Board OF Estimate revises
the coming ordinance and maps II should
create new district called Tight in
dustry." At present heavy industry
can 30 into any part Of an unrestricted
district. whereas II has become evident
that some localities designated as un-
restricted are devoted to or available
for light industry. Heavy industry
should be excluded from such dlstricts
These localities are mostly near the res
idential localities IN the thlckly settled
parts Of the city. Heavy Industries
should include those which cause noise,
odors. dust, fumes and smoke. Heavy
Industries usually require a large area
of land, and the ordinary block layout
is not adapted to heavy Industries The
layout OF new streets In the Jamaica
BAY district should be simultaneous with
the adoption OF a coming plan and the
blocks in the Industrial part should be
OF form and size suitable for heavy
industry.