Evening journal., 1923-01-08
Terms zONING
|COMMON SENSE"
obert Whitten, Expert,
Declares City Plan Spells
Civic Economy
PHELD BY COURTS,
HE TELLS HEARERS

Robert Whitten. consultant. Of this
dianspolis, Ind, City Plan Com
ssion. addressed members OF th'
" Zoning Committee at a lunch
an in the duBarry room, Hotel du-
ont at 1915 o'clock this afternoon
2 was introduced by Alexa nder r
brahams. City Councilman, chair
an OF the local zoning committee
In the course OF his address. Mr.
hitten said "zoning is just n com
on sense plan OF city building"
Todays meeting. which Il is un-
arstood will be the last series held
part Of the publicity campaign in
Igurated by the ZoAng Committee.
as attended by seventy or more res
lents. representatives OF City Coun-
!, the Chamber of Commerce and
her organizations.
Mr. Whitten has been engaged In
le coming movement for the past
n years. Among the cities in
hich he has prepared zoning plans
ind their population are: Cleve-
md, o.. 100000; Indianapolis. $50
90; Providence. r. l.. 100000; CO.
bia, o., 100000; Atlanta. Ca.
10000; Dallas. Texas, 10000:
lakewood, o.. $4,000; Richmond.
nd. $4,000; Cleveland Heights. O..
1000; West Park, o.. 10000: Bay
-illage, o., 1000.
In the course OF his address Mr..
Vhitten said in part:
Beginning with New York City
1915 the coming movement has
twenty-five cities have already
dopted zone plans and as many
lore have plans IN preparation. The
act Is that coming satisfies a long
elt want in city development. Here
fofore. home owners have consid-
red themselves helpless 10 prevent
he destruction Of the value Of their
Property through the coming OF a
Lmall store. public garage or steam
sundry. Since New York has point
the way home owners and prop
rty owners generally are insisting
hat the old wasteful and haphazard
method OF development shall cease
nd that a we'll considered plan shall
be laid down 70 guide future develop
nent
Local stores filling stations and
rarages convenient 20 the residence
ections are necessary but it is not
Necessary TO have them in every resi-
Hence block. or on every corner. III
arefuily selected store centers are
provided at about half mile inter
sis the stictly neighborhood needs /
or store facilities will he amply pro- /
| ided for Segregation in store
,enters increases values for business
purposes and conserves values in the 1
adjscent residence area.
Apartment houses are necessary, /
| but II is not necessary TO have them |
cattered all through the dwelling /
rouse sections. Adequate but care
iully limited areas should be pro-
ided for apartment house construc-
ion. and the home owners. in most
parts CT the city. should be relie~ed
Of the menace OF having a huge
| partment house erected in their
block or next TO their property.
Moreover. in the areas in which
partment houses are permitted. flu
urc buildings should he required
o be built back in line with the ex-
sting dwellings. They should not
he permitted TO project to the side
walk line. cutting off light. air and
view from the neighboring build
ngs. m fact. the maintenance OF
the existing building line in built
up sections and the establishment
OF a building line back OF the side
walk line in the as yet undeveloped
areas should he required as a par;
OF the zoning in all dwelling and
apartment house sections.
Under a zoning plan adequate
areas must he lid out TO take care
OF the normal expansion Of the
central business district and OF the !
industrial districts. This requires n
most careful study and estimate Of
probable future growth and de-
Moreover. provision must be
made for the amendment Of the
coming plan from time to time to :
correct mistakes in the original :,
plan and 10 take care Of future
changes that cannot now be fore
seen.
1T should be remembered that :
,oning is not retroactive. IL does
Tot require any change in any ex- =,
sting use or building. II refers TO
lew buildings and to radically al "
cred uses OF existing. buildings. The .
o-cailed non-conforming' building !,
s allowed 10 remain until IL is torn
lown or radically reconstructed.
Under a zoning plan a dwelling
nay be erected in any part OF the
ity. An apartment house may be
rected in an apartment, business, "
r industrial district but not in a d
yelling house district. A store may e
e erected ir a business or indus Il
rial district. but not in a dwelling a
r apartment district. r.
"The enforcement OF the zoning d
rdinance is vested chiefly in the IT
inspector, who refuses to o
ssue a permit for a new building r.
nless it conforms in all respects Al
nth the zoning ordinance. In order al
. avoid unnecessary hardships in re
Individual cases, IL Is desirable to cl
rovide for a board OF zoLinE ap- b,
tals with powers to pass on border
ne cases and to vary certain pro- fo
isions where hardship would result It
I'd where such variation can be al q
'wed without injury TO the intent b'
nd spirit OF the ordinance. So
In working out a zoning plan II is 20
Tst necessary TO secure from the ce
tate Legislature an act authorizing pr
he City Council 10 prepare and en- ga
Ct a coming ordinance. This legis- m
'tion secured. a commission ls usu- eli
lly created TO employ the necessary W
'chnical advice and prepare ten va
tive plan. This work must be ex- In