The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1945-10-19
Zoning Enforcement

When the problems OF coming and civic planning
are considered in the abstract, the great majority
Of Pascagoula's citizens apparently desire sound
and intelligent planning and a firm administration
of reasonable regulations.
1t is only when the problem Of intelligent
coming and planning Is moved from an abstract
and theoretical framework and is presented as an
actual responsibility of the city and its citizens,
recurring day-to-day administration, requiring
firm and vigorous decisions, and the occasional
necessity of voicing a firm mo" to individuals
who desire to break the regulations-it is only
then that the average person begins to lose his
intelligent grasp Of the problem, and is inclined
to slip back into old habits Of complacency, let
ting the problem OF city growth 20 on as it has in
the past, with trashy commercial buildings and
shacks and trailers springing up without regula-
ton, running potential avenues and residential
areas almost as soon as they have been cut out OF
the thickets.
Here in Pascagoula we are now at an import
ant crossroads in the history Of the community,
and the average citizen is going to have to wake
TO the fact il he expects to have any intelligent
say in the course that is to be followed.
There was little or no city planning during
the stress and excitement OF the war years,
when the major problem of housing and feeding
thousands OF workers made manv other problems
of intelligent civic planning and administration
seem unessential But unfortunately practices laid
down during war years have a tendency to per-
petuate themselves in the times which follow.
Shacks and sheds which are erected as tempo
rary structures in stabilized business districts re-
main as permanent handicaps dragging the rest
of the neighborhood gradually down TO their
elevel And the lax habits Of the city administra-
,tion in permitting building to 60 on almost with
out restriction, tend to carry over into the post
war years, as the city slides farther and farther
away from a line Of intelligent growth and de-
gvelopment.
AS President Truman remarked of our nation
III responsibility in connection with Pearl Harbor,
this state of affairs is in some degree the fault
of everyone. But simply stating that does not end
THE problem. If this community is actually to
move toward the goals % realized opportunity
and self-improvenent which he hear about over
and over again in speeches, then both the cleo
-torate and the city administration are going to
have to make an actual approach to the prob
lem, and without delay. Sailing and speech
making on this question is the height of futilty.
AS we stated last week, potentially beautiful ave.
nues like Market street are deteriorating day to
dav before our eyes, and q beautiful and useful
recreation building, brand new and empty, stands
as a monument to our civic laziness and self
Adelusions. No experimenting will stop a creep
Ing slum from taking over a neighborhood or an
entire district. A community either does a thing
{ or 1t fails to do it. Right now when business is
actiye and work is plentiful it may not seem to
matter so greatly what Il happening to Pasca-