§ 19. Zoning.

The Town of Thunderbolt may, in the interest of public health, safety, order, convenience, comfort, prosperity or general welfare adopt by ordinance a plan or plans for the districting or zoning of the town for the purpose of regulating the location of trades, industries, apartment houses, dwellings or other uses of property; for the purpose of regulating the height of the buildings, fences or other structures or the area of dimensions of lots or of the yards used in connection with buildings or other structures; or for the purpose of regulating the alignment of buildings or other structures near street frontages. The zoning regulations may be based upon one or more of the purposes above described. The town may be divided into such number of zones or districts and such districts may be of such shape and area as the town council shall deem best suited to accomplish the purpose of the zoning regulations. In the determination and establishment of districts and regulations, classification may be based on the nature or character of the trade, industry or other activity conducted or to be conducted upon the premises; the number of persons, families or other group units to reside in or use buildings; the public, quasi-public or private nature of the use of the premises; or upon any other basis or bases relevant to the promotion of the public health, safety, order, morals, conveniences, prosperity or welfare. The town council may provide by ordinance for a zoning commission, to be composed of not more than seven members to be elected by the town council, and prescribe its powers and duties; is authorized to provide the method of appeal from findings of said zoning commission, to provide for a board of zoning appeals to be elected by the town council to hear such appeals and to provide its powers and duties, and to provide for the right of certiorari from said board of zoning appeals to the Superior Court of Chatham County.