New Britain herald., 1923-11-16
THE TALK ON ZoNING.

THE TALK ON ZoNING.
 Flaviel shurtleff, who spoke on the subject of zoning last evening and whose remarks are given in the news columns today paid this city's intel Hgence the compliment of giving little time to the arguments in favor of if. He devoted most ofHhis time to explaining the procedure to obtain zoning plan. incidentally stating that because of the splcndid manner in which data had been placed on file in the assessors office here, New Britain is in position to avail itself Of zoninr advantages at far less cost than most cities. Tn" speaker moreover, took it for granted that where l2 members of the common council had signed resolution ask ing for a consideration of the zoning problem, as they have done here, it was evident that enough interest had been aroused to indicate some system would be at least considered which would mean it's probable adoption.
 The advisahility Of zoning the city was first presontcdfio the people of the city in these columns The argu- ments in favor of 1t have been em- 5 phasized repeatedly, The speaker of last evening stated that no better argument for zoning could he made than that of the resolution now in the hands of tho city plan commis- sion which summarizes and gives in detail these arguments ana facts.
 But one point which has not 'bogn emphasized properly was developed by Mir. shurtleff. and is thc point that should bo made impressive right now It has been said here that the 2oning plan should be adopted before prop rny values suffer any more than they have suffered because wc have no zoning system. The Herald since first suggesting the adyisability or planning the city with reference with the growth that was sure to come, has urged that there be no delay in sta bilizinr property values But The Herald not being zoning expert as Mir. shurtlcT is. has not been in a position to makc Inc statements that he made last night. backing them up by figures and proven theories fa- mliar tn ''zoucrs" Such facts and figures and theories merely strengthen the conclusion that there is no time 10 be lost in adopting this plan. The speaker last evening emphasized inc fact that the city of New Britain is at exactly that stage Of its growth when zoning becomes most impor- tani Now is just thc time when the zoning plan will prevent inc arrival Of the very conditions here that zoning was designed io prevent
 Tbe population of the city was about G6 ono in 1920. By the law of "decreasing percentages" iH growth, tbp population in ta5O will be ioo,- GOO. Tn 1920 tho school population was approximately 10000. Tn 1850, by the same law. it wiH bo t7ooo, The objectionable things. the costly things to q city. which zoning pre- vents. come 10 city during the time t grows from municipality of GO. doo to 1oo. .op0.
 Thus il IS srrn that tbIs nationally known znning expert, after showing that New Britain has already ob- tained and has on file in inc assessors office information many cities have to 20 out and get before starting a zon- ing system, declares ths is just tht lime when New Britain will receive the greatest benefits from the plan Moreover he goes further and statei that we have already the small busi- ness districts, thc large residential districts and the Industrial district. properly located which, with, allow. ance for proper expansion. give US . plan already in existence 10 aid ir simplifying the establishment Of th' zoning ordinances.
 The expert semi-legsl information given by the speaker is invaluable This will be remembered by thos' who heard him when the time conei for preparing the zoning ordinance The courts will not allow "unreason able" restrictions. Those who listened 10 the talk know what the courts o the various states consider unreason able. Moreover the zoning ordinances must be made flexible enough to pro vide for amendment. It will not. il such case, stfie the industrial growti of the city.
 The points to be emphasized at thii time are that "a zoning ordinanc would net shEv stabiiize properi ralues but k<rA enhance them,