Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-09-26
ONE OF THE cITY's BIG PROBLEMS

Elsewhere in today's Evening News is a communica-
lion endorsing the idea of the city buying the gas works
property, but at the same time calling attention to another
industry at the western end of Market street which, it is
claimed, is as much if not more Objectionable to the resi-
dents of that vicinity and also an eyesore for the thousands
of people who pass through Perth Amboy every weekend
in going to and from the coast resorts. There is no denying
the fact that any industry is Objectionable to a residential
district and it becomes doubly so when it emits foul odors
or makes nerve racking noises. But as we must have in
dustries in order to have the residences-unless we are to
depend entirely on commuters-this conflicting of inter-
ests has got to be solved.
Here is where city planning and coming comes in. I'm
der our present lax methods of building a city there are little
or no restrictions %nywhere. A man invests his savings III
n home and settles down in what he believes to be a quiet
neighborhood to bring up his family and get what comfort
he can get out of life. The fact that there is vacant land in
the immediate vicinity does not bother him In the least
until he hears that the property has been bought by some
manufacturing concern and he suddenly awakens to the
fact that right next door, perhaps, or across the street, an
industry is to be established. 1t may be a boiler factory, oil
tanks or a tannery-in a general sense it matters little; the
mans property is .deteriorated in value and his peace and
mietude are gone. The whole neighborhood is ruined as a
desirable place in which TO live. There is nothing for the
man to do but to sell out on the best terms possible and To-
cate elsewhere.
But where shall he go? Anywhere, anytime, under
II present laws and city ordinances a factory, a garage or
warehouse can be built. In an industrial city like Perth
Amboy, which depends on manufacturing Tor us prosperity
there is no safe place to build a home.
1t is because of the realization of this fact that the
Evening News, for years, has been advocating a comprehen-
sive CITY plan and coming ordinance. The city plan will pro
vide for the proper development of the city for many years
to come, including adequate sewerage, water supply, trans
portation, parks and steamship wharfage. The zoning will
size I'D the city as a whole as to the best location for the
various interests that go to make up a modern metropolis
If will set aside certain sections where only residences may
he buiIt: certain other sections will be designated as the in
dustrial zone, which, naturally, will be convenient to the
railroads and waterfront. Only in this industrial zone nay
factories be built so that a man building a home within that
zone. knowing beforehand that he is / building in an industrial
zone. can find no fault if a factory locates alongside OF him.
But he does know that by building in the zone reserved for
residences he need never fear of being thus disturbed. Then,
another zone is the commercial or business section whore
The stores and business houses are located. A city thus
planned and laid out would not present such a problem as
our correspondent complains about in reference to the dye
works. 1t is the only way to meet this issue and it is time
for Perth Amboy to meet it now.
Other cities are having plans drawn for future develop
mept and are adopting coming ordinances, why not Perth
Ambov? 1t is gratifying to know that there is a City Plan
Commission at work here and that a preliminary report is
being prepared to be presented to the Board of Aldermen
before very long. 1t is only a beginning because the alder
men gave the commission only So, 500 to work with this
wear. part of which was claimed by the old board. But q
start has been made and with this report some idea may be
had of what a comprehensive plan, which would naturally
include a coming ordinance, would mean for Perth Amboy
Until the citizens are given some such protection as this
any residential neighborhood is likely to be ruined by a dye
works. a gas plant or any other kind of industry. There is
no redress.