The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-07
ZON|NG MEASURE SURVEY |S SOUGHT.
Wynn Will Seek Action Be- fore City Board On Nam
 ing Commission

Appointment of a commission to act for tho city in a survey of Bir- minghau prior to the compilation of zoning ordinance is a matter City Attorney W. J. Wynn will take up with the city commission at an early date.
 At the recent adjourned session of the legislature an enabling act was passed under which Birmingham has been given power to pass zoning ordinance. Senator Walter s. Brewer of Jefferson county succeeded in get ting the act through the legislature. It leaves the direct structure of the new law in the main with the city, the act simply giving the city author lty to pass such an ordinance.
 As the subject has developed, city officials stated Tuesday, it's poten- tialities are seen to be so far reach ing that precipitate action was seen to be Ill advised Despite the prob- ability of some objectionable struc- which desire to maintain given identity, there will be no haste in putting through a measure of such far reaching effect on the develop ment of the city.
 Assistant City Attorney W. A Jenkins, who has been giving some thought to the matter, stated other cities had found it desirable in hand ling their zoning laws, to call in experts and make a most thorough survey of the municipalities before passing laws that would in no small m easure effect the trend and char acter of their development.
 An official of the city hall, discuss ing the subject, cited the expert in the employ of the Bell Telephone company, who came to Birmingham seven years ago, spent many weeks studying the community, and, as an example of his work. pointed out five years in advance that there would be 8 community with houses ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 in value be- tween Avondale and Woodlawn. This was actually several years before a tree was cut or a line was run in what is today the attractive com munity known as Avonwood. The telephone company did not buy an inch of land there, but kept its coun- sel and made preparations, so that when Avonwood arrived telephone service was ready among the first conveniences.
 Must Employ Experts.
 Such experts as the one mentioned, it is said, the city must employ to lay out Birmingham, not as 1t is, but as 1t is going to be. Changes such as the moving of the paramount resi- dence district to a point two or three miles away, as was the case in the exodus from Fifth avenue to the southside, must be foreseen and pro- vided for.
 MT. Vim said certain recommends tion will be made by the legal de- pertinent to the city commission be- fore long and that in the progress of the work Birmingham will be plotted like blueprint.
 Acts of the recent session of the legislature were due to arrive from Montgomery, November 1, but as yet they have not been received. The enabling act which may have under gone changes at the last moment as was the case with other Legislation, will appear in its final and authen- tic form in the official copies, and until these arrive copies of earlier drafts now on hand are discounted.
 One thing is certain and that is the creation Of zoning commission to prepare data and consult about the things that must be done before the city takes decided action or passes a zoning law at all.
 The city commissioners are holding the whole subject entirely in abey- ance until definite communications are received from the legal depart ment. In the meantime, the member ship of the zoning commission has arisen as a live topic of discussion in the city hall and various names are being considered for membership.
 It was said Tuesday morning there was possibility of the subject coming before the city commission at its next regular session, and assuredly before the next succeeding meeting.