, 1921-12-22

Much thoorizing has been INDUCED
n as to the sord coming would ae-
o-mplish. But wha: good has It
aotua':y achieved
The time that zoning has been IN
effect. even in the cities which were
the first TO adopt IL. has been very
brief; indeed much too brief &c per-
NIT US at this moment to mako n
precise appraisal Is to Its ultimate
value in solving planning prob
lens. It IS. howevcf. interesting TO
note that experience Is rapidly ac-
cumulating to Justify tho earlier
promises-and among some of the
most extravasant promises-4s TO
what coming would accomplish.
Preventing the Deterioration Of
Residence Districts.
In Newark there was one unre.
stricted vacant lot in tho very heart
OF a highly restricted neighborhood.
The owner OF this plot could put his
property to any uso he chose-an
apartment. factory. store or garage:
adjoining owners could erect only
one-fainily detached houses. Neigh.
boring property owners repeatedly
attempted TO enter into an agree
pent with tho owner OF this plot
with n view TO having him bind him
self In h same hat they
had already bound themselves but
he paid no heed to their entreaties.
The result was that all development
within a radius OF sevora hundred
feet Of this plot was paraiyzed-no
n dared TO build a home next 10
this plot-so long as he didn't know
to what use It would be put. With
the adoption OF coming in Newark.
this lot was subjected to substantial
ly h same regulations as governed
adjoining lots. Property that was
formerly unmarkctable is now being
developed and improved on all sides
or tho unneighborly neighbor who is
now powerless TO give practical ef-
feet TO his threats OF erecting an
out-of.place building.
Preserving Uniform Building Lines.
A few months after tho adoption
OF coming in White Plains, a mem.
Der of the city plan commission pro
posed TO erect an accessory garage
upon his property. AS his lot hat
a small terrace In front. he intended
to construct the garage by digging 1
into the bank in front OF his house.
Had he done so, the roof of the ga
rage would have projected some five
feet above the level OF his front
porch. The coming regulations
which he himself had helped TO
frame. however, prevented him from
d!sfiguring his own home. TIC his
present great satisfaction, the ga.
rage had to be constructed in the
rear OF the house.
Permanently OF Districts.
A frequent remark heard in un.
zoned communities concerning zon.
Ing is that tho regulations and dis.
tricts constitute merely the express.
sion of a pious wish; thai they will
endure only until somebody wants
them changed; that the provisions
of the ordinance will be juggled to
suit everybody's convenience. Elk
perfence affords nj support to such
statements. Regulations adopted
after full public discussion and con.
ference with property wner be.
CONS so deeply rooted In the com
munity that they "a be changed
only when thoroughly justified.
In communities that have adopted
the coming. the changes in districts
have been remarkably few. During
the first 16 months of its operation
there have been but five minor
changes in the district laid down by
the Newark ordinance. During the
first 10 months of the Yonkers' ordi.
nance. there has been but one. The
districts in White Plains are the
same today as IL months ago In the
original ordinance.
Preventing Congestion OF Popula-
ton.
There are persons who believe regu
lations directly limiting congestion
of population superfluous. Just as
there are persons who believe pro
visions restricting the percentage OF
lot that buildings maj occupy sup
erfluous. But the method is com.
manding itself to an increasing
number OF cities-in Evanston, III;
Lakewood, Ohio: Milwaukee. Wis;
Yonkers and White Plains, N. Y;
C1iffside Park. Glen Ridge. Newark.
and Montclair. N. J..
Objection has been made to linn
ting tho number of families TO the
acre that reducing the density of
population will require tho improve
ment of n larger land area. The
less densely people arc housed. the
greater will be tho length Of the
streets and the public utilities re-
quired. Tho economies obtained
through tina narrower atreets and