Page:John Nolen--New ideals in the planning of cities.djvu/31

CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES

HE general principles which should govern the preparation of a city plan may be stated as follows: (1) economy and the saving of waste in an endeavor! to secure the desired results at a minimum of expense; (2) reasonable regard for the interests of the property owner, the taxpayer, and the general public; (3) anticipation within proper limits of the requirements of the future and provision for them.

City Planning has been well defined as the intelligent A control and guidance of the physical conformation, growth and alteration of cities, towns, or parts thereof, considered in their entirety. Or, more briefly, the organization of the physical city, town or district to fit it to its complex use. It includes the planning of cities, towns, suburbs, villages, and even rural districts. The material included in this handbook is treated primarily with relation to the city plan and its elements. In general it follows the definition as given above, and the order of the classification published by Harvard University, which has provided an admirable, comprehensive analysis of the subject. This classification itself is an impressive record of the magnitude of the field of city planning. The approach to city planning is now, and probably always will be, from many points of view. No matter how the directions of approach and hence the points of view may differ, the organization of the modern city for economy, health, efficiency and beauty will remain essentially the same. Therefore a comprehensive classification such as that set forth by