The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-28
Z0NING BODY
IS APPOINTED
FOR BISMARCK
City Commission N a m e s
Seven Men on Committee
To Consider Plan For
City Growth
PURPOSE OF ZONIN(i
Authorized by>an Act of the
Last Legislature to Pro-
vide Future Growth of
Cities
PURPOSE OF ZONINi

Bismarck will undertake to lay out
a comprehensive plan for the future
development of the city through zon-
ing as authorized by law Of the
last legislature. The capital city is
blieved to be the first in the state to
make start toward zoning.
The city commission, in meeting
last night, received the recommenda-
tion of the board of directors of the
Association of Commerce that a coming
Commission be appointed to consider
the matter and to report to the COM
,mission, with the ultimate purpose Of
laying out plan for the city's devel-
opment. Members of the commission
urged by the A. of C. were c. l..
Young, chairman; Benton Baker,
Chris Bertsch, Jr., ]. p. Jackson, p.
c. Remington, E. A. Hughes and
George F. Will. The commission ac-
cepted the recommendation and for
mally named the commission.
Under the law the commission shall
investigate and consider the question,
shall make preliminary report to
the commission and hold public hear
ings. Only the action of the commits
sion, however, is final.
Purpose of Zoning
Cities of 5000 population or over
in 1920 may undertake the zoning
plan, the purpose being stated in. the
Jardine law of the legislature as fol-
lows: for the purpose of pro.
noting health, safety, morals or the
general welfare of the community, the
city council or city commission of
any city having population in ex-
cess of 5000 inhabitants by the fed
eral census of 1920, or by any subse-
quent federal census, Is hereby em-
powered to regulate and restrict the
height, number of stories, and size
of buildings and other structures, the
percentage of lot that may be SO oc-
cupied, the size of yards, courts and
other open spaces, the density Of
population and the location of build
ings, structures and land for trade
industry, residence or other pur-
poses. Such regulations may provide
that a board of adjustment may de-
termine and vary their application in
harmony with their general purpose
and intent, and in accordance with
general or specific rules therein con-
tained."
May Create Districts
It is provided the commission may
divide the city into districts of such
shape mad number best suited to
carry out the purposes of the act
and within such districts may restrict
the erection, construction, recon-
struction or use of buildings.
All this may be done, the law says.
'"in accordance with a comprehensive
plan" The commission may institute
proceedings to remove buildings in
accordance with the plan "and do
signed to lessen congestion in the
streets; to secure safety from fire,
panic and other dangers; to promote
health and the general welfare; to
provide adequate light and air, to
prevent the over-crowding of land;
to avoid undue concentration of pop
ulation; to facilitate the adequate
provisions of transportation, water,
sewerage, schools, parks and other
requirements. Such regulations shall
be made with reasonable consider
alton, among other things as to the
character of the district and it's pc
culiary suitability for particular
uses, with view to conserving the
value of buildings and encouraging
the most appropriate use of land
throughout such city,"
Fargo Wanted IL
When the measure first came up
in the legislature last winter Fargo
was particularly interested in it, be-
lieving that the city would grow rap
idly and that there ought to be Sec
tions assigned to certain types Of
buildings so that the growth wouid
be in accordance with the best inter-
ests of all. The act was made to ap-
ply to Grand Forks and Fargo, but
later amended on request Of repre-
sentatives of Devils Lake and Minot
who believed that every city should
undertake zoning while such q plan
could be made effective without in
convenience or loss to the city or in-
dividuals.
The commission, in it's meeting last
night, also received the report Of the
traffic committee and directors of
the Association Of Commerce, and the
matter was referred to a committee
composed Of Commissioners French
and Henzler and City Engineer At
kinson.