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it. would b~ to interpret a term such as "B*]," which is typical of many older zoning ordinances.) Reduce the number of districts. Too many dis~cts with only trivial distinctions overcomplicate an ordi- nance and create the need for frequent zoning amend- ments. And more significantly, proliferation of too many districts and blurring of distinctions among them have made it increasingly difficult to relate zoning to the ob- jectives of local comprehensive plans. Combining existing zoning districts is one way to simplify a zoning ordinance. In Beaumont, for example, we combined three existing single-family residential zones into one district and consolidated three commer- cial districts into a single commercial district. That not only reduced the length and complexity of the ordi- nance, but also simplified the zoning map and provided for closer linkage to the land use plan. The City of Phoenix reported that they had streamlined their zoning ordinance by reducing the number of residential zoning districts from twenty-~even to ten. Modernize the list of permitted uses. Repetitive lists of permitted uses found in many older ordinances can be replaced with a single, unified list in table torm. sides eliminating duplication and redundancy, a single, tabular list makes it easier to compare the uses permitted in the various zoning districts. More important problems with typical lists of per- mitted uses, however, are the difficulty in defining uses and the need to constantly revise and update the list to include new, previously unforeseen uses. Moreover, in many zoning ordinances, a large.number of uses must be described in the definition section in order to provide interpretive assistance. A few particularly antiquated ordinances even attempt to list the uses that are not permitted in a 'particular zone. It is easy to see how a PERMrI'I~'~D USE ?ABLE ~Cent'd. 7832 Motion picture theatre, except 25 P P P P P P P P S S S S drive-in 7832 Adult motion picture theatre 25 7833 Drive-in motion picture theatr~ 6 79 Amusement and Recreation ~mrv. ice~, except Motion Pictur~ 791 Dance halls, studios and ~chooh 14 792 Theatrical producer~, bands, or- 14 eheztrm and entertainers '/93 Bowling ~lleys and billiard and 32 pool e~tabliahments 794 Commercial sports 25 7992 Public golf' coumes 33 7993 Coin-operated amusement device~ 13 7996 Amusement parks 41 7997 Membership sports and recreation 33/13 elul~ 7999 Amusement and recreation ~ervices 41 not elsewhere clw~ified 80 Health Servic~ 801 Offices of physicians 14 802 Offices of dentists 14 2 Figure 1. Permitted use table from the Beaumont, Texas, zoning ordinance In this table the letter "P" under a district designation in the "Zoning Districts" columns means the use listed at right is permitted in the distr~ct by right, given that the proponent (1) provides off-street parking in the amount specified by the '~Parking Group" whose number appears in the column second from right, and (2) complies with all requirements specified in the section or sections whose number appears in the "Special Conditions" column. The letter "5" means the use is permitted in the district only if the proponent obtains a conditional use permit for it. WINTr~I986