Newspapers / Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, … / Feb. 17, 1946, edition 1 / Page 4
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four-a____ YOLK WIOHXiTOX TODAY (Continued from Page One) glaring one, was the lack of mu nicipal regulations insuring physi cal development of property 'n a protective and orderly manner. No Time During War There was no time, during the rush of building ships housing soldiers’ families, to stop the sho and change scenery in the middle of the act. Bui the realization did set some substantial citizens to some serious post-war thinking. Among these was the late Mayor Bruce B. Cameron, Sr„ a man who long had envisioned a Wil mington of 50,000 population and an important commercial and trading center for a vast area of Norrh Carolina. City planning had been discussed here before the war, and when Cameron took over is chtel executive of the City council, talk of planning wa5 revived. As the problems induced by a war- swollen population increased, Mayor Cameron and City Manag er A C. Nichols began the first discussion which ultimately led to creation of a City Planning board. As the late mayor envisioned the board’s job, it was to insure that the full scope of Wilmington’s post-war potentialities be explored. Out of that exploration has come bold, decisive action. Step one. as a previous article ef this series has related, was the retention of an expert planning consultant—a specialist in the field ©f city planning and municipal economic development. The man retained was George W. Simons, Jr., of Jacksonville, Fla., an au thority in his field, with a striking. Jy successful record of achievment In a dozen or more Southern cities His first commission, entered in. to by contract with the city in February of last year, was to pre pare for the city and its Economic Development committee a survey of the city and its economic de velopment possibilities. That work was completed and delivered to the city in December. A Master Plan Phase No. 2 of the contract in structed Simons to prepare a study of the City of Wilmington, and to chart in detail a comprehensive master plan for its future physical development. To be included in the master plan were complete data concerning the following subjects: 1- Streets and highways. 2- Traffic movement and control, including parking. 3- Parks and recreation. 4 - Neighborhood development (the re-arrangement of existing urban areas into definite neighbor hood patterns.) 5- Utilities, including water, seW' •rage, drainage, gas, light and power. 6- Waste collection and disposal 7- Land-use patterns, including i recommenaea zoning plan anu ordinance regulating use to which the land may be put) 8- Transit facilities, urban and :n terurban. 9- Public buildings of the city, county, state, federal government, hospitals and schools. 10- Housing facilities. 11 . Transportation. including terminals and loading facilities for water, rail and air. 12- Bridges and viaducts. 13- Fire and police protection. 14- Civic art and civic center. 15- Fiscal pattern and assess, ment practices. Simons asked for, and. was aranted 18 months in which to complete the two projects. One has been delivered. The master plan, now being compiled into book form with maps and charts, will be laid before the City council and the Planning board about June 1, next. One Phase Completed One phase of the master plan, a proposed zoning ordinance, has been completed and only last Wednesday it was submitted to the City council—not for action, but to obtain council permission for the Planning board to begin a series of neighborhood hearings around the city to acquaint the peopl9. with the instrument, a n d to get public reaction to its proposals. Because zoning for the future—and that’s what part seven of the mas. ter plan provides—has a profound effect on every taxpayer’s physi cal property, the Planning board and City council are not in a great hurry to adopt the recommen dations, or modifications of them. The future of the city, insofar as its physical development is con cerned — and hence its economic health—is at stake. A good zoning ordinance is essential. A poor one can be as disastrous as none at all. To chart > sound zoning pro. gram a lot of preliminary work [has been necessary. That’s why the city readily decided to spend $13,000 for a master plan prepared by an expert. When the plan is complete, the city expects to have in its hands a comprehensive out line, fairly complete in detail, of every last factor and trend which have produced the physical city as it exists today. A great many Wilmingtonians have known for years that the city was developing in a hap - hazard manner. One result has been tc send thousands of city dwellers in to the suburbs. Another has beer the gradual depreciation of proper ty values in certain districts—dc predation which in too many in stances resulted in property goinf to rot because the owner could no' get from It an income commensu rate to its assessed valuation. Stil another result has been the ruin ation of fine residential districts by indiscriminate commerciali zation of nearby property. That was happening until quite recently primarily because there wag no’ legal way to prevent it. The practice, extended over the years as it has been here, has resulted in a general depreciation of real estate values in some districts and an abnormal increase in others. A Cost to Everyone And m the long run, everyone has had to share the piper’s bill. The non - owner of property may have thought he was escaping the penalty of a tax bill, but a college sophomore economics major could cite the fallacy of the reasoning. And the property owner was tak ing it squarely on the chin every time the tax collector . came around. It was a vicious circle— a circle, it might be added,, from which the city isn’t yet freed. A sound zoning ordinance will go a long way toward stabilizing property values. It has in other cities; cities larger and smaller than Wilmington. Sound zoning has helped pull many an American city from the prospect of com munity-wide decay. Whether Wil mington was, or is today, near a state of community decay insofar as property values are concerned is not important at this moment. ■What doe:; matter, though, is how stable its real property values will be five, 10 or 20 years hence. Proper zoning ordinances can be a powerful factor in that stabili zation. The proposed ordinance Simons has presented to the city, based on the surveys being compiled for the master plan, divides the city into seven zones. Wisely, the pro posed ordinance, follows a general pattern already prescribed by uses to which property in each zone is currently being utilized. Using code designations for a key to the seven zones, Simons’ j recommended ordinance provides for the following: 1 R-l AA Single family towel ling) district: An area or areas where a single residence occupied a lot of not less than 10,000 square feet. R-l A Single family (dwel ling) districts: Where a single residence occupies a lot of ap proximately 5,000 square feet. R-l Single family (dwel ling) districts: Where a single residence occupies a lot of approximately 3,000 square feet. R-2 Mutiple family (dwel ling) district: Where a single roof covers two or more self contained dwellirgs; ie., dup lexs, flats, apartments. C-l Commercial district (retail). M-l Light industrial district (wholesale and light manufac turing) . , M-2 Heavy industrial district. A map of the city, with eac! IBi!ilB!»!BfB!ii!B!!l!B,!liaiillBliilB!IIIB!!!B!i!!Bill of the above zones indicated by key number, has been prepared by Simons to guide the Planning board and council in adoption of necessary ordinance to establish a sound zoning program. Whether the key map will be adopted as prepared, or whether the forthcom ing public hearing and subsequent council deliberations will material ly alter it remains to be seen. It is, as one zoning minded realtor said, “at least a good start.” Interim Zoning Law Members of the Planning board, currently functioning under the handicap of an inadequate interim zoning ordinance, are going to great pains to assure one and all that the contemplated permanent ordinance will not force a change in use of any existing structure —so long as it remains in its use. Someone started a rumor to the effect that the zoning ordinance, if adopted, would require all non forming dwellings or establish ments to close down or move into a zone in which the use did corn form. Idle talk, says H. R. Emory, chairman of the board. As envisioned by far-sighted bus iness and industrial leaders, and supported by real estate men who know the value of sensible zoning, a sound zoning ordinance can and will be a tremendous asset to the city. They are thinking in terms of years to come, and while not altogether prepared to sacrifice their own or anyone’s property values today for a long-range pro hlilBIIIBiLaililBlBIIIIBIIilBlillBililBlllBilllBilIB, gram, these zoning-minded men see danger signs ahead without the protection of adequate ordinance. What, for instance, they ask, is there to prevent an objectionable business or manufacturing plant to move into the heart of any one of a half dozen highly desirable residential neighborhoods? What, they ask, is there to enjoin a neighbor from opening a garage, an all-night cafe or what-have-you next door to your home? Wilmington, its leading citizens are determined, is going to grow. An era of industrial and economic expansion seems reasonably cer tain to include Wilmington in its plans for the next decade or more. Controlled growth along uniform lines is highly desirable; and with that argument there can be no serious difference of opinion. For more than 200 years the city developed pretty much as the trends of the times influenced it. The results, while not irreparably damaging, have not always been desirable. A good zoning ordin ance and earnest cooperation from the citizens at large should insure a stable future development of the city. A lot of business men think so and they’re ready to back their conviction to the limits of their financial stake in Wilmington and the city they believe it can and will be. BRUNSWICK NCEA COMMITTEES SET Committees from the Brunswick county unit of the North Carolina Education association last week were appointed to serve in 1946 during a meeting in Bolivia, pre sided over by Glenn M. Tucker, president. Attending trie meeting were mem. hers of the Brunswick county NC EA council, including three new members, Mrs. Deane B. Eakins, Leland, Mrs. Muriel Lennon, South port, and Miss Bertha Reid, Bo livia. The fallowing committees were appointed; Professional service; Mrs. Rena L. Joyner, Southport, chairman; Miss Bertha Reid, Bolivia; Mrs. Louis Tweed, Shallotte; Mrs. J. Elmore, Waccamaw school, Ashe, and Mrs. Dean B. Eakins, Leland. Legislative: Mrs. Guy McKeit han, Waccamaw, chairman; Mrs. Ruth Hood, Southport; Mrs. Madge Bell Smith, Leland; Miss Bertie Eolden, Shallotte, and Mrs. Frances Holden, Boliva. Federal aid: Henry Stone, Shal. lotte, chairman; Mrs. E. M. Mc Eachern, Southport; Miss Marie Hammond, Leland; Mrs. Muriel Bennet, Waccamaw, Ashe, and Mrs. Ora G. McKeithan, Bolivia. Public relations: Mrs. Margaret Martin, Leland, chairman; C. M. Byrd, Southport; Mrs. Muzette Arnold, Shallotte; Miss Williams, Waccamaw, and Mrs. Margaret Hall, Bolivia. Membership: Mlrs. Elizabeth Lewis Johnson, Bolivia, chairman; Mrs. Annie Weeks, Southport; Mrs. Laura C. Muckle, Waccamaw; Miss Ruth Floyd, Shallotte, and Mrs. Mildren Peterson, Leland. Planning and resources: J. T. Denning, Waccamaw, chairman; Mrs. Thelma Willis, Southport; Mrs Sara Smith, Shallotte; Mrs. Louise Janes, Leland, and Miss Alice Watkins, Bolivia. CARNEY, STRANGE PRAISED BY PARTY (Continued from Page One) members of County Boards of Elec tion to be made by the State Board of Elections. “We in New Hanover county think that we have had for years the best County Board of Elections in North Carolina and we do not want any change made therein, at least as to the representatives of the Democratic party, and, there fore, it gives me much pleasure to recommend the reappointment of Messrs. H. G. Carney and Robert Strange. “I will appreciate your forward ing his recommendation to the State Board of Elections.” Following receipt of Haskett’s recommendation, the State board is scheduled to make the appoint ments on March 1. The primary this year is Satur day, May 25. Free For Asthma During Winter If you suffer with those terrible at-, tacks of Asthma when it is cold and damp; if raw. Wintry winds make you choke as if each gasp for* breath was the very last; if restful sleep is impos sible because of the struggle xo breathe; if you feel the disease is slowly wear ing your life away, don’t fail to send at once to the Frontier Asthma Co. for a free trial of a remarkable method. No matter where you live or whether you have any faith in any remedy under the Sun, send for this free trial. If you have suffered for a lifetime and tried everything you could learn of without relief; even if you are utterly discour aged, do not abandon hope but send to day for this free trial. It will cost you . nothing. Address Frontier Asthma Co.. 146-T Frontier Bldg. 462 Niagara Street, Buffalo 1, New York |_ OFF TO THE SEVEN SEAS j Gaily be-decked with her freshly unfurled flags, the S. S. American Traveler, last of 19 ships of j her class built by the North Carolina Shipbuilding company for the United States Lines, sieamea j down the Cape Fear river Saturday, formally delivered to the steamship company. She is scheauiea to join other U. S. Lines vessels built here and now in overseas trade. ._.___ I I OYER 108 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE To Wilmington and Eastern North Carolina enables us to give you an unparalleled background of experience in aid ing you to solve your repair and maintenance problems in either i MARITIME O R INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES h WILMINGTON IRON WORKS, Inc. Foot of Orange St. Dial 2-3494 $ NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERs'oT' ZONING HEARINGS The City Planning Board wishes to announce th first part of a series of hearings for the purpose of discussing the preliminary zoning plan for the citv Property owners and residents are respectullv invited to attend the meeting pertaining to their area or aren as- follows: Tuesday, February 19, 1946 8:00 P.M. New Hanover High School For that part of the city bounded as follows: 13th Street on the west Burnt Mill Creek and the old city limits line to the east City limits lines to the north and south ★ Wednesday, February 20, 1946 8:00 P.M. Hemingway School For that part of the city bounded as follows: 13th Street on the East Dock Street on the south Cape Fear River on the west City limits line on the north Thursday, February 21, 1946 8:00 P.M. Tileston School For that part of the City bounded as follows: 13th Street on the East Greenfield Street on the south Cape Fear River on the west Dock Street on the north WILMINGTON CITY PLANNING BOARD _buy IT. S. VICTORY BONDS-^ I HAVE ALL THE HOT WATER . YOU HEED... WHEN YOU HEED IT! /•l5318tB8Mi| automatic EATER $6.50 Down Bal. Monthly Usual Carrying Charge ve plenty of hot imart automatic e gives greater ncy. Thoroughly baked-on white ed by A. G. A. 42x3545 (Page 259) 183 Lbs.59.98 I MEDICINE CABINET 470 Wall type. Sturdy wood in glistening white enamel finish. High-grade, spot resistant window glass mirror. 13 1-2 x20 inches. Metal framed door Two double strength glass shelves* 42x3814—13 Lb.4.70 Convenient Indoor Chemical TOILET Acid and Stainproof 1249 Inexpensive, sanitary indoor toilet for homes without plumb ing. Vitreous china glazed bowl and removable inner pail. Acid and stainproof. Easy to clean. 16 inches high, takes only 24x36 inches floor space. White seat and cover. Gives years of serv ice. Gallon disinfectant includ ed. 42x4904—60 Lb.12.49 SEARS ALL STEEL FURNACE Efficient, Economical To Operate $8.50 Di'Wn 20-In Bal. Monthly Fire Pot M usual Cairying W Charge Extra strong for long service. Gets.all the heat from fuel. Gas-tight body, radiator. Automatic damp er stops smoke from puffing out of firing door. W aist high grate handle eliminates stooping, cranking, dust. Grate adaptable to burn any fuel. We arrange or ana finance installation. Sears Has A Complete Line Of AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLS J Easy Payments On Purchases of $10.00 or More ■
Wilmington Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Feb. 17, 1946, edition 1
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