Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-23
TEXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Foreign Advertising Representatives


Several months ago the city commission appointed
q committee on parks, and that committee, starting its
work with. considerable enthusiasm, soon aseertaned
that as the result Of the fact Brownsville has no
zoning ordinance. and that no general plan for city
development has ever been evolved. they were hand.-
capped to such an extent that their efforts we're
almost useless. They discovered they had no sound
basis upon which to work and that any recommends
tons they might make would prove almost valuelass
so far as practical application is concerned.
The experience of the park committee has proved
conclusively the necessity which exists for city zoning
and planning IL Brownsville is to develop along mod
en lines. The industrial, commercial and residential
areas must be clearly defined with ample provisions
for future expansion. When this is done the city viii
have a solid foundation upon which to build, and the
cost would negligible in comparison with the direct
saving to the city in its improvement programs.
The Herald would suggest that the city commission
give this matter immediate attention. A committee Of
five, including one or more members Of the city cont
mission, should be designated to work out and presen.
. comprehensive plan for city coming. planning and
park improvement. Sufficient funds should be pro-
vided for expert and legal advice and the committee
provided with every facility to expedite the work. The
report should be carefully analysed by the city COM
mission and engineers and its acceptance ratified BY
a forum Of property owners.
In this connection il is interesting to note that
there is a growing conviction in the minds Of many
property owners that paving programs into what are
obviously residential sections should be revised. IN
q number Of zoned cities paving Of residential areas i
being cut to os- or 30-foot widths, leaving ample room
between the sidewalks and concrete curb for the plant
ing Of trees, grass plots or otherwise ornamenting the
streets in accordance with the modern idea for a resi-
Dental section. Many property owners take the view
that 40-foot pavements in the residential areas, where
the traffic Is only S or 10 per cent as heavy as in tire
business sections where the streets are the same
width. is not economy.
Another factor is that the wider pavement .eayes
no space between the curb and sidewalk for beautifi-
eation-a necessary adjunct to any residential area. II
would be more economical as well as good policy e
differentiate in the width Of paving in the residential
and commercial Of industrial areas, but this cannot be
done until the city has been zoned and a definite plan
for future development provided.
Brownsville possesses natural advantages which
could be made a very valuable asset. Soil and climate
combine to offer the city every possible advantage that
could be desired for a general Identification plan and
the development CT a system OF parks that would
make Brownsville the most attractive city in the South.
Rapid progress along these lines cannot be achieved
until definite plans have been formulated. and il
Brownsville is to retain its position as premier city of
the lower border there should be no delay.