Evening star., 1942-03-22

not be called upon to spare the time from
their own jobs to keep in touch With the
commissions current work. On the other
hand, without keeping in touch With the
day to day deliberations OF the commis-
sion on the plan as . whole, they could
not intelligently pass upon the decisions
Of the commission In 50 far as they affect
their own activities.
S. Tho commissions activities should
be centered upon and confined to its true
function as planning body. The defini-
ton Of its activities in the law should be
revised 50 as to make it clear that all
other functions 1t performs are sub
sidiary to this one, and 1t should be re-
neved Of all administrative detail such
as the acquisition Of land for park pur-
poses.
The commissions work in the develop
ment Of the park system has been car
ried out with conspicuous ability and
should, Of course, be continued under any
form Of organization in 80 far as 1t re.
lates to the selection Of areas for park
purposes. The purely administrative de-
tails connected with the acquisition OF
these properties Is not necessary or ap-
propriate part Of its functions and must
necessarily consume the commissions
time at the expense OF its true function.
Zoning and Planning.
6. All planning functions including
coming should be carried out by or
under the direction Of the commission.
Planning cannot be done piecemeal;
one plan must include all fields Of land
use control Zoning Is planning, and
as planning should be done by the same
body which does the rest Of the Job.
7. The public should be given full in
formation regarding the work Of the
commission and its studies, particularly
in the preliminary stages. Frequent
public hearings should be held In which
the citizens Of the city may have an
opportunity to express their views on
proposed developments and the publica-
ton of an annual report setting forth
at length the status Of the commissions
work and of the developments under
consideration at the time of its prepa-
ration should be made obligatory.
Nothing is more important than that
the public at large be kept informed Of
not necessary that all sessions OF the
commission should be open, but 1t is i'm
portant that their decisions should not
become final and crystallized without
having run the gauntlet Of public opin-
ion and having the benefit Of all the
light that can be thrown on the prob
lem.
8. The commission should be given
ample appropriations for the employ
ment of q greatly enlarged technical
staff of highly qualified planners (for
the time being and until the general plan
of the city and, its environs has been
given the most thorough study. approx
mately 10-fold its present force.
If the Park and Planning Commission
is supposed to do job, 1t must be given
the tools through which the job can be
accomplished. Meager appropriations
for this purpose merely waste the pub
lie money to no purpose.
Statistical Stan Needed.
9. The commission should be given
funds for and authorized to employ
trained. experienced statistical force. 50
that its conclusions may be soundly
based on dependable information.
The great difnculty and problem in all
planning is not finding out what the
answer is, but finding out what the
question is. Without accurate knowledge
Of existing conditions, 1t IL impossible
to devise satisfactory remedies for exist
ing evils. The invaluable information