HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm Records 040804a
Eovembor 27s 1939
e
F,%Jor F. A. Woods
city no-Buor
City of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dear "Art .
I would like to kmve auy information v is h you may be
eble to give me on the problms of oity plannInCe ard also
advioe on Vie Ccct •
Verj truly youra s
J. I~, Binnoys mayor
city or Calloge ~ station
College stations Tazas
AMERICAN SOCIETY
OF PLANNING OFFICIALS
NEWS LETTER
TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN LAND AND COMMUNITY PLANNING
Vol. 5, No. 11 1313 EAST 60th STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
PLANNERS NEED TO KNOW-
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In our opinion (which is undoubtedly preju-
diced), members of the planning profession and mem-
bers of planning commissions in all levels of gov-
ernment ought to be concerning themselves with a
number of important matters among which are:
(a) Planning Personnel. Where are the plan-
ners coming from? What education should they have?
What experience should they have had before they
can assume directive positions? What education
should a man have had before he is permitted to
take a civil service examination? In a number of
recent instances, civil service requirements for
applicants have insisted that the applicants be
graduates of recognized schools of planning or re-
cognized schools of architecture or engineering,
and in most cases they have failed to state "or
equivalent." This means that some of the outstand-
ing planners in the United States would not be
permitted to apply for the examination.
Is there something about the profession of ar-
chitecture or engineering, as it is taught in many
of the schools, which makes a man more competent
to be a director of a large planning office with
many administrative duties than a man who has grad-
uated in political science and public administra-
tion, but who has taken courses in planning or ar-
chitecture or engineering?
At any rate, it is important that there be
developed some standards for admittance into the
profession of planning.
(b) Housing. Just how much information do we
have to have before a housing project can be prop-
erly located? Does the real property inventory
provide suitable information? Or, more particular-
ly, can a suitable housing program be developed by
merely following the requirements of the USHA? Is
it possible to have a well-rounded and adequate
housing program without first having a community
plan?
This is not criticism of the present housing
program. Conditions are so bad in most of our
large cities as to practically preclude error in
the location of many of the first projects. In
other words, one can gamble on the fact that so
much rebuilding has to be done as to make possible
the proper accidental location of housing projects.
NOVEMBER, 1939
This is admittedly a precarious manner in whicb
to handle a housing program, particularly when it
is extended, as all friends of housing hope it
will be.
(c) Zoning. What are we going to do about the
zoning of property in the rural and urban fringes?
Do we have sound zoning when the excessive land
subdivided into lots, land which probably never
will be used for residential purposes, is placed
in a residential area? Aren't we merely avoiding
the real issue? Have we set up any suitable stan-
dards to provide for large-scale housing develop-
ments in the better residential neighborhoods, or
are we going to continue to amend our zoning or-
dinances in each instance if we think that the par-
ticular project will do no harm?
(d) Public Works. And do we really have enough
information on which to base public works programs?
Interesting experiments in the development of pub-
lic works programs are being conducted by the VRPB
in a number of American cities. These experiments
make no attempt to appraise the planning in the
community. The experiments may prove, although we
have no way of knowing what they will prove at this
time, that we could have better public works pro-
gramming if we had sounder planning to serve asthe
basis for those programs.
How can we determine what the transportation
needs of a community will be if we have no know-
ledge of the probable future street facilities?
How can we determine what the future sewer and
water needs will be if we have failed to establish
a density pattern which will tell us how many per-
sons have to be served at some future time by these
facilities?
What is the first question that John Doe asks
when he is appointed a member of a plan commission?
Isn't it, "What is nr job?" And isn't his second
question, "How do I go about doing my job?" What
information is now available to answer either of
these two questions?
ASPO is preparing a zoning manual and a per-
sonnel manual which we hope will answer some of
these questions. ASPO would like the help of
our members in finding answers to all these ques-
tions. WHB
0_1%
WINTER PLANNING MEETING
The American Society of Planning Officials
will hold a discussion conference on planning
problems and administration in the city of Chi-
cago some time during January or February of
1940. Dates tentatively selected are January
18 and 19.
The conference will follow the procedure
used in two previous meetings, and will be lim-
ited entirely to discussion. There will be no
papers presented. This form of procedure seem-
ed satisfactory to all of those who attended
the previous meetings.
The time and place of the conference, to-
gether with a list of subjects to be discussed,
will be announced in a future issue of the News
Letter. In the meantime, we should like to
have from our members statements of pressing ad-
ministrative problems which the members think
could be profitably discussed.
ASPO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS
The Executive Committee of the American Society
of Planning Officials, consisting of President Ben
H. Kizer, Vice-President Harold S. Osborne, and
Messrs. Bettman, Buttenheim, and Tugwell, met in
New York on October 16. At that time a number of
important decisions were reached. First, it was
agreed to hold the National Conference on Planning
in San Francisco early in July, 1940, if necessary
arrangements can be made. Second, a winter dis-
cussion meeting of planning problems and adminis-
tration will be held in Chicago during January or
February.
The Executive Committee appointed a committee
to consider the creation of ASPO sections or chap-
ters, and another committee was appointed to bring
in a report on highway planning. We anticipate
that the ASPO highway committee will work jointly
with a committee to be appointed by the Institute
of Traffic Engineers.
The Executive Committee also authorized the
issuance of membership certificates to members of
the Society.
FALL MEETING OF A I P
The American Institute of Planners held its
fall meeting at Spring Mill Park, Indiana. The
program was arranged by vice-president Sheridan,
and was devoted to a discussion of local planning
with principal emphasis on the improvement of organ-
ization for local planning and the improvement of
planning technique.
On the evening of the first day a group of
about fifteen persons were gathered talking about
general matters. One of the younger men said, "Do
you mean to tell methat these are all the planners
in the United States?*, to which L. Segoe replied,
"There are not that many."
WHAT IS A BUSINESS?
An attempt was recently made in the California
legislature to amend the county zoning legislation
so that billboards would be specifically called
commercial enterprises and bepermitted in any area
where a commercial building existed. That attempt
was defeated, as outlined in the News Letter of
August, 1939.
Since that time we have had considerable cor-
respondence regarding the matter of business in
rural areas. On the magnificent Westchester County
Parkway one will find attractive gasoline stations.
These are unquestionably commercial uses, but they
have been so designed and so located that they are
not obnoxious; they are essential services for the
traveler. If the contention made in California is
correct, the mere fact of the existence of a gaso-
line station would open up such areas to billboards;
and if the contention is correct, billboards would
also have to be permitted wherever a farmer has
constructed a roadside stand to sell vegetables.
Model urban zoning ordinances have recognized
that there is a distinction between various com-
mercial and retail uses. It is just as important
that the distinction be kept in mind in rural zon-
ing, and particularly in any so-called "model rural
zoning legislation."
ANOTHER PLANNING PRIMER
Under the title of Your Home Town the New
Hampshire Planning and Development Commission,
through Frederick P. Clark, has prepared a commu-
nity development handbook which provides "non-
technical, understandable information on various
problems associated with development of a communi-
ty." The chapters deal with The People of the Com-
munity, Industrial Development, Recreation Business
Development, Residential Development, Traffic and
Transportation, Parks and Playgrounds, Provision
of Community Services, and The Community Financial
Plan. There is also an appendix which includes the
various planning and zoning acts in New Hampshire.
The publication is available at the price of 25¢.
90
L;ourLesy, wes4c rnca ocr
TRAINING LOCAL PLANNING TECHNICIANS
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Most of the states suffer from a shortage of
trained planning personnel. It has often been said
that many localities, and particularly the small
communities, would like to undertake planning pro-
grams if personnel were available to direct the
programs and develop the technical work. It has
also been suggested that city engineers in the
small communities might undertake at least part of
the work, possibly under adequate supervision.
Such a solution is admittedly temporary and has its
shortcomings. On the other hand, it is admitted
that many small communities cannot at the present
time provide the funds to hire full-time techni-
cians.
Aow are we to train city engineers and others
so that they know at least the elementary and ru-
dimentary principles of local planning? (Additional
training would also be welcomed by many planning
technicians.) One possible method which might be
investigated by state planning boards is through
vocational training programs under the George Deen
act. This act, adopted by Congress in 1937, appro-
priated 14 million dollars for vocational education
in the states. The money is given on a matching
basis against public funds provided by the state
or local governments or both, and the work is done
under the direction of the state board of vocation-
al education. One of the types of education is
public service training.
All education must be on the non-college level
but this does not mean that the education need be
on a lower technical level than that offered by a
college. It does mean that the education shall
contribute to useful employment and shall not be
designed merely to fit into an academic sequence
of courses. It is conceivable that such programs
might be undertaken under the sponsorship of the
state planning board as a public body.
State planning boards which are interested
should get in touch with their state boards for
vocational education to determine if such programs
can be developed. They are already operating suc-
cessfully in a number of states for the teaching
of policemen, firemen, waterworks operators, sani-
tary engineers, and other public officials.
COUNTY ZONING
IN MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA
Marquette, largest county in Michigan (con-
taining 1,196,800 acres, 1,738 square miles of
land), is the first county in the state to prepare
and pass a zoning ordinance, writes Stanley Wil-
liams, Executive Secretary of the Marquette County
Planning Committee, in the October Michigan Munic-
ipal Review.
Three areas - forestry, recreational, and un-
restricted - have been set up in the ordinance ap-
proved by the Board of Supervisors in August, 1938,
and by the Michigan Planning Commission in October
of the same year, in accordance with procedure pre-
scribed in the Michigan statute. There is strong
popular support for the ordinance in the county.
CALIFORNIA PLANNING COMMISSIONS
MUST NOW PASS ON SCHOOL SITES
Three new sections have been added to the
School Code of the state of California, having re-
ceived the approval of the Governor on June 7. It
is now required that school boards obtain the as-
sistance and advice of the local planning body
prior to the acquisition of new school sites, after
consideration of such factors as "conformity to
the organized regional plans, as presented in the
master plan of such planning commission having ju-
risdiction." A list of approved locations in order
of their merit is required to be supplied to the
governing board of each school district.
Section 2 of the new School Code is given in
full herewith:
"To promote safety to pupils and comprehensive
community planning it shall be the duty of the gov-
erning board of each school district before acquir-
ing title to property for a new school site to ad-
vise in writing the planning commission having ju-
risdiction of the proposed acquisition. The plan-
ning commission shall investigate the proposed
site and within thirty days shall submit to the
governing board a written report of the investiga-
tion together with recommendations concerning the
site.
"The governing board shall not acquire title
to the property until the report of the planning
commission has been received. If the report does
not favor the acquisition of the property for a
school site, the governing board of the school dis-
trict shall not acquire title to the property until
thirty days after the day upon which the commis-
sionts report was received."
FIELD SERVICE IN SOUTHERN STATES
Charles B. Bennett, ASPO field consultant,
devoted most of the month of October to a strenu-
ous schedule in Tennessee, Mississippi, and South
Carolina. Cooperating with the Society in arrang-
ing meetings were the Tennessee Valley Authority,
Department of Regional Planning Studies, the Re-
gional Office of the NRPB, the State Leagues of
Municipalities, and the State Planning Boards in
the territory visited. The meetings were attended
by mayors, councilmen, superintendents of schools,
city clerks, township supervisors, Chamber of Com-
merce executives, state officials, members of gar-
den clubs, private citizens, and planning officials.
Many letters have been received expressing
appreciation for Mr. Bennett's services and evi-
dencing effective stimulation on the part of our
field consultant.
In Tennessee meetings were held in Knoxville,
Sevierville, Dayton, Soddy, and Chattanooga; in
Mississippi at Columbus, Indianola, Greenwood,
Cleveland, Greenville, Vicksburg, Natchez, and
McComb. Mr. Bennett's schedule in South Carolina
called for nine meetings in nine cities in four
and a half days.
The field schedule for October will conclude
with meetings in a number of Georgia cities.
91
OON
1)
SOME USES FOR BASIC DATA IN A METROPOLITAN CITY
We have in the ASPO files a copy of a letter
written to a city official of a large Midwestern
city by the secretary of the city plan commission
of another large Midwestern city which we shall
call "City X."#
The subject of the letter is the basic data
obtained in City X by the city plan commission and
the uses which have been found for this data by
public and private agencies in the community.
City X was one of the first cities in the
United States to recognize and act upon the fact
that census tract maps are one of the most useful
tools in assembling information on community condi-
tions. Much study has been given to the tracting
method, and an improved technique has resulted.
The Census Bureau, the author of the letter states,
approved tracts of approximately 5,000 population
each. This practice has been followed, but for
local purposes it was decided that sub-census tracts
containing a population of approximately 1,000 had
greatly augmented usefulness. (For planning pur-
poses most studies should be on a block basis.)
The city's census data, by tracts and the local
subdivisions of such tracts, is now in daily use by
31 social agencies making up the Community Chest,
as well as by the municipal government. Among the
agencies specially mentioned are the medical asso-
ciation, the welfare department of the city, FHA,
HOLC, the zoning board of appeals, the public works,
police, fire, and traffic departments, the school
board, water department, private utilities such as
the electric, gas, telephone, and traction compa-
nies. A major beneficiary, it goes without saying,
is the city plan commission.
Although the letter which is the source of our
information does not go into great detail, regarding
surveys which have been made under the direction
of the city plan commission with federal emergency
fund assistance, City X was one of the first to ob-
tain CWA funds, and its community fact-gathering
and inventorying activity has been practically con-
tinuous during the last six
years. Its "land use, social
and economic survey" is one
of the best in the country.
Some of the values and
several of the uses derived
from this extensive surveying
and basic data gathering ac-
tivity are given herewith:
(1) It was discovered
that a large number of agen-
cies were furnishing services
in the same areas and even to
the same people. All cases
are now cleared through a cen-
tral office and each social
agency learns of the activity
of all other agencies with
respect to a given area or a
specific family. In thousands
of cases a family was receiv-
ing aid from more than one
agency; the most extreme case showed aid from nine
agencies.
(2) A study of juvenile delinquency showed
that the bulk of agency effort was in areas where
few juvenile problems occurred. Juvenile problems
are decreasing since community effort in this di-
rection has been re-oriented.
(3) Records of the water department were
checked against census data, and it was discovered
that between two and three thousand homes had been
using water for years without paying any fee. One
man had built several houses, piping water from the
first house to several others without a direct con-
nection to the street.
(4) A study of fire station locations was made
with reference to population, time distance to fires
from any station, checked against incidence, equip-
ment, etc. Fire equipment and personnel were re-
organized after the study.
(5) A study of the operations of police cruis-
ing car units was made, and the size of districts,
types of uses, incidence of calls were correlated
with other factors to achieve greater efficiency.
(6) Zoning changes were studied with a view
to determination of quantities of residential, com-
mercial, and industrial area needed.
(7) Such population factors as density, age
groups, race, were studied with respect to their
bearing upon new school locations, additions to
existing school plants.
(8) Two leading newspapers have published com-
prehensive community handbooks on phases of the
community's social, economic, and industrial con-
ditions, making extensive use of the community sur-
veys.
(9) The studies of population trends have in-
fluenced the location of telephone exchanges. The
electric and gas companies, traction company, etc.,
have utilized the existing community basic date in
developing the services which they supply to the
public. Market studies have been made and sales
campaigns premised upon fac-
INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT IS GAINING MORE
RAPIDLY IN RURAL AREAS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
11111 21111111
3,6331
1
■■fil 11111 35,12
,622
of Franklin included with towns
92
tual information.
In addition to the field
studies, employing the house-
to-house canvas, the city plan
commission has made a complete
tabulation and analysis of
records of every social agency
in the community, and has, in
addition, compiled and analyz-
ed for planning purposes the
records of the school board,
the juvenile court, the fire
department, the police depart-
ment, the traffic department,
and many others.
Some city plan commis-
sions cost each citizen as
much as the price of a cup of
coffee per year; others a
little more. P.O.
'ii'ame su¢,gliea upon re Guest.
PERSONALS
Alvah J. Webster,
for the past two years
senior project adviser of
the United States Housing
Authority, has been ap-
pointed director of re-
search of the Rhode Island
State Planning Board.
Dr. James H. Win-
stanley of Wenatchee has
been appointed to fill the
vacancy on the Washington
State Planning Council
caused by the death of
E. F. Banker.
Van Beuren Stanbery, formerly Executive Secre-
tary of the Oregon State Planning Board, and more
recently with the Pacific Northwest Regional Plan-
ning Commission, has been appointed Counselor for
Region 8 of the National Resources Planning Board,
with headquarters in Berkeley, California.
Frank McGrane, business man of Grangeville,
Idaho, has been appointed a member of the Idaho
State Planning Board.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Annual Report of the City Planning and Zoning Com-
mission for Period January r, z9?8 - Deco?•iber ?l_,
iq,~8 to the Honorable Mayor and Commission Counci,
City of Aew Orleans, Louisiana. 25pp.mimeo. Sub-
mitted by Anne Robinson, Secretary. (The Commis-
sion during the year changed from "E" Commercial
to "B" Residential an area of about seven acres
and changed from "I" Industrial to "B" Residential
an area of about 17.9 acres.)
Annual Retort of the Santa Clara County Planning
Commission, i9g8=2949. San Jose, California.; Ron-
ald Campbell, Planning Adviser. 24pp.illus.lith.
(This very attractive report lists the activities
of the commission during the ten years since its
creation in 1929, and in addition outlines more
specifically the work done during the last year.
The report is well illustrated.)
URGE SCHOOL PLANNING FOR BALTIMORE
Your Tax Dollar, bulletin of the Commission
on Governmental Efficiency and Economy, has recent-
ly recommended postponement of school building "un-
til the complete establishment and functioning of
the city planning commission," established by char-
ter amendment in May of this year.
We quote an excerpt from the Commission's bul-
letin: "The location of most of the new schools
built since 1920 and since 1929 as well, are now
shown to be in sections of the city where the
school-age population is declining."
CONFERENCE OF NATIONAL RESOURCES PLANNING
BOARD MEMBERS AND REGIONAL OFFICERS
On October 17-18, one of the periodic meetings
between National Resources Planning Board members,
Advisory Committee members, and Chairmen and Coun-
selors of the nine regional offices took place in
Washington. The meeting, under the chairmanship
of Frederic A. Delano, was opened by Charles W.
Eliot, end, Director, who outlined the present sta-
tus of work and described projected activities for
the year ahead.
The keynote of the conference involved ways
and means for making the field offices of the Na-
tional Resources Planning Board active regional
centers. Methods of perfecting the "clearing house"
function of the regional offices and of coordinat-
ing action programs of state and federal agencies
in drainage basin committees and otherwise occupied
a large part of the discussions. The work of sev-
eral regional enterprises and their relationships
to the National Resources Planning Board, such as
the Pacific Northwest Regional Planning Commis-
sion, the New England Regional Planning Commission
and the Tennessee Valley Authority were reviewed
by regional officers from these areas.
Mr. Milton Eisenhower, Coordinator of Land Use
Planning, Department of Agriculture, and Mr. John
C. Page, Director, Bureau of Reclamation, Depart-
ment of the Interior, appeared before the final
meeting of the conference to discuss the coordina-
tion of planning work of their departments with
that of the Board.
PLANNING AT AMA CONFERENCE
Planning played an important part at the an-
nual conference of the American Municipal Associa-
tion, just concluded in Chicago and attended by
representatives of 42 State Leagues of Municipali-
ties.
Director of the United States Budget Harold D.
Smith urged cities to employ the methods of the city
planners in solving their problems of housing,
blighted areas, zoning, recreation, and sanitation.
He stressed the opportunities of the Leagues of
Municipalities to contribute in meeting the plan-
ning needs of their local units.
Colonel Harrington, Commissioner of the WPA,
said, "I earnestly hope that long-term municipal
planning will become general throughout the United
States within a few years."
Maury Maverick, Mayor of San Antonio, Texas,
said he was seeking the right plan for San Antonio,
that he believed the people were entitled to health-
ful surroundings and that there was no reason for
slums. The culture of cities, he remarked, should
not be dead as is found in museums but alive to the
needs of the people; a social concept was the im-
portant thing.
In each of the several panel discussions plan-
ning came in for a share of the discussion.. Like
the City Managers' convention of a few weeks ago,
the Leagues and their municipal officials are talk-
ing city planning.
93
ALVAH J. WEBSTER
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER
Richard E. Saunders, Correspondent
Arresting Blight Encroachment: Some time ago, the
HOLC began cooperative work with local agencies in
one of the older residential sections of Baltimore
in an effort to establish a united front of home
owners, real estate operators, and home financing
institutions in rehabilitating the district and
arresting slum encroachment. The area selected is
known as the Vlaverley district. The initial step
in this program involved a real property survey
covering 1,700-odd residential structures. The ob-
ject is to induce property owners and financing in-
stitutions interested in the section to embark on
improvement work so as to raise the general stand-
ard. For its part, the city is being asked to im-
prove streets and to provide new park and playground
facilities. WPA workers were used in conducting
the survey.
So far, the real property survey has been com-
pleted and the material is being studied in prepar-
ation for its presentation to the property owners.
While final conclusions are yet to be drawn, an
analysis has demonstrated clearly that the plan
will be successful in halting neighborhood decay
if the necessary work is done. The HOLC expects
to set an example for other property owners by
bringing some of the houses that it has taken over
up to par. It has a big stake in the area, holding
mortgages on 160 pieces of property and owning out-
right 30 other houses taken over from distressed
borrowers following foreclosure sales.
Rural Housing: In alloting some 0800,000 to the
Montgomery County (Maryland) Housing Authority, the
USHA has taken preliminary steps toward the con-
struction of the first rural housing project under
its program. A series of locations have been se-
lected in Montgomery County, which lies just north
of Washington, D.C. According to the tentative
plans, there will be six white and six negro pro-
jects. Each project will comprise a community of
25 or 30 houses. There will be no large, multi-
family structures. Each house will have a couple
of acres of land. At the same time, this develop-
ment will not be rural housing in the true sense
of the word since it will not involve full-sized
farms. The County Housing Authority will own and
operate the projects. It is understood that the
USHA is now working on a project that will be com-
pletely rural in all respects.
highway Planning: In a recent address on the past
and future of the national highway system, Thomas
H. MacDonald, Commissioner of Public Roads, took
occasion to stress the importance of highway plan-
ning. After pointing out that we have passed
through the period of large mileages of new con-
struction and through the period of rapidly growing
road income, he stated that there has been a mater-
ial increase in the amounts necessary for mainten-
ance, administration and debt requirements. As he
views the problem, it is more necessary now than
ever to base new highway work on a complete know-
ledge of the factors involved in each particular
case. Among other things, he believes that high-
way planning studies should pay attention to the
relative usage of all classes of rural highways and
city streets by residents of cities and rural areas
for the purpose of determining the spread of bene-
fit afforded by highway improvements.
NRPB Activities: A nationwide study of long range
public works programming and capital budgeting pro-
cedures has been undertaken by the Public Works
Committee of the National Resources Planning Board
through a special. subcommittee. A review of methods
followed in those few communities where long-range
programming is practiced has been made, a tentative
manual of procedure on the subject has been prepared
from these data, and further studies are now under
way through a series of demonstration studies es-
tablished in seven other cities. The cities are
selected on the basis of geographic distribution,
and also with respect to size and type of govern-
mental structure. The cities where these demon-
stration studies have been established are as fol-
lows: Winchester, Massachusetts, and Nashville,
Tennessee, where reports have been completed; Kala-
mazoo, Michigan, and Dallas, Texas, where the re-
ports are now being discussed by the city officials;
and Fargo, North Dakota, Spokane, Washington, and
Sacramento, California, where the studies have only
recently been begun.
The membership of the Energy Resources Commit-
tee, which prepared the recent report on energy
resources, has been reconstituted. The committee
is now at work on the development of a long-range
planning program based on the recommendations in
the previous report. Broadly stated, the objective
of the Committee is the development of a coordinat-
ed national conservation policy toward the energy
resources, chiefly coal, petroleum, natural gas,
and water power.
Since the report of the Northern Lakes States
Regional Committee was transmitted to the President
in July, the Committee has been reconstituted.
Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, October 20, the Com-
mittee voted to instruct the Executive and Coordin-
ating Committee to lay out a preliminary program
of legislation to effectuate the recommendations in
the report. Additional staff has been provided by
the Cincinnati Regional Office of the National Re-
sources Planning Board to assist in this work.
CORRECTION
In the last issue of the News Letter in
this column we stated that the National Re-
sources Planning Board "consists of three mem-
bers and an advisory board of two." This
statement is subject to misinterpretation. The
Board itself consists of only three members:
Messrs. Delano, Merriam, and Yantis. At the
present time two advisers have been appointed:
Messrs. Ruml and Dennison.
94
'14~
Cl
PLANNING (INCLUDING ZONING)
LAW AND LEGISLATION
Prepared by Alfred Beffman
Variance Clause Cannot be Used to Permit A Use in
A Zone Contrary to the General Regulations of the
Zoning Ordinance and the M.ap:
Walton v. Tracy Loan & Trust Company, Supreme
Court of Utah July 1959), 92 Pacific Reporter 2d
724. The court held that the variance-hardship
clause did not grant to the Board of Adjustment the
power to permit a gasoline service station in a
zone in which, under the provisions of the zoning
ordinance and map, such use was not permitted.
The sound opinion of the court pointed out
that authorizing a use prohibited in the ordinance
would constitute the exercise of legislative power
and be beyond the power of an administrative board
like a board of adjustment; that the variance-
hardship clause authorizes permits for slight use
extensions, slight modifications in height or area
restrictions and the like within permitted uses,
but not allowance of a prohibited use.
Subdivision Regulation - Sufficiency of Notice of
Rearing - Court on Certiorari May Correct Defects
in Planning Commission's Procedure:
Matter of Rinear v. Clark Supreme Court of
New York, (June 1939 report citation not avail-
able). This case arose out of a controversy regard-
ing the use to be made of the former country estate
of Paul M. Warburg in the Town of Greenburgh, West-
chester County, New York. To carry out the desires
of the purchasers of that estate, proceedings were
brought before the planning commission for approval
of a subdivision plat and of a zoning amendment.
The questions fall under certain sections of cer-
tain New York statutes known as the Town Law.
The neighbors brought certiorari proceedings
to review the action of the planning board in ap-
proving the plat and zoning amendments. One attack
was that the notice of hearing was not adequate in
that it did not sufficiently identify the property.
The court held the description in the notice to be
adequate; besides the petitioners had attended the
hearing.
The statute provided, as a condition precedent
to approval of a plat, that streets be suitably
graded and paved, and that street facilities be in-
stalled in accordance with specifications of appro-
priate town departments, or that a performance bond
be furnished. The planning board waived the making
of the improvements and did not require the bond.
The court held that it was not completely clear
from the statute that when the improvements are
waived a bond must be required, but held that at
any rate the court could correct the defect by
modifying the decision. So the court proceeded to
require the performance bond and with that modifi-
cation affirmed the decision of the planning board.
The court also affirmed the decision on the
zoning amendment, but without stating either the
nature of the amendments or the reasons for approv-
ing them.
When is A Storage Garage A Part of the Main Build-
ing of an Apartment House?:
Selliguan v. Western & Southern Life Insurance
Company, Court of Appeals of Kentucky (March 1939),
126 S.W. 2d 419. The case was concerned with a
storage garage to be constructed adjoining an exist-
ing large apartment building in a restricted apart-
ment district. The ordinance did not permit any
such garage on the proposed location unless "con-
structed as a part of the main building."
Taking it for granted that the garage was pro-
hibited by the regulations in the zoning ordinance,
the owner applied to the Board of Adjustment to
permit the proposed structure as a variance. The
Board granted a permit upon two conditions, namely,
that the plan eliminate any entrance to a desig-
nated street and be architecturally harmonious with
the apartment building itself. The owner had his
architect draw up plans and specifications to con-
form with those conditions imposed by the Board.
Later desiring to escape from these conditions
and thinking that he could succeed in using the
provision which would permit a garage "constructed
as a part of the main building," the owner changed
his plan. Under the revised plan there was an en-
trance on the designated street and the architec-
ture did not conform. About 30 feet (a minor frac-
tion) of the wall of the apartment building was to
be used as one of the walls of the garage and a
door cut in this wall making an entrance between
the apartment and the garage, the roof of the ga-
rage was to be tied into this wall of the apartment
for the purpose of making a water-tight union, and
some of the steam and water pipes brought through
the wall into the garage. Except for this distance
of 30 feet, the garage would not be in any way con-
nected or in contact with the apartment building,
as there would be an open court between it and the
apartment beginning at the end of this 30-foot con-
tact between the two buildings.
The owner presented this revised plan to the
building inspector, who, innocently supposing that
it was the intention of the owner to carry out the
arrangement agreed upon with the Board of Adjust-
ment, issued the permit. The owner did not call
the building inspector's attention to the fact that
he was trying to break the arrangement he had made
with the Board. He proceeded to do some work under
the permit, when the Board heard about what had
taken place and issued a stop order, on which the
building inspector revoked the permit, which rev-
ocation was upheld by the Board. Then the owner
went into the courts.
The Court of Appeals (which is the highest
court in Kentucky) in a very able and clear opinion
decided that the proposed garage did not fall with-
in the expression "constructed as a part of the
main building," saying that some of the considera-
tions leading to this conclusion were that the a-
partment building could be torn down leaving the
garage standing; that the garage could be removed
with only slight disturbance to the wall; and that
the proposed garage was not structurally dependent
upon the apartment building and not actually an
integral part thereof.
95
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS AND REPORTS
REVOLUTION IN LAND. Charles Abrams. Harper &
Brothers, New York. 320pp. $3.00. (In-this book
the author states his philosophy regarding the
past, present, and future status of land in the
national economy, pointing out that because of the
present national haphazard lending policies the
federal government probably will become the owner
of a considerable part of the land in the United
States. The author recommends nationalization of
land. One excellent chapter shows the influence
of the large lending agencies on land policies.
There are sections of the book which proved
very confusing to this reviewer. The book will
provoke a great deal of thinking and considerable
disagreement. Positive generalizations are made
which are notable for their exceptions. On the
other hand there are a number of positive state-
ments which should have been made long ago.
"There is another fundamental defect in market
price as a measure of value for urban land. It is
almost invariably based on a hypothetical degree
of development, which could not possibly be trans-
lated into reality for even a substantial fraction
of the parcels in question, without creating so
vast an oversupply of rentable space as to demoral-
ize the market completely and destroy most of the
'value' imputed even to the few parcels whose actual
selling prices formed the basis of that valuation.8
Revolution in Land is a provocative and im-
portant book. WHB)
THESE ARE OUR LIVES. Federal Writers' Project,
Works Progress Administration. University of North
Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 1939. 421pp. $2.00.
(This is not a book on planning, but it will be
read by those planners who are interested in know-
ing how people live. The book consists of 35 case
histories of Southern families: tenant farmers,
industrial workers, and even some families on re-
lief. Far from being dry case reports, the stories
are all interesting and very human documents of
how people live. WHB)
MINNESOTA YEAR BOOK, 1959- League of Minnesota
Municipalities, 15 University Library, Minneapolis.
351pp.illus.charts. $5.00. (Unquestionably the
most comprehensive book published containing use-
ful information on the State and all localities
within the State. It contains chapters on taxes,
indebtedness, library statistics, playground and
recreation statistics, birth and death rates, a
description of all State offices, names of State,
county, city and village officials, etc., etc.)
FUTURE POPULATION; First Report on the Population
of Cuyahoga County. John T. Howard. Regional As-
sociation of Cleveland, Housing Center, The Mall.
September 1939. Publication No. 6. 44pp.mimeo.
maps,charts. (A very interesting study dealing
with population distribution and growth, popula-
tion density, race, age groups, and estimating the
future population of the Cleveland region.)
96
SOVIET HOUSING LAW. John N. Hazard. Yale Univer-
sity Press, New Haven, Connecticut. 1939. $2.50.
178pp.appendices,notes,biblio.index. (There have
been marry books on housing in Great Britain, Hol-
land, Germany, Scandinavia and Viehna. This is,
however, the first authoritative publication in
English describing the housing program and the
housing law of Soviet Russia. It will correct many
misconceptions. For instance, under the 1936 con-
stitution, private ownership of small houses is
permitted.
"Rent computations vary so as to make it pos-
sible for an occupant to meet all rent requirements
no matter what his wages may have been during the
past month. No one is to be evicted for failure
to meet a rent bill. The monthly payment varies as
the wages of the occupant vary. Rent may go up as
wages increase, but it will also fall when sickness,
accident, or some other impediment intervenes to cut
earning capacity."
This brief book will be found exceedingly in-
teresting and informative. WHB)
THE SKYSCRAPERS AND THEIR ALLIES ON LAND WATER AND
IN THE AIR. Ing. Picasso Renzo. (In Italian)
Arti Grafiche Caimo & C., Genova. 188pp.illus.
maps,charts. (An amazingly detailed comparative
study of traffic and transportation in New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and
Genoa, Italy. It contains many drawings in color
showing locations of passenger stations, bridges,
tall buildings, tunnels, various types of street
cars and busses, traffic lights, etc., etc.)
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY - GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. Jen-
sen, Bowen & Farrell, Engineers; D. Grant Mickle,
Head of Traffic and Transport Division. Ann Arbor,
Michigan. 1939. 103pp.maps,tables,charts. $5.00.
(Apply to Herman P. Hugenholtz, Secretary-Treasurer,
Grand Rapids Association of Insurance Agents, Grand
Rapids, Michigan.)
ARKANSAS WATER RESOURCES. State Planning Board,
Little Rock, Arkansas; L.A. Henry, Engineer-Direc-
tor. 1939. 92pp.illus.maps,tables. (A report
notable for its very excellent illustrations.)
SPECIAL REPORT OF TRAILERS AND TRAILER CAMPS. Karl
M. Tomfohrde, with the aid of WPA Project No. 15245.
Massachusetts State Planning Board, 24 State House,
Boston, June 1939. 64pp.mimeo,charts,maps,plans.
NEVADA STATE PARK, PARKWAY, AND RECREATIONAL AREA
STUDY. Nevada State Planning Board and Nevada State
Park Commission with cooperation of the National
Park Service; Robert A. Allen, Chairman of State
Planning Board, Superintendent of State Parks.
State Printing Office, Carson City. 1938. 80pp.
maps,illus.
ENERGY RESOURCES AND NATIONAL POLICY; Report of
the Energy Resources Committee to the National Re-
sources Committee, Ralph J. Watkins, Director.
Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. Jan-
uary 1939. 435pp.maps,graphs,tables. $1.00.
1
December 8, 1939
Dean Oibb Gilcrist, Chairman
Col. Ike Ashburn
Prof. S. R. Wright
Prof. Jack Finney
Prof. F. N. Hensel
Prof. W. Steel
Prof. J. T. L. IIc.New
Gentlemen:
The following is an excerpt from the minutes of
the City Council of the City of College Station, Texas, at
a meeting on December 7, 1939:
" A motion was made by Silcox and seconded by Orr
to aprrove the annointment by the I,Tayor of the following
men to serve on the City Planning Commission: Dean Gibb
Gilcrist, Chairman, Col. Ike Ashburn, S. R. `Yright, Jack
Finney, F. Hensel, and Lx-officio, F. "T. Steel and J.T.L.
.icNew. This Committee res also asked to serve as the Indus-
trial Development Committee." The anpointment of this
Industrial Development Committee was requested by Governor
0' Daniel.
=Ye feel that the oriz of this Committee will be
of vital imnortan.ce to the future welfare and growth of the
City of Jollege Station, Texas, as well as that of A.& iii.
College. It is our sincere hope that each of you will be
able to accept the appointment on this "Dommittee.
I am sending Dean Gilcrist the letter from ^over-
nor O' Daniel with reference to Tork of the Industrial Dev-
elopment Committee.
Very truly ;Tours,
J. d. Binney, ;!ayor
December 8, 19: 9
Dean 'ibb Cilcrist, Chairman
Col. Ike Ashburn
Prof. -S. R. 71ri 7ht
Prof. sack {'inney
Prof. f. Hensel
Prof. L. ',V. Steel
prof. . T. I. _"e New
;entlemen:
The following is an excerpt from the minutes of
the City Council of the City of ColieQe `station, Texas,
~~~~~iYd at a meeting on ')ecember 7, 1939:
A motion was made by -Wilcox and seconded by Orr to
apppove• the anpointmen.t by the L`ayor of the followi.rg men to
serve on the City Planning Comr,ission: Dean Bibb r7ilcrist, Chairman
71
'Vol. Ike Ashburn, S. R. `right, jack '
inney, 7. Hensel, and
x-officio, ;'T. Steel and J. T. L. 1,"cNew. 't'his committee was
also asked to serve as the Tndustrial Development Committee. The
arnoint- ent of this industrial Development Committee 1Vvas requeste~3
b., governor O' Daniel.
7e feel that the x;ork of this committee will be of
vital importance to the future ;i7elfare and -ro,F,,th of the "I"its; of
College Stati- n, Texas, as well as that of A. I.r. (Tolle}-e. It is
our sincere hope that each one of you rill be able to accept the ap-
pointment on this Committee.
I am sending Dean 'ilcrist the letter from. overnor
C' Daniel v:ith reference to orl~ of tl:e industrial "evelonment Com-
mittee.
7ery truly yours,
Yayor
DEJ? RTiV~+ ITT OF LANDSCAPE ART
December 14, 1939
Dr. J. H. Binnay
Campus
My dear Dr. Binnay:
Following our conversation of a few days
ago, I wish to formally advise you that I will
be very happy to be of any assistance in the
matter of city planning for College Station, Texas.
Sincerely yours,
F. TN. Hensel, Head
Department of Landscape Art
FWHATS
GIBB GILCHRIST, C. E.
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
December 16, 1939
Mr. J. H. Binney, Mayor
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Binney :
I ta'n.e pleasure in accepting your appoint-
ment as Chairman of t-ne City Planning Commission.
I have indicated to you personally this work will
require much time and study, but I feel sure all
the men you have named will be glad to give their
time to this movement, which is quite important.
Sincerely yours,
Gi Gi giSt
Dean of Engineering
GG:gb
G1BB GILCHRIST,C..E..
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
January 15, 1940
Mr. J. H. Binney
C a m p u s
Dear Air. Binney:
I am expecting to have a meeting of the
City Planning Commission this meek. The thought
has occurred to me that it would be highly in-
formative and quite beneficial if we had the re-
port from the Zoning Committee that is now under
consideration. I think the work of these two
boards or commissions overlaps in many ways and
needsto be co-ordinated.
In this connection, I sincerely hope that
the Board of Aldermen will not take any final
action on matters in which the Commission might
be interested until we do have an opportunity to
study them.
Very truce yours,
st
r ~ ~
1J
GIBB GILCHRIST, C. E.
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
February 22, 1940
Honorable J. H. Binney
Mayor of College Station
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Binney:
Some time ago you named me Chairman of the City
Planning Conmvission. Since that time I have been mak-
ing observations and studies and as I have advised you,
expect to have some meetings of the Committee as soon
as data is available for consideration.
I note that the City of Bryan is extending its
activities inside the City of College Station. I refer
to an extension of College Avenue to the Sulphur Springs
Road net-r the end of Spence Street. I have been in-
formed that the request has been made of the City of
College Station that approval be given this extension.
I should like to request that action be held in
abeyance until the City Planning Co.miission can consider
the proposal and make recommendation thereon to the Coun-
cil. Even if this location is found suitable, there will
be matters regarding width and so forth that should be
determined only by the City of College Station and not
by the City of Bryan. I wish, therefore, to request the
formal postpone.aent of action and that the City of Bryan
be notified to that effect.
f
•
i
(2) RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF COLLEGE STATION
It is highly important that the city be able to control the
layout of real estate developments both within and without the city
limits. I have looked into the Texas statutes concerning the matter
and it appears that at present the city has no power of control and
that a land divider, even in the city limits, can lay out lots, streets,
and alleys without regard to the rest of the city, the City Plan Com-
mission, or the City Council.
This can be remedied by calling an election to have the citi-
zens decide whether they wish to exert such control upon subdivisions
within the city limits and for a ..distance of five miles beyond the
limits. The procedure is outlined in Art. 974a, Section 10, Vernon's
Texas Civil Statutes, 1936.
In view of the real estate activity now in progress it is recom-
mended by the City Plan Commission that immediate steps be taken to
establish control.
Respectfully submitted,
, City Plan Committee
April 17, 1940
(3) RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF COLLEGE STATION
The City Plan Commission had a meeting on April 17, 1940, and
considered the question of the corporate limits of College Station on
the north and east, especially where the city is contiguous with the
corporate limits of the City of Bryan. It was the opinion of the com-
mittee that some steps should be taken toward a fair, just and equit-
able line of division between the two municipalities.
Pursuant to this opinion the City Plan Commission recommends
to the City Council as follows: That the City Plan Commission be
named by the City Council as an agency to co-operate with a similar
committee from the City of Bryan, having for a joint purpose the es-
tablishment of the corporate limits of the two municipalities in a
just, fair, and equitable manner; and that such line may be so fixed
that each municipality may proceed to develop with assurance that such
line will remain as an agreed solution as to the common boundary.
Respectfully submitted,
ir,pKn, City Plan Committee
April 17, 1940
May 17, 1940.
Dean U"ibb Gilchrist, Chairman
City Planning Board
College Station, Texas
Dear Dean Gilchrist:
At a recent meetii,g of the City Council the three recommend-
ations from the City Plan Commission were read. Your recommendation
for joint aotion,to determine the city limits of College Station with
Brjan, was adopted. I would like very much for your committee, with
Mr. Ernest Langford, a member of the Council, to represent the City of
College Station in arriving at a solution with regard to such a bound-
ary between the two cities.
Your recommendation regarding control of subdivisions was
adopted. An election will be palled to determine the wishes of the
community in this matter.
Your recommendation in connection with the Holiok Addition
was referred to Cdr. Langford, who has been appointed to recommend to
the Council in oases involving city planning, toning, eto.
We would like to thank you and your committee for these
recommendations, and assure you that your future activities along
these lines will be very helpful and very much appreciated.
'Very truly yours,
Frank G. Anderson
Cify of College Station
College Station, Texas
January 10, 1941
Mr. Gibb Gilchrist, Chairman,
City Planning Commission,
College Station, Texas.
Dear Sir:
You will recall that some time ago an election was held in the
City of College Station which resulted in giving to the City the right
to control the subdivision of land for a radius of five miles from
College Station except that part lying within the city limits of Bryan.
Under the law the City Planning Commission must adopt rules for
the making of these subdivisions after having had a public hearing on
the rules that the City Planning Commission may formulate. After the
public hearing the City Planning Commission then adopts the rules and
recommends their approval by the City Commission. Upon the approval of
the City Commission, said rules then become a of subdivision of the
new additions. I am, therefore, submitting herewith a proposed set of
subdivision regulations for the consideration of the City Planning
Commission. These rules are, I believe, entirely in keeping with the
requirements of the Federal Housing Administration to secure loans and
are in conformity with suggestions made by these various governmental
agencies on the matter of the subdivision of land.
Very truly yours,
McNees,
City Engineer.
JTLM/T
Encl.
"The lE-3[ome of the Texas Agricultural anJ Mechanical College"
DM~ART3MT OF ARCHITECTUR2
May 17, 1941
Dean Cibb Gilchrist
Campus
Dear Dean Gilchrist:
The City Council has asked me to pass on to the city
Planning Commission the problem of the proper sub-
division proposed by Dr. F. B. Clark for his develop-
ment of Southeast College Park. It is the desire of
the Council that the street which he calls Longhorn
Drive shall be a continuation of the street in front of
the home being erected by Professor 3. W. Steel, and that
all other lot lines, drives, and streets, shall be so ar-
ranged to accommodate all services which may be furnished
by the City.
The Council will be glad to have the recommendation of the
City Planning Commission as soon as that body may conven-
iently attend to this matter.
7t ry truly
Rrnest Langford
For the City Council
J
Honorable Frank Anderson
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Anderson:
College Station, Texas
'June 4, 1941
Enclosed please find a copy of Subdivi-
sion Regulations for the City of College Sta-
tion. They were considered Monday evening by
the City Planning Commission and are submitted
to you for action of the City Council. If
the Council approves, please advise me so that
inquiry in connection therewith may be properly
answered.
Enclosure.
M ri ffr jf, , Chairman
Planning Commission.
Very truly
-h 16
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
October 28, 1941
Honorable Frank Anderson
Mayor
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Anderson;
On June 4, 1941 I forwarded to you a copy of
the recommended Subdivision Regulations for the City
of College Station as prepared by the City Planning
Commission. I asked that they be presented to the
City Council, and if approved that we be advised so
that we might be governed by the provisions of the
Regulations.
At a meeting of the City Planning Commission
held yesterday to consider a subdivision request by
Dr. F. B. Clark, it developed that we had not yet
received formal notification of the City Council's
action. We had previously notified Dr. Clark that
he should secure a copy of the Regulations from the
City Council and be guided by them. The fact that
his plat does not conform to the Regulations caused
the question to be raised with the result stated.
Will you kindly advise what disposition the
City Council made of the proposed Regulations in
order that we may take up the question of Dr. Clark's
subdivision and give him the decision of the Com-
mission.
Very truly you
Gib~G11cWist,
Chairman.
Uotober 29, 1941.
Dean Gibb Gilchrist
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Gilchrist:
The question has b.en raised as to whether or
not 'Subdivision Regulations; as recomr:ended by the City
Planning Commission, has been approved and accepted by
the City Council.
For your inFormation, may I suggest that at
the Council meeting of June 12, 1941, kr. Langford present-
ed the recommendations of the City Planning Commission that
the ' Subdivision Regulations' , as recommended by the Com-
mission, be accepted. The recommendation was approved, and,
as suggested above, a record of the Council's motion will
be found in the minutes of the meeting of June 12.
The copy of the regulations, as presented by
Mr. Langford, is on file in this offioe. Sev,-ral carbon
copies have been made "or distribution to developers who
may be interested in familiarizing themselves wit4= the re-
gulations.
Vary truly yours,
drank G. Anderson
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
DEAN OF ENGINEERING Jane 22, 1942
Mayor Ernest Langford
College Station, Texas
Dear Mayor Langford:
I shall be glad to accept re-appoint-
ment as chairman of the city Planning
commission for the City- of College Sta-
tion.
On such occasions as we meet, I hope
you will be able to sit with us as an
advisor.
Very true ~r; _.r
~irb/,!ilcbri~st
Deer. of Fneineering
,d
June 30, 1942.
Dow Gibb Gilchrist
Chairman, :i'y FleannIng Cormission
Collet°o Stat Aon, Texas
Dear Cdr. Gild hr-.et:
!lThe Council is re erring to the City Planning
Commission the enclosed request for incorporation within
the limits bf the City of Colluge*Station.
We shall 'appreciate your prssentine this
request to i he Comml#sion at the earliest possible moment,
and advising us of toes -ouxiissionfs action.
r
I'erj* trul_; yours,
Ernest Lwigf'ord, ~.°ayor
14-Y of Sttition
E'I. E is
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF
MUNICIPAL AND SANITARY ENGINEERING August 4, 1944
Ur. Ernest Langford
hayor, City of College Station
College Station, Texas
Dear Sir:
I appreciate the confidence of the City
Council as shown by their action in appointing me
as Chairman of the City Planning Commission. I am
only too glad to accep nsi i ity.
Very truly yours,
-.17 L
S. R. Wright
Acting Head
D. & S. E. Dept.
SWK: nml
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE ART
Mr. Ernest Langford
Mayor
College Station, Texas
)OW
My dear Langford:
August 7, 1944
This will acknowledge receipt of your favor of
August 2nd advising me that I had been appointed on the Cit Planning
Committee. I will be happy to serve.
Sincerely your friend,
F. W. Hensel, Head
Department of Landscape Art
FWH: a
y,
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
COLLEGE STATION. TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF
MUNICIPAL AND SANITARY ENGINEERING
Mr. Lloyd Smith
City Manager
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Smith:
February 23, 1946
Mr. Joe Pasler has submitted to me, as Chairman of the City Planning
Commission, a plat of the Joe tasler subdivision to the City of College
Station. It is my understanding that this subdivision was made some ten
years.ago, and most of the lots in the addition have been sold. Since
this plat does not conform in many ways to the minimum requirements for
subdivision to the City of College Station, we cannot approve the plat.
Some of the objections to the plat are as follows:
1. All streets are shown as thirty feet wide, whereas our minimum
requirements are fifty feet, except for very minor streets which may be
forty feet in width.
2. Some of the dimensions as shown on the original plat have been
changed, and Mr. Pasler states that he himself does not know which di-
mensions are correct. As are example, Otto Street was originally shown
as thirty feet wide, and now it appears to be changed to twenty feet
wide, which would be entirely too narrow for an outlet to Eaton Street.
Another example is that one tract is now shown extending seven feet in-
to Pasler Street.
3. Certain additional lots appear to have been included that were
not shown on the original plat, and therefore, it is impossible to tell
from the ~jlat as submitted what is included in the addition.
SAO.)
4. Insufficient information is given on the plat to,ihow it fits in
with adjacent property or adjacent subdivisions.
I could enumerate several points besides these, but I think the ones
mentioned above are sufficient for refusal of the City Planning Commission
to approve this plat.
Very truly yours,
S. R. Wright
Acting Head, M. & S. E. Dept.
SRW/bam
February 2. 3, 1946
O
p
u
Mr. S. 8. Wright, Chairman
City Planning Com-3ssion
City
Dear Yr. Wright:
Mr. Syptak our County Clerk has recently called me
relative to a plat which Mr. Joe Pasler carried over there
to be recorded. Mr. Syptak prefers that we have this
approved by the City Planning Commission. In our meeting
Thursday February 21, 1946 this was referred to you for
an approval. Mr. Wright, quite a bit of this has been
developed already.
If I can be of further assistance to you in this.
matter, please call on me.
'fours very truly,
Lloyd D. Smith
City Manager
IDS/fn
April 12, 1946
U
U
Yr. S. R. Wright, Chairman
City Planning Commission j/
City
Dear Mr. W right s
I am enclosing you a plat which was submitted to the
City Council by Coulter Hoppess for approval as an extension
in the Cooner Additions, The Council asked that-I refer this
to you, I am quite sure there are a number of questions to
be answered relative to the plat narrow streets, etc. I
will be glad to give you any information you desire that I
can or you may call Yr. Bartholow or Coulter Hoppsss.
Yours very truly,
Lloyd D. Smith
City Rana ge r
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September 5. 1946
We D. Burkhalter
City
bear flirt
With reference to your request for a street to be opened
from your property to the proposed.Selly Addition;
The Planning Commission for the City of College Station
does not approve any street widths less than 50 ft.
D except on short dead end streets. In as much as the
distance between the fences on the proposed new street
is only approxime►tely 30 ft. I regret that the city
cannot participate in this proposal.
The Planning Commission of the City will be glad to
assist you in planning improvements in your neighborhood
to fit in with the city regulations and overall plan.
Sincerely yours.
Francis A. Vaughn
rag
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Ad~~
December 19, 191+6
Mr. John M. Rowlett
F. E.
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Rowlett:
The City Council at Its regular meeting on
December 12 appointed you to be Chairman of the City
Planning Commission. This appointment is to be
effective December 1. For your information other
members of the Planning Commission are Dr. A. R.
Wright, Professor F. W. Hensel, and A. P. $oyett.
I hope that you will accept this appointment
as I am sure that you will be able to render a
valuable service to the City.
Very truly,
Ernest Langford
Mayor
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December 19, 1946
Dr. S. R. Wright
y. E.
College Station, Texas
Dear Tar. bright:
The City Council at its regular meeting on
December 12 accept#d your resignation as Chairman
of the City Planning Commission. We are asking
that you continue to be a member of the Commission
and in order that you may be relieved of the duties
of Chairman we are appointing Mr. John M. Rowlett
as Chairman of the Commission.
?ours very truly,
Ernest Langford
Mayor
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Nay 1, 1947
Honorable A, Se Ware, County Judge
Court House
Bryan, Texas
Dear Mr. Wares
The planning oommittee of the City of College
Station after oareful study of Mr. Hrdlioka's
request for the extension of Eleanor Street, feel
that it is not to the beat interest of the City to
approve this plat inasmuoh as the street widths do
not oonform to the City of College Station require-
mentse
Respeotfully,
John Me Rowlett, Chairman
City Planning Committee
College Station, Texas
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LLOYD D.:ITH
CITY M R.
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CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
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CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
ERNEST LANGFORD, MAYOR
COUNCILMEN:
J. A. ORR
E. E. BROWN
R. L. BROWN
G. B. W 1 LCOX
M. T. HARRINGTON
C. W. CRAWFORD
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LLOYD D. SMITH
CITY MANAGER
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"THE HOME OF THE TEXAS AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE"
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Deeeauber Ts 1949
M r. Cribb Gilchrist
lb'. T . R* Speru►e
Ur• Raymond Rogers
We Howard Badgett
Mrs Fred J. Benson
M r. J. 1. Orr
Yr. Jobs Rawls"
Thore will be a sooting of the City Flawing Committee of
the College Station Development Asseelation In my otfies Sys
Dseenber 14s at 400 po a. I understand that the last sooting
of the Chamber of Cameros for this year will be held on Desedpor 13
and they are anxious to bay* a report from our eameittevr.
Bbwerelys
R. w /
Chaairaaaa
os a Dean C * B'. Shep ardson
College station, Tex"
Meer 28, 1956
Honorable Mayor and C ity Camail
College Statical Tease
Gentlemen:
The Planning Commission at a meeting on the 28th dear of Mar, 1936
rooted tvo to one in f Var of closing the allay between the 240 and 300
block and bets Highland Street and 41d HigWay 6 and voted nimmal.7
to close the alley providing a ten foot utility easement was retained.
Respectfully sutamitted,
Robert F. Whiter Chairman
Planning Candesion
January 29, 1957
Mr. Ran Boswell
City Manager
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Boswell:
The City Planning Committee has met and reviewed
the study for Redmond Terrace which you left with
me on Monday, January 28th.
The comments of the Committee are recorded on the
tracing paper overlay which is attached to the
study print. The study is being returned to you
herewith.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert F. White
Chairman - City Planning Committee
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January 29, 1957
Mr. Ran Boswell
City Manager
College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Boswell:
The City Planning Committee has met and reviewed
the study for Redmond Terrace which you left with
me on Monday, January 28th.
The oomments of the Committee are recorded on the
tracing paper overlay which is attached to the
study print. The study is being, returned to you
herewith.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert F. White
Chairman - City Planning Committee
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AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
Department of
FLORICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
January 19, 1957
Mr. Nan Boswell
City Manager
City of College Station, Texas
Dear Mr. Boswell:
I have signed the preliminary plats for Leacrest
addition as submitted by W. D. Fitch. It is the
opinion of the committee that the proposed exten-
sion of Glade Street south of Park Place be studied
further with the possibility of adjusting the align-
ment eastward into the Jan Holik and S. Holik tracts.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert F. White
Chairman, City Planning
Committee
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