AICP

Cluster Sampling

A special form of stratified sampling where a specific target group out of the general population is sampled from, such as the elderly or residents of a specific neighborhood.

Sample

A subset of the population

Origin-Destination Survey

A survey that requires that roadblocks be set up along major routes. The imaginary line that denotes the boundary of the study are known as the cordon line. Motorists within the cordon area can then be sampled and asked questions on where they are coming from (address or point of origin) and where they are going (destination). A more detailed survey with questions on socioeconomic characteristics can then be given to those sampled. That questionnaire is general mailed back by the respondent.

regressive tax

A tax for which the percentage of income paid in taxes decreases as income increases

Progressive Tax

A tax for which the percentage of income paid in taxes increases as income increases

proportional tax

A tax in which the average tax rate is the same at all income levels.

Preliminary Plat

A to-scale mechanical drawing with precise topographic and prescribed intervals showing the calculated located of all lots, streets, drainage patterns, facilities, and proposed dedications.

Accessory Use

A use that is incidental to the main use of the property. Located on the same lot but smaller in size.

Quantitative Variables

A variable where the numerical value is meaningful (i.e. Household income, level of pollution in a river). Corresponds with interval or ratio measurements.

Qualitative Variables

A variable where the numerical value is not meaningful (zoning classification). Corresponds with the nominal or ordinal measurements

Tourism Corridor Planning

Refers to efforts to link social, cultural, and economic drivers between communities for the purposes of supporting tourism.

Community Parks

Serve a one to five mile areas and are typically 20 to 100 acres in size providing a mix of amenities to serve an entire community.

Transfer of Development Rights

programs that allow for the transfer of development rights from an area that is designated for low-density development to an area planned for growth.

High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV)

allow vehicles with more than one person (babies count too) to travel in a specified designated lane on a highway.

Lease-Purchase

allows a government to "rent-to-own." The benefit is that the government does not have to borrow money to finance the acquisition of a major capital improvements.

Flextime

allows employees to work at different times beyond the regular 8 to 5 workday. Individuals can choose to work a four-day work week, come in earlier, or stay later. Flextime reduces congestion on roadways during peak commute times.

Telecommuting

allows employees to work from home and communicate through the internet or telephone with the office.

Vacating Plat

allows for a plat to be terminated prior to the selling of any lots.

Cross-Tabulation Method

allows for estimates of trip generation based on land use type, purpose, or socioeconomic characteristics. Type generation estimates based on current data become less and less valid with age. When local surveys are unavailable due to time or monetary constraints, published rates are used to derive estimates. Trip generation models, tables, and surveys all have their own sources of error and should be seen as estimates.

Replat

allows for lots to be subdivided further or added back together.

Car Sharing

allows individuals to purchase membership to a car service. Cars are located at fixed locations throughout a city and a member calls to schedule a time to use one. This allows individuals to pay only as they use the vehicle.

Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO)

allows local governments to deny or delay new development if the existing government services (water and sewer, roads, schools, fire and police) cannot support it

High Occupancy Toll Lane

allows single-passenger cars to use the lane for a fee but is criticized as being only available to those with a high income

Traffic Assignment

allows us to use network models to predict the distribution of traffic for each roadway for each roadway by the hour. Gives information on the routes that will be used.

Gravity Model

can be used to provide trip estimates based on proportional attractiveness of the zone (the "gravitational pull") and inversely proportional to the trip length.

Environmental Indicators

candidates should also be familiar with the EPA's Environmental Indicators which are shared in the EPAs annual State of the Environment Report

Renewable Energy

cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed. This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water and various forms of biomass.

Realigned Intersection

change the alignment of roadways near an intersection. This causes traffic to slow prior to entering the intersection. The approach to the intersection is not straight. It requires the driver to move into a curve before approaching the intersection.

Roundabouts

circular intersections and traffic circles with a circular island in the center, one or more lanes

Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill) of 1944

commonly known as the GI Bill, guaranteed home loans to veterans. The result was the rapid development of suburbs.

Farm to School

programs that bring fresh food from farms to school cafeterias. The school or district partners with area farmers to purchase food directly, which is then distributed and served at local schools. These programs can also include meat and seafood, in addition to produce.

Descriptive Statistics

describe the characteristics of the distribution of values in a population or in a sample. For example, a descriptive statistic such as the mean could be applied to the age distribution in the population of AICP exam takers, providing a summary measure of central tendency.

Urban Footprint

developed by Peter Calthorpe and Associates and is a more recent addition to the simulation program options for planners. It uses a library of place types, block types, and building types to support interactive scenario building.

Full or Partial Closure

does not allow traffic beyond a certain point in the roadway.

Goals Achievement Matrix

project evaluation matrix that includes competing projects in rows and the evaluation criteria in columns. The evaluation criteria are based on the various stakeholder groups that may be impacted by costs or that may receive benefits. It is a comprehensive way to evaluate a project.

Linear Programming

project management method that attempts to find the optimum design solution for a project. This system takes a set of decision variables within constraints and comes up with an optimum design solution

Adaptation

the adjustment of human and natural systems in response to actual or expected effects of climate change.

Budget

the allocation and expenditure of funds to provide service to the public. A budget serves to set spending priorities.

Viewshed

the area that is visible through a line of site from a location. Napa County California has a viewshed ordinance to protect views from certain locations in the Country.

Mean

the average of a distribution.

Variance

the average squared deviation from the mean; the larger the variance, the larger the spread around the mean.

Range

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Health Disparities

the differences in the incidence of health conditions and diseases among varying population groups

Subdivision

the division of land into two or more parcels, sites, or lots for the purpose of ownership, development, or other forms of valuable interest. This definition varies from state to state and may include minimum acreage requirements

Census Designated Places

the equivalent of an incorporated place for data purposes. This is for settled concentrations of population that are not incorporated.

Subdivision Bonuses

the extension of development benefits beyond those normally offered in exchange for enhancements such as affordable housing, cluster housing, and open space preservation. The developer may receive assistance with infrastructure, impact fees may be waived, or the ability to construct at a higher density may be granted.

Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

Ration of a building's floor are to the total lot area. Usually used to control light and air.

Triple Bottom Line

people, planet, profit or economic, equity, environmental

Binary (Dichotomous) Variables

A special case of discrete variables that can only take on two values, typically coded as 0 or 1.

Smart Growth

A set of principles for community planning that focuses on strategies to encourage the development of sustainable, healthy communities.

Chi-square test

A significance test used to determine if a linear relationship exists between two variables measured on interval or ratio scales.

UrbanSim

A simulation software program that models planning and urban development often used by Metropolitan Planning Organizations

A Major Disaster

"Any natural catastrophe ... regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion ... of sufficient severity to warrant major disaster assistance ..." Severe impact on lives and property Effective response beyond local and state capabilities

Agins v. City of Tiburon

(1980, 5th) The Court upheld a city's right to zone property at low-density and determined this zoning was not a taking. The appellants had acquired five acres of unimproved land for residential development. The City adopted zoning ordinances that placed the appellants' property in a zone where property may be devoted to one-family dwellings, with density restrictions permitting appellants to build between one and five single-family residences on their tract. Without having sought approval for development of their tract under the ordinances, appellants brought suit against the city in state court, alleging that the city had taken their property without just compensation in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, and seeking a declaration that the zoning ordinances were facially unconstitutional.

Metromedia, Inc. v. City of San Diego

(1981, 1st) The Court found that commercial and non-commercial speech cannot be treated differently. The court overruled an ordinance that banned all off-premises signs because it effectively banned non-commercial signs.

Members of City Council v. Taxpayers for Vincent

(1984, 1st) The Court found that the regulation of signs was valid for aesthetic reasons as long as the ordinance does not regulate the content of the sign. If the regulation is based on sign content, it must be justified by a compelling governmental interest. The Court found that aesthetics advance a legitimate state interest. The Court upheld a Los Angeles ordinance that banned attaching signs to utility poles.

City of Rancho Palos Verdes v. Abrams

(2005, 5th) The Court ruled that a licensed radio operator that was denied conditional use permit for an antenna cannot seek damages because it would distort the congressional intent of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

City of Renton v. Playtime Theaters

(Rehnquist) Zoning ordinance that prevented Adult theaters from locating close to a church, park, or school basically creating a skid row designation. Free Speech - Content Neutral regulation - Secondary Effects / Time, place, manner- Allowable regulation because just limiting location not content

National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Act of 1974

(Significantly updated in 2000) regulated manufactured housing units (sometimes called "mobile homes") for the first time. Local ordinances can be used to regulate manufactured housing in terms of location, size and appearance. The act applied to all manufactured homes built in 1976 or later.

PPBS Components

1. Budget organized by program area 2. Long-range planning goals, programs, and required resources 3. Police analysis, cost-benefit analysis, program evaluation

Three Steps to the Statistical Process

1. Collect Data 2. Describe & Summarize the distribution of the values in the data set 3. Interpret by means of inferential statistics and statistical modeling

Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) Components

1. Efficiency and effectiveness of programs to be re-evaluated on a regular basis; 2. Agencies to prepare "decision packages" for each program that looks at the impact of "low" "medium" and "high funding" 3. Decision packages of all programs ranked by executive; facilitates budget cuts by City Council.

5 Basic Steps to Comprehensive Plan-Making

1. Identify Stakeholders 2. Define Goals 3. Gather Information and Analysis 4. Develop Alternatives 5. Select an Alternative

Four Sections of the Environmental Impact Assessment

1. Introduction (Statement of Purpose and Need of Proposed Action) 2. Description of the Affected Environment 3. Range of Alternatives to the proposed action (considered the "heart" of the EIS) 4. Analysis of the Environmental Impacts of Each Possible Alternative

4 types of budgeting methods

1. Line Item Budgeting 2. Zero-Base Budgeting 3. Planning, Programming, Budgeting Systems 4. Performance Based Budgeting

10 principles of smart growth

1. Mixed land uses 2. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices 3. Create walkable neighborhoods 4. Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions 5. Take advantage of compact building design 6. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 7. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas 8. Provide a variety of transportation choices 9. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities 10. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective

Four Financing Alternatives

1. Pay-as-you-Go 2. Reserve Funds 3. General Obligation Bonds 4. Revenue Bonds

8 Purposes of Zoning

1. Protect and maintain property values 2. Promote public health and safety 3. Protect the environment 4. Promote the aesthetic of a community 5. Manage traffic 6. Manage density 7. Limit housing size and type, or encourage a variety of housing types 8. Attract business and industries

7 Purposes of Subdivision Regulations

1. Regulate the subdivision development and implement planning policies 2. Implement plans for orderly growth and development within the city's boundaries and extraterritorial jurisdictions 3. Ensure adequate provision for streets, alleys, parks and other facilities indispensable to the community 4. Protect future purchasers from inadequate police and fire protections 5.Ensure sanitary conditions and other governmental services 6. Require compliance with certain standards 7. Officially register land

Purposes of a Budget

1. Resource allocation and Program Prioritization 2. Financial Control 3. Management Control and to help improve efficiency and effectiveness in an organization 4. A communication tool to communicate organizational goals and objectives. 5. Planning tool to provide short and long-range forecasts of revenues, spending and community change.

4 Roles of Planners in Post Disaster Reconstruction

1. The emergency period covers the initial hours or days following the disaster when the community is forced to cope with losses in lives and property. 2. The restoration period covers the time following the emergency period until major urban service and transportation are restored, evacuees returned, and rubble is removed. 3. During the replacement reconstruction period, the city rebuilds capital stock to pre-disaster levels and social and economic activities return to their previous levels. 4. Finally, in the commemorative, betterment, and developmental reconstruction period, major reconstruction activities take place and future growth and development begin to take hold.

5 Items to be Addressed by the EIS

1. The probably impact of the proposed action 2. Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided 3. Alternatives to the proposed action 4. Relationship between local short-term uses of the environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity of the land; 5. Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would be involved in the proposed action

Performance Based Budget - Components

1. Use of traditional functional/object budget 2. Performance information on workload, productivity, outputs, and outcomes 3. Performance and spending may be linked through cost analysis, and program evaluation.

Greenways and Blueways Planning

1. protect natural resources 2. provide alternative transportation options 3. connect neighborhoods with recreational opportunities 4. promote healthy communities 5. creating economic development opportunities

Munn v. Illinois

1876; The Supreme Court upheld the Granger laws. The Munn case allowed states to regulate certain businesses within their borders, including railroads, and is commonly regarded as a milestone in the growth of federal government regulation.

Pennsylvania Coal Co v. Mahon

1922, Supreme Court Regulatory takings "The general rule at least is that while property may be regulated to a certain extent, if regulation goes too far it will be recognized as a taking" Case involves a regulation to prohibit coal mining that will cause subsidence. Coal company previously held the subsurface mineral rights to a property (sold with understanding of this). Regulation is a taking because no evidence of public purpose - notice is given prior to mining and the damage would be to one house only, while the loss of economic benefit is large [Note that Keystone in 1987 was decided the other way with nearly identical fact pattern] prohibiting subsurface coal mining that will cause subsidence after a company already held mineral rights beneath a property was a taking because it didnt serve a public purpose.

Nectow v. City of Cambridge

1928, US Supreme Court Zoning is not without limits If there is an invasion of property rights without clear evidence of public benefit, the ordinance is unlawful. Public health, safety, morals, or general welfare should show benefit. Case involves zoning parcel as a buffer between industrial and residential - zoning reduced value of land.

Neighborhood Unit Concept

1929 - Clarence Perry published this as part of the Regional Plan of New York and its Environs. The Neighborhood Unit Concept defines a neighborhood based on a five-minute walking radius, with a school at its center. Each neighborhood is approximately 160 acres.

National Housing Act

1934 - Established the Federal Housing Administration with the purpose of insuring home mortgage

Resettlement Administration

1935 - Used in the New Deal to develop new Towns throughout the US. Three of these were "Greenbelt" communities of Greendalw, WI, Greenhills, OH, and Greenbelt, MD, which are all in existence today.

Suitum v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

1977, Supreme Court Takings and TDR (and due process) Bernadine Suitum owned an undeveloped lot near Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency determined that the lot was ineligible for development under agency regulations. However, the agency determined that Suitum was entitled to "Transferable Development Rights" (TDRs) that she could sell to other landowners with the agency's approval. Rather than sell her TDRs, Suitum filed suit claiming that the agency's determination amounted to a regulatory taking of her property without just compensation in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Court held that she could sue before having tried to sell her TDRs.

National Flood Insurance Program

1994 - National Flood Insurance Act established the National Flood Insurance Program. The Program's Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recongizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. Under the floodplain management planning category, communities can receive points for: 1. Organizing and preparing a plan 2. Involving the public 3. Coordination with other agencies 4. Assessing the hazard 5. Assessing the problem 6. Setting goals 7. Reviewing possible activities 8. Drafting an action plan 9. Adopting the plan and implementing, evaluating and revising the plan

Big Box Retail

50,000 square foot large box buildings for retail.

Infrastructure

A broad-ranging topic including water, sewers, telecommunications, and solid waste among others.

Variance (Zoning)

A change in the terms of the zoning regulations due to economic or physical hardship. There are use and lot/bulk variances.

chi-square distribution

A skewed distribution whose shape depends solely on the number of degrees of freedom. As the number of degrees of freedom increases, the chi-square distribution becomes more symmetrical.

Test of Significance of a Regression Coefficient

A common application of the t-test. The null hypothesis is that the population regression coefficient is zero and the alternative coefficient is that it is non-zero. Rejecting the null hypothesis is interpreted as designating the coefficient as significant (at a given p-value). To compute the t-test in this case, we take the estimate and divide it by its standard error.

Complete Streets

A complete street is a safe, accessible and convenient street that everyone can use regardless of age, ability or mode transportation. This means that motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders have sufficient infrastructure for safe access.

GIS (geographic information system)

A computer system that stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data.

Core based statistical area (CBSA)

A core area with at least 10,000 people that when combined with other adjacent communities is socially and economically integrated.

Census Block Group

A group of Census Blocks.

Historic District

A group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated either at the local, state, and/or national level. This designation is provided when the buildings, properties or sites in the area have been determined to be historically or architecturally significant First Historic District - Charleston, South Carolina, 1931

Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

A group process involving problem identification, solution generation, and decision-making. Everyone's opinions are considered, a list is created, duplicates are removed, then participants rank solutions. The rankings are discussed and the solution with the highest ranking is selected.

Zoning Map

A map visually depicting the districts as spelled out in the zoning text. Dictates what zone is designated for each and every property in Town.

Variables

A mathematical representation of a concept, and thus also of the measurement of that concept.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

A method for selecting among competing projects when resources are limited. If community has $50,000 to spend on park improvements then several different projects can be prepared. CE Ratio - cost of new strategy - cost of current practice)/(effect of new strategy - effect of current practice)

linear regression

A method of finding the best model for a linear relationship between the explanatory and dependent variable.

Stratified Sampling

A method of sampling where the population is divided into different groups or classes from which a sample is drawn such that the classes in the population are represented by the classes in the sample. Most electoral surveys are based on stratified samples.

Probability Sampling

A method of sampling where there is a direct mathematical relation between the sample and the population, so that precise conclusions can be drawn. They are random where everyone has the same chance of being selected to participate in the survey

correlation coefficient

A numerical index of the degree of relationship between two variables; often referred to as R2 or r-squared

Minor Civil Division (MCD)

A primary governmental and/or administrative subdivision of a county or equivalent entity in 29 states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin), Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. The District of Columbia has no primary divisions and is considered equivalent to an MCD for statistical purposes. Tennessee contained census county divisions (CCDs) for Census 2000, and reverted to MCDs for the the 2010 Census.

Watershed

A region drained by, or contributing water to, a surface water body.

Environmental Impact Statement

A report required by federal law that assesses the possible effect of a project on the environment if the project is subsidized in whole or part by federal funds.

Survey

A research method that allows one to collect data on a topic that cannot be directly observed, such as opinions on downtown retailing opportunities.

Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST)

Allotted more money to transportation projects by changing rules related to obtaining passports. No user fees or gas tax raises were required. $305 billion. 2015.

The Water Pollution Control Act of 1948

Allowed the surgeon general of the Public Health Service, in cooperation with other governmental entities, to prepare a comprehensive program to improve the sanitary conditions of surface and underground waters and tributaries. The Act allowed the Federal Works Administrator to assist the government agencies in constructing treatment plants that could help prevent discharges of inadequately treated sewage and other wastes into the interstate waters or tributaries.

Park-and-Ride

Allows commuters to go from their home to a designated parking lot, where they then can either ride public transit or participate in a carpool.

Grants

Allows for all or a portion of the cost of a public facility to be paid for by someone other than the local government. Grants are available from all levels of government, the private sector, and foundations. Typically, grants require a match from the local government.

Phone Surveys - Pros

Allows the interviewer to follow up and gain further explanation on answers

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972

Amended the 1948 act. The amendments broadened the government's authority over water pollution and restructured the authority of water pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency. The Act changed the enforcement from water quality standards to regulate the number of pollutants being discharged from particular point sources.

Keystone Bituminous Coal Association v. DeBenedictis

An Act in place requiring 50% of the coal beneath four protected structures be kept in place to provide surface support. The court upheld this as not a taking because the Act was protecting the public interest.

TIGER

An acronym for Topographically Integrated Geographical Encoding and Referencing map which is used for Census Data. Includes streets, railroads, zip codes, and land marks.

Inter-Quartile Range

An alternative method of figuring out outliers. The 75th percentile (or 3/4 cut off value) minus the 25th percentile (or 1/4 cut off value). Then take the mean and subtract/add the IQR. Anything outside those values is an outlier. These are often visualized as fences or a box and whiskers plot.

Maximum Parking Standards

An alternative to the conventional minimum parking standards that most communities have. maximum parking standards cap the amount of parking that a property owner or business can provide. This addresses the problem of providing excessive impervious cover and undermining pedestrian quality.

Trip Generation

An estimate of the number of trips that a certain land use will cause. Example: a fast food restaurant will have more cars per hour than an office.

Brainstorming

An informal approach to gathering input in the initial stages of a project, or in trying to determine goals. It usually occurs within a small internal group setting, such as planning staff, agency leads, or commission members.

Shift-Share Analysis

Analyzes a local economy in comparison with a larger economy. This analysis looks at the differential shift, proportional shift, and economic growth.

Hazard Mitigation

Any action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards

substantial improvement

Any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started.

Dynamic Method

Applies statistical analysis to time-series data from a jurisdiction. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis

Group-Administered Surveys - Pros

Appropriate for a specific population that a planner is trying to target, high and quick response rate

Earth Day

April 22, 1970

Reserve Funds

Are funds that have been saved for the purchase of future capital improvements

Census County Divisions

Are used in the 21 states that do not have MCDs

Food Deserts

Areas that lack access to healthy food

Hope VI

Began in 1992 and was a plan by the US department of Housing and Urban Development to revitalize the worst public housing projects into mixed income housing. Was based on New Urbanism and Defensible Space concept low rise public housing replaced high rise public housing Pruitt Igoe- hallways were bad places, location for major problems

Consolidated Plan

Beginning in 1995, the HUD required local communities to prepare in order to receive funding from a number of HUD programs. It's a collaborative process whereby a community establishes a unified vision for community development actions. a means to analyze the entire community and explore the linkages to the larger region. integrates economic, physical, and human development in a comprehensive and coordinated fashion so that individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities can work together and thrive.

Hadacheck v. Sebastian (1915)

Brick yard - court approved regulation of land uses as not violating the 14th amendment of due process and equal protection (14th amendment)

Energy Efficiency

Buildings are made more efficient by using insulation, which is rated in terms of thermal resistance called R-Value. The higher the R-value the greater the insulation. A minimum R-Value of 20 is recommended for residential use.

Online Surveys - Pros

Can be administered on a website or via email or text message, inexpensive method of surveying, generates quick responses, has a higher response rate than written or interview surveys

Written Surveys - Pros

Can be mailed, printed in a newspaper, or administered in a group setting. Low cost, convenient to participant who can participate whenever

Discrete Variables

Can only take on a finite number of distance values. An example is the count of the number of events, such as number of accidents per month. Such counts cannot be negative, and only take on integer values such as 1, 28, or 211.

Multiplier Effect

Certain jobs will drive the demand for other jobs

Massachusetts vs. EPA

Climate Change! state of MA sued EPA on ground that EPA violated CAA by refusing to regulate GHG emissions. Supreme Court says MA had standing because as state must protect citizens,

Nollan v. California Coastal Commission (1987)

Coastal easements are in the public interest, but if California wanted to require them then they must compensate the property owners

Standard Error

Computed the same way as Standard Deviation, but pertains to the distribution of a statistic that is computed from a sample. For example, the same average has a standard error, which is the same as the standard deviation of its sampling distribution.

City of Boerne v. Flores (1997)

Congress may enact legislation enforcing constitutional rights established by the Court (like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act), but it does not have the power to expand those religious freedom rights with federal regulation and oversight.

confidence interval

Constitutes a range around the sample statistic that contains the population statistic with a given level of confidence, typically 95% or 99%. So, instead of rejecting the null hypothesis with a given probability, we establish a range around the sample statistic, such as a sample average, that contains the population mean with a given probability. The range of the confidence interval depends critically on the sampling error. If the sampling error is large, this means there isn't much information in the sample relative to the population, so our statements about the population will be vague (large confidence interval). On the other hand, with a smaller sampling error, we can make more precise statements. The sampling error is related to the sample size, with a larger sample resulting in a smaller error (as the sample grows larger, it approximates the actual population more closely).

Amending Plat

Corrects errors or adds additional information to a plat.

Southern Burlington County NAACP v. Township of Mount Laurel

Court found Mount Laurel had exclusionary zoning and said they must open its doors to those of all incomes

Public Works Administration Act (PWA)

Created in 1934 following the Great Depression, provided 85% of the cost of public housing projects. This was the first federally supported public housing program.

Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990

Created the HOME program which provides block grants to communities to increase supply of affordable housing

Nominal Data

Data classified into mutually exclusive groups or categories and lack intrinsic order (zoning classification, social security numbers, race, etc.)

Interval Data

Data that has an ordered relationship where the difference between the scale has a meaningful interpretation. (temperature)

Ratio Data

Data where both absolute and relative differences have a meaning. (Distance)

Gantt Chart

Developed in 1917 by Charles Gantt. Focuses on the sequence of taks necessary for project completion. Each task is represented as a single horizontal bar on an X-Y Chart. The X-axis is the time scale over which the project will endure. The length of each taskbar corresponds to the duration of each task. The relationship usually shows dependency, where one task cannot begin until another is completed.

Modified Cumulative Zoning

Developed to allow cities to provide a greater degree of protection than they could with cumulative zoning. In this type of zoning, districts are typically cumulative by type of land use. For example, a multi-family district would allow both single family homes and multi-family housing, however, the industrial district would not allow residential uses.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Group Administered Surveys - Cons

Difficult to get everyone together to complete the survey

Average Per Capita method

Divides the total local budget by the existing population in a city to determine the average per-capita cost for the jurisdiction. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis

Urbanized Cluster

Have at least 2,500 but less than 50,000 people and a population density of 1,000 people per square mile.

Kelo v. City of New London

Eminent domain case: Local governments may force the sale of private property and make way for private economic development when officials decide it would benefit the public.

Line-Item Budgeting - Pros

Emphasis on projecting the budget for the next year while adding in inflationary costs. Does not require any evaluation of existing services and is easy to prepare and justify. Easy for the public officials to understand.

Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) - Pros

Emphasizes planning and fosters understanding within all units of an organization. Required a department to consider every aspect of its operation and concentrate on why it does the things the way it does.

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

Environmental Impact statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands is started. Created a council on environmental quality.

Clean Water Act of 1972

Establishes and maintains goals and standards for U.S. water quality and purity. It has been amended several times, most prominently in 1987 to increase controls on toxic pollutants, and in 1990, to more effectively address the hazard of oil spills. Need a permit to discharge pollutants into any body of water without a permit.

Disaggregated Per Capita Method

Estimates the costs and revenues based on major land uses. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis

Environmental Justice

Executive Order 12898 was issued by President Clinton in 1994 and requires that federal agencies strive to make achieving environmental justice part of their mission by addressing the disproportionate adverse environmental and human health impacts of its policies, programs and activities on minority and low-income populations. EPA has an office of Environmental Justice that guides agencies in meeting environmental justice goals.

Drop-Off Surveys - Cons

Expensive because of the time required to distribute the surveys

Six Criteria for Implementing a Tax

Fairness, Certainty, Convenience, Efficiency, productivity, Neutrality.

Special Assessments

Fees collected by the local city government for utilities, road maintenance and other services such as fire protection and street lighting. Property owners are offered the option of having regular street lights or ornamental street lights at their expense. Int he latter case all of the property owners on the street are assessed a fee to pay for those lights.

Yellowstone National Park

First National Park, designated in 1872

Model Tenement

First one was built in NYC in 1855

Performance Based Budget - Pros

Focused on linking funding to performance standards. Ie funding could be tied to the amount of time it takes to process plat applications or building permits. Meeting performance goals results in funding increases. It helps departments develop and evaluate performance standards.

Planning-Programming-Budgeting System (PPBS) Pros

Focused on planning through accomplishing goals set by a department. Helps departments place their programs in perspective and evaluate their efforts and accomplishments.

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)

Focused on providing funding for not just highways but also transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act

Following the Supreme Court's ruling in City of Boerne v Florida, Congress passed RLUIPA. The new act declares that no government may implement land use regulation in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious assembly or institution unless the government demonstrates that the imposition of burden both is a furtherance of compelling governmental interest. This act has been challenged in several legal cases.

Fred French Investing Co. v. City of New York

Found that Transfer of Development Rights is an inappropriate method to compensate the landowner for a taking by the City of New York.

The Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21)

From 1998 - 2003 and beyond - required Transportation Comprehensive Plans to have seven criteria met.

Cross-Sectional Survey

Gathers information about a population at a single point in time

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

Gives authority to the federal government, FEMA to respond to a disaster. Contains 4 Primary Components of a State Hazard Mitigation Plan under Section 404 of the Act: 1. An evaluation of the natural hazard in the designated area 2. A descriptive and analysis of the state and local hazard management policies, programs, and capabilities to mitigate the hazards in the area 3. Hazard mitigation goals and objectives and proposed strategies, programs and actions to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerability to hazards. 4. A method of implementing monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan; such evaluation is to occur at least on an annual basis to ensure that implementation occurs as planned, and ensure that the plan remains current. Amended in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which requires local governments to prepare and adopt hazard mitigation plans. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 focuses on mitigation

Written Survey - Cons

Has a very low response rate (20%) , requires participant to be able to read and write, not good for targeting seniors, ESS, and the illiterate.

Clean Air Act of 1970

Has provisions that cut off federal funding for metropolitan areas that are not in attainment. In non-attainment areas, new pollution sources are allowed only if there is a reduction in pollutants greater than the pollutants contributed by the source. The federal government sets ambient air standards that the states must devise methods that enable these standards to be met. Air cannot be contained in one location, so Air Quality Control Regions were created to measure air quality in air sheds. Like the Clean Water Act, the law requires a permit to release pollutants into the air. The six monitored pollutants are Ozone, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Lead

Zoning Board of Appeals (adjustments/exceptions)

Hears variances, special exceptions, and appeals to staff decisions.

Focus Groups

Help build consensus, good for controversial social issues because it facilitates sessions with small groups. Good for discussing plan concepts before drafting plan. Good for committee with a specific task

Teardown

Homes bought in many American suburbs with the intent of tearing them down and replacing them with much larger homes often referred to as McMansions.

McMansion

Homes referred to as such because of their "super size" and similarity in appearance to other such homes; homes often built in place of tear-downs in American suburbs. They are mass produced and have perceived negative impacts on the community, sometimes because they are out of scale with surrounding homes.

Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council

If a regulation is put in place that takes any or all value from the property, then the property owner who owned the property prior to the change in regulation must be compensated and it is a taking.

Berman v. Parker

In 1945, Congress passed the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act, creating the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency, whose purpose would be to identify and redevelop blighted areas of Washington, D.C. Congress gave the new agency the power of eminent domain - the ability to seize private property with just compensation. Berman and the other appellants owned a department store in one blighted area targeted by the commission and objected to the seizing of their property solely for beautification of the area. The landowners brought a civil suit in federal district court challenging the constitutionality of the Act. Their case was dismissed. They then appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. urban renewal is a valid public purpose.

Pruitt-Igoe

In 1972 a public housing development first occupied in 1954, was demolished in St. Louis. Its demolition marked a shift away from high-rise concentrated public housing

Metropolitan Statistical Area

Includes at least one city with 50,000 or more people, or an urbanized area of at least 50,000 people and a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000.

Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) - Cons

It is time consuming to justify every action and has limited success because of its intensive information requirements and limited benefits to managers.

Line Item Budgeting - Cons

Lacks flexibility and relationship between budget requests and the objectives of an organization. Has short term focus. Looks one year into the future and is not linked with strategic, comprehensive, or capital improvement plans. Lacks focus on programs, looking at individual expenditures rather than how those expenditures fund programs and/or the results of those programs.

Carrying Capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

Cumulative Zoning

Less protective of various land uses than Euclidian Zoning. Single-Family districts are the most exclusive. However, in cumulative zoning, each successive zoning district allows all the uses from the previous zones. Single family homes would be allowed anywhere, but a factory could only be located in industrial districts.

COGs are accountable to which level of government?

Local Government

Plat

Map of a tract or parcel of land

Welch vs. Swasey

Massachusetts enabled limitation of height

Geodesy

Measurement and representation of the Earth and its gravitational field

Tax-Increment Financing

Method cities use to issue bonds to pay for civic improvements (sewers/streets) with the intention that it will stimulate development in that area. During redevelopment, taxes are based on the pre-improved assessed value of the property. After redevelopment, taxes (and assessed value) increase due to the improvements. The difference in tax increment is used to repay the bonds.

Village of Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp.

Metro Housing Development denied a rezoning app to rezone property from single family to multi family to accommodate mixed race low income housing. They appealed to the District Court citing racism as the cause of the denial. The District Court held that it was not racially motivated, it was motivated by the protection of surrounding property values. They appealed to the Court of Appeals who reversed that decision stating it was racially discriminatory. It was appealed to the Supreme Court who found there was insufficient evidence to prove the Village acted racially discriminatorily and overturned the findings of the previous two courts. They remanded to the lower court for further consideration.

Step-Down Ratio Population Method

Ratio of the population in a city and in a country or larger demographical unit. If there are 20,000 people in the country in 2005 and Plannersville is 20% of the country's population, or 4,000 people.

Passive Solar Design

Mitigates the building's energy needs. The goal of passive design is to maximize the amount of direct sunlight available to each building for example - orienting streets and front lot lines along the east and west axis. In colder climate, windows facing south can capture solar energy for daytime heating.

Systematic Error

Model misspecification, which occurs because our model (or assumptions) are wrong. It is unrelated to the sample.

Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Moratoria did not constitute a taking requiring compensation

Koontz v. St. Johns River Water Management District

Mr. Koontz requested a permit from the St. John's River Water management to develop additional land beyond what was allowed under the original permit. St. John's agrees to issue the development permit on the condition that Koontz deed the rest of his property in a conservation area and complete additional mitigation work. Koontz refused to undertake the mitigation work and St. John's denied the application. The court ruled in favor of Koontz that there was no specific regulation requiring the dedication and mitigation work and that a taking had occurred.

Point Source Discharge Permit

Must obtain from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).in order to discharge pollutants into the water from the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp.

NY legislation requiring owners to allow private cable companies to place boxes on roofs of private apt. buildings and run cable along exterior walls. Legislation offered nominal compensation Issue: Does NY legislation amount to uncompensable taking? Holding: Permanent physical occupation require payments of compensation irrespectively of the goal government is trying to promote or how minor of an intrusion. Because permanent intrusion destroys 1) power to exclusively possess 2) power to control use, 3) power to dispose without loss in value .... they are PER SE TAKINGS that require compensation constitutional question cannot depend on size, should factor into compensation question

Tenement House Law of 1901

NYC passed this resulting "New Law" tenements, which outlawed dumbbell tenements. The new housing code was vigorously enforced by the City. The City required inspection and permits for construction and alterations. It also required wide light and air areas between buildings, as well as toilets and running water in each apartment unit.

Euclidean Zoning

Named after the City of Euclid, Ohio. it places the most protective restrictions on residential land uses, less on commercial land uses, and virtually none on industrial uses. The concept places the most restrictive category, single-family residential, at the top of the pyramid.

Penn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York

New York Landmark Preservation Law as applied to Grand Central Terminal did not constitute a taking.

Outliers

Observations that are outside two standard deviations above and/or below the mean

Corridor Transportation Planning

Occurs at the regional level. Allows the region's governments and responsible agencies to coordinate major transportation planning projects.

Symmetric Distribution

One where an equal number of observations are below and above the mean. An asymmetric distribution is skewed.

Ordinal Data

Ordered categories implying a ranking of observations. Even though ordinal data may be given numeric values, the values themselves are meaningless. Only the rank counts.

Lingle v. Chevron

Overturned a portion of Agins v. Tiburon declaring that regulation of property does effect a taking if it does not substantially advance legitimate state interests.

Safe Drinking Water Act

Passed in 1974 and has been amended several times since. The law protects both the sources of drinking water and the end product.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Efficiency Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

Passed in 2005 - rewrote criteria 4 for transportation comp plans to protect the environment, be energy efficient, protect quality of life, as well as promoted consistency between state and local planned growth and economic development patterns. Expired in 2009 and extended to 2012. Provided $244.1 billion in transportation funds.

Permitted and Conditional Uses

Permitted Uses are allowed without having to ask the City for Permission. Conditional Uses are allowed with a Special Permit from the Planning Commission and may have conditions attached. It either runs with the land or the owner depending on the community.

Who created TOD?

Peter Calthorpe

National Heritage Areas

Places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. These are designated by Congress and can be found on the National Park Service website.

Point-Source Pollution

Pollutants discharged from a single identifiable location (e.g., pipes, ditches, channels, sewers, tunnels, containers of various types).

Sampling Frame

Population of interest

The Public Utility Regulatory Police Act (PURA) of 1978

Promotes alternative energy source, energy efficiency, and reduced dependence on foreign oil. It also created a market for non-utility power producers and requires competition in the utility industry.

US Housing Act of 1937 ( Wagner-Steagall Act)

Provided $500 million in home loans for the development of low-cost housing. The Act tied slum clearance to public housing. In addition, Section 8 of the Housing ACt of 1937 authorized project-based rental assistance where the owner reserves some or all of the units in a building for low-income tenants (later, the 1974 Housing Act amended the 1937 act to create what is known as "Section 8 Housing"). Also created more segregation by creating the Neighborhood Composition Rule.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976

Provided EPA with the ability to control hazardous waste from the "cradle-to-grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, as well as the management of non-hazardous solid wastes. The 1986 amendment covered environment issues associated with underground storage tanks for fuel and other hazardous substances.

Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968

Provided for the construction of six million subsidized housing units. The Act also authorized monthly subsidies for private houses for low-income families.

Test Statistic

Provides a way to operationalize a hypothesis test

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

Provides protection of animal and plant species that the US Fish and Wildlife Service designates as threatened or endangered. This act was later amended in 1988.

FCC vs. Florida Power Corporation

Public utilities challenged a federal statute that authorized the Federal Communications Commissions to charge rent to cable TV operators for use of utility poles. The Court found that a taking had not occurred.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)

Raising farm animals indoors or outdoors in high volumes. Local governments may be limited in their ability to regulate concentrated animal operations because of Right-To-Farm laws which limit the ability of local government to regulate commercial farms and limits lawsuits by private and public organizations.

Context-Sensitive Design

Refers to roadway standards and development practices that are flexible and sensitive to community values. The CSD allows design decisions to better balance economic, social and environmental objectives within the community. It promotes several key principles: 1. Balance safety, community and environmental goals in all projects 2. Involve the public and affected agencies early and continuously 3. Use an interdisciplinary team tailored to project needs 4. Apply flexibility inherent in design standards 5. Incorporate aesthetics as an integral part of good design

Blue Infrastructure

Refers to water-based infrastructure. This can include stormwater management, such as bioretention systems, swales, reservoirs, rain gardens, constructed wetlands, and other waterways.

Zoning Text

Regulations adopted as law by the local government body and establishes zones with allowable land uses and other standards (parking signage, landscaping, etc.)

Statistical Decision

Rejecting the null hypothesis is a statistical decision. This is done with uncertainty as the decision is not exact.

City of Monterey v. Del Monte Dunes at Monterey Ltd

Repeated denial of permits deprived the owner of all economically viable use of the land

Tenement House Act of 1879

Required that windows open to outside air, which resulted in dumbbell housing type with open air shafts.

Environmental Assessment

Required to determine whether there is a significant environmental impact

Drop Off Surveys - Pros

Residents can complete the survey at their convenience, response rates are higher than the mail survey because people dropping off the survey may have personal contact with the respondent

Phone Surveys - Cons

Response rate varies greatly, is usually more expensive, can be biased due to interaction with interviewer, long questions or questions with multiple answers can be difficult to administer.

Public Roads Administration

Responsible for implementing the highway system. 1947 -designated 60,640 km of highways 1952 - The Federal Aid Highway Act authorized $25 million for construction of interstate highways 1954 - authorized another $175 million 1956 - another $25 billion

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Satellite-based system for determining the absolute location of places or geographic features.

Ian McHarg

Scottish landscape architect who introduced the idea of ecological planning in his book Design With Nature. He sought to fully and intelligently design human environments in concert with the conditions of setting, climate and environment -Influential to get us to think about how the environment should be the central core of what we design and plan -McHarg"ing" mapping and method (what we do now with GIS computer program)

The National Wild and Scenic River Act of 1968

Seeks to preserve rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Rivers are designated by Congress. As of 2018, the National System protected 12,754 miles of 209 rivers in 40 states and Puerto Rico.

Community Gardens

Shared space where individuals garden together to grow fresh, healthful, and affordable fruits and vegetables. These gardens allow for production of affordable and healthy food but also serve as civic spaces that promote social, cultural, and intergenerational interactions. Cities can support community gardens by helping to evaluate the potential of a garden site, assisting in land acquisition, assisting with soil testing and remediation, leading a garden design process, managing plot assignments and monitoring sites.

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)

Signed in 2012 - reduced funding and consolidated transportation programs. Provided $105 billion over two years.

Census Tract

Small county subdivisions, usually containing between 2,500 and 8,000 persons, delineated by the U.S. Census Bureau as areas of relatively uniform population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions.

Enterprise Zones

Specific geographic areas to which governments try to attract private business investment by offering lower taxes and other government support

Longitudinal Survey

Surveys conducted over a period of time

Scenic Corridor Planning

Th FHA creating the National Scenic Byways Program in 1992. The purpose was to designate and fund enhancements of scenic highways across the US. The roadway must have archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. A Corridor Management Plan must be prepared which documents the roadway's intrinsic goals and strategies, including the implementation timeline, and identifies responsible parties. Most states offer their own state byway program.

Adjusted Per Capita Method

The Adjusted Per Capita Method uses the figure calculated above and adjusts this based on expectations about the new development. This relies on subjective judgment.

Aging

The Aging of America is a critical issue facing cities across the US. By 2030, people over the age of 65 are expected to represent 20% of the US population.

Palazzolo v. Rhode Island

The Court held that even when a person takes title to property knowing that it is subject to a restriction, they may still bring a takings claim.

Dolan v. City of Tigard

The Court held the city's issuance of a permit to expand a person's store, subject to the condition she dedicate a portion of her property to the city for a drainage system and a bike path, constituted a taking requiring just compensation unless the city could show a sufficient relationship between the dedications and the impact the expansion would have on the area. "rough proportionality" test

State and Local Districts

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires that all states have a State Historic Preservation office. Many state and local governments have their own laws for historic district designation

Stop the Beach Renourishment Inc v. Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Supreme Court ruled that submerged lands that would be filled by the state for beach reclamation did not constitute a taking of property without just compensation (in violation of the 5th and 14th amendments)

General Fertility Rate

The annual number of live births per 1000 women of childbearing age

Final Plat

The approved preliminary plat with all bearings, monuments, curves, and notations together with all dedications, easements, and approvals.

Normal or Gaussian Distribution

The bell curve. The distribution is symmetric and has the additional property that the spread around the mean can be related to the proportion of observations. More specifically, 95% of the observations that follow a normal distribution are within two standard deviations from the mean. The normal distribution is often used as the reference distribution for statistical inference.

Design Hour Volume

The capacity of the roadway to handle traffic

First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glendale v. County of Los Angeles

The court found that if a property is unusable for a period of time, then not only can the ordinance be set aside, but the property owner can subject the government to pay for damages. The Court found that the County could either purchase the property out-right or revoke the ordinance and pay the church for its losses during the time of the trial.

Rapanos vs. US

The court found that the Army Corps of Engineers must determine whether there is a significant nexus between wetlands and a navigable waterway.

Net Migration

The difference between the level of immigration and the level of emigration.

Tenement Housing Act of 1867

The first major housing code in the US. The Act required all rooms within tenements to have windows, but it did not require windows to open to the outside.

National Corridor Planning

The latest effort by the USDOT is called the Integrated Corridor Management. This refers to the efficient movement of people and goods through institutional collaboration and aggressive, proactive, integration of existing infrastructure along major corridors. The main goal is for corridors to be managed as multimodal systems where operational decisions are "for the benefit of the corridor as a whole."

Crude Birth Rate

The number of live births per year per 1,000 people.

Inferential Statistics

The overall shape of all observed data. It can be listed as an ordered table, or graphically represented by a histogram or density plot.

Reed et al. v Town of Gilbert Arizona (2014)

The pastor of a church rented space in an elementary school and placed signs in the area announcing the time and location of the church services. Gilbert's sign ordinance restricts the size, number, duration and location of certain types of signs, including temporary signs. Gilbert advised the church that it had violated the sign code through the placement of the temporary signs. The church sued Gilbert claiming that the sign code violated the free speech clause in the first amendment, as well as the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. The US Supreme Court found that the city cannot impose more stringent restriction on signs directing the public to a meeting on signs conveying other messages. The Court found the sign ordinance was not content neutral.

Daylighting

The practice of placing windows, or other transparent media, and reflective surfaces so that, during the day, natural light provides effective internal illumination.

Type I Error (or p-value)

The probability that we reject the null hypothesis when in fact it is correct.

Statistical Inference

The process of drawing conclusions about the characteristics of a distribution from a sample of data.

location quotient

The ratio between the percentage of employees in a certain type of work or job classification in a community and the percentage of employees in that same type of work or job classification nationally. If the ratio exceeds 1 it indicates the activity is a base economic activity.

Growth Management

The regulation of the amount, timing, location, and character of development

Alternative Hypothesis

The research hypothesis one wants to find support for by rejecting the null hypothesis.

Sample Design

The sample should represent the population about which information is being gethered

Public Health Movement

The second half of the 1800's was the time of the Public Health Movement. In 1855, the first model tenement was built in New York City. In 1879, the first dumbbell tenement was built. This form of housing was built throughout New York City but often had poor lighting, little air, and little space.

F-test

The test used to statistically evaluate the differences between the group means in ANOVA

Population

The totality of some entity. For example, the total number of planners preparing for the 2019 AICP exam would be a population.

Non-Probability Sampling

There is no precise connection between the sample and the population, so that the results have to be interpreted with caution since they are not necessarily representative of the population. On the other hand, they are often much easier to obtain than probability samples. They involve convenience, snowball, and volunteered geographic information participants.

input-output analysis

This involves dividing the economy into sectors where each sector is a user of inputs from and a supplier of outputs to other sectors. The technique examines how these inputs and outputs can be matched to the total resources available in the economy. Requires a large amount of data and today is done on the computer. It can be used to calculate the impact of a particular project on the local economy .

Distributed Housing Unit Population Method

This method uses the Census Bureau data for the number of housing units, which is then multiplied by the occupancy rate and persons per household. This method is reliable for slow growth or stable communities but is less reliable in communities changing more quickly.

American Community Survey (ACS)

This replaced the long form and it only goes to 2.5%, or 1 in 40 households every year, and no household is repeated twice within a five year period. It asks questions more specific regarding things like household income. It is confidential under Title 13, but individual private data is released by the National Archives after 72 years.

Zoning Amendments

Zoning text or map can be amended through staff, Planning & Zoning, the governing body, or at a property owners request with a public hearing.

Planning, Programming, Budgeting Systems (PPBS) - Cons

Time consuming to prepare and requires that goals and objectives be states in measurable terms. A department may evaluate the number of permits that are issued per month rather than the satisfaction of applicants. Has limited success because of its heavy information requirements and the incompatibility of program format with control mission.

Hydroelectric Power

Typically associated with large dams. It uses falling water to produce power, which is moved through a turbine, causing it to spin. The spinning turbine coupled with a generator produces energy

Eubank v. City of Richmond

U.S. Supreme Court 1912. The Court first approved the use of setback regulations, although it overturned the setbacks in this case.

National Register of Historic Places

US Department of the Interior's National Park Service oversees the National Register. It was created in 1966. Being on the list qualifies the property for federal tax incentives but does not protect from demolition.

Greenbelts

Undeveloped natural land areas that have been set aside for the purposes of open space and recreation, linking urban residents with nature.

Rachel Carson

United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964) - author of Silent Spring published in 1962.

Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)

Uses a laser, instead of radio waves, that is mounted in an airplane to provide detailed topographic information.

Symptomatic Population Method

Uses any available data indirectly related to the population size, such as housing stats or new drivers licenses. Then it estimates the population using a ratio, such as average household size from the US Census. Other data for estimating population - water taps, phone lines, voter registration, and utility connections.

Linear Population Method

Uses change in Population over a period of time and extrapolates this change to the future in a linear fashion.

Solar Energy

Uses photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The panels can be added together to create large systems

Health Impact Assessment

Uses quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the health consequences of a policy, program, or project where health is not the primary objective.

Exponential and Modified Exponential Population Method

Uses rate of population growth or decline over a period of time. If a population grows by 2% per year for the last twenty years, 2% of 2,000 is more than 2% of 1,000 so the curve is bell shaped.

Cohort Survival Population Method

Uses the current population plus natural increase (more births, fewer deaths) and net migration (more in-migration, less out-migration) to calculate a future population. The population is calculated for men and women in specific age groups.

Public Hearing

Usually associated with the Planning Commission, City Council or other governing body. These meetings allow formal citizen input at the end of the planning process. Public hearings are often mandated by law. Hearings are considered ineffective at building public participation and consensus.

City Council or County Commission

Usually has final decision on development applications.

Continuous Variables

Variables that can take an infinite number of values both positive and negative, and with as fine a degree of precision as desired. Most measurements in the physical sciences yield continuous variables.

National Park Service

Was created when Woodrow Wilson signed the Organic Act of 1916 (an Organic Act is an act that establishes a territory or an agency to manage federal land).

Housing Act of 1949

Was the first comprehensive housing legislation passed in the US. The Act called for construction 800,000 new housing units and emphasized slum clearance.

Urbanized Area (UA)

Wherever there is an urban nucleus of 50,000 people or more. The core must also have a density of 1,000 people per square mile and contain an adjoining territory with at least 500 people per square mile.

Peak Hour Volume

equals the hourly traffic during the peak period

Online Surveys - Cons

Will not reach people without internet access which can introduce significant bias

Euclid vs. Ambler (1926)

Zoning is a valid use of police power

Community Support Agriculture

a 20-year old movement to connect farmers to consumers. Farmers sell shares of their harvest to consumers at the beginning of the growing season. Shareholders receive a weekly allotment of fresh produce from the farm which can vary based on the productivity of the farm.

Revenue Bonds

a fixed source of revenue is used to pay back the debt. For example, revenue bonds could be issued to pay for a new water main. The debt could be paid back through the water use fees. Revenue bonds are commonly used to finance utility improvements and special facilities, such as baseball stadiums.

Food Policy Council

a group of individuals that advises local and state government on matters related to food policy. Food policy councils perform a variety of interrelated tasks such as facilitating community food assessments, raising awareness of food issues with the public and local governments, developing food policies, advising community planning processes, promoting CSAs, Farm to School and other programs and organizing educational events

Growing Smart SM

a legislative Guidebook that focuses on updating state legislation to encourage better planning and zoning laws.

Village of Belle Terre v. Boraas

a local zoning ordinance limited occupancy of single-family residential property to not more than two unrelated persons. The ordinance was held valid as a reasonable measure for reducing congestion, promoting tranquility in residential areas, and providing greater family amenities.

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)

a measure of vehicular mobility obtained from travel inventories. Vehicle miles of travel is a function of many factors, including topography, population density, travel distances between home and other daily destinations, and the availability of mass transit. Communities vary in their mix and significance of these factors.

Mediation

a method in which a neutral third party facilitates discussion in a structured multi-stage process to help parties reach a satisfactory agreement. The mediator assists the parties in identifying and articulating their interests and priorities. The agreement typically specifies measurable, achievable, and realistic solutions. The final agreement is typically in writing. This is a dispute-resolution process that is typically used to help resolve conflict without involving the court system.

Urban Homesteading

a number of cities will encourage residents to occupy and renovate vacant properties. HUD allows for federally owner properties to be sold to homesteaders.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

a phone survey to collect state-level data on the prevalence of behavioral risks among adults. (smoking, physical activity, etc.)

National Trust for Historic Preservation

a privately funded non-profit organization initially established for the acquisition of historic sites. It might be best known to planners for its Main Street programs which is now managed by a subsidiary, the National Main Street Center.

Base Alignment and Closure

a process to reorganizing military bases to best support operational readiness. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 specifically prohibited authorizing future BRAC rounds until the Dept of Defense completed its formal review of overseas military facility structure, including overseas basing consolidations

Non-conforming Use

a property that existed prior to the adoption of district regulations and is allowed to continue as a "grandfathered use." Some communities allow these uses to continue forever until they cease, while others put limits. All subsequent uses must conform to the zoning regulations.

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)

a scheduling method that graphically illustrates the interrelationships of project tasks PERT is a good choice when precise time estimates are not available for project tasks. The process involves the following steps: 1. Identify the specific activities and milestones 2. Determine the proper sequence of the activities 3. Construct a network diagram 4. Determine the critical path 5. Update the PERT chart as the project progresses

Lagoon

a shallow lake that is intermittently connected to a river, another lake, or the sea

Hypthesis test

a statement about a particular characteristic of a population (or several populations)

null hypothesis

a statement or idea that can be falsified, or proved wrong

Delphi Method

a structured process of public participation with the intent of coming to a consensus decision. Created in 1944 for the US Army and Air Force. People are asked to complete a series of questionnaires. The answers are presented anonymously. Participants are encourages to revise their answers based on replies heard. Over time, the range of answers decreases and the group converges towards a single solution.

Visual Preference Survey

a technique that can be used to assist citizens in evaluating physical images of natural and built environments. Citizens are asked to view and evaluate a wide variety of pictures depicting houses, sites, building styles, streetscapes, etc. Scores are used to indicate whether a design is what a citizen sees as appropriate for their community.

Safe Growth

a term for building environments that are safe for current and future generations, protecting buildings, infrastructure and the natural environment from damage.

Threshold Population

a term that is under a number of government programs to determine program eligibility. For example, the Phase II Stormwater requirements automatically apply if a city meets the minimum threshold population. Another example is the Threshold Population to qualify to receive Community Development Block Grant Funds.

Workforce Housing

a term used for subsidized housing meant for teachers, nurses, police officers, and others in the workforce. The term is popular because it is seen as having less social stigma than "affordable housing."

Critical Path Method (CPM)

a tool to analyze a project. The analysis results in a "critical path" through the project tasks. Each task has a known amount of time to complete and cannot be completed before the previous one is completed. The longest pathway is the critical pathway.

topographic map

a two-dimensional representation of a portion of the three dimensional surface of the Earth

Reservoir

a type of freshwater, brackish water or saltwater wetlands found along rivers, ponds, lakes, and coasts. It does not accumulate appreciable peat deposits and is dominated by herbaceous vegetation.

Form Based Codes

a type of zoning code that regulates development to achieve a specific urban form. Form-based codes address the relationship between building facades and the public realm, the form and mass of buildings in relation to one another, and the scale and types of streets and blocks. Form-based codes also make use of "place types."

Central Tendency

a typical representative value for the distribution of observed values.

Planned Unit Development

a zoning tool that can offer an alternative to strict zoning regulations typically for large mixed use developments. It applies a different set of controls to a tract of land than standard land use zoning. The entire development site plan is reviewed by the governing body. They pay careful attention to the site plan up front and can allow for flexibility in things that zoning and subdivisions cannot, like road widths and lengths or density. Any substantial deviation from the site plan will require a new approval from the governing body. Overlay zones still matter.

United States vs. Gettysburg Electric Railway Company

acquisition of the national battlefield served a valid public purpose.

Fiscal Impact Analysis

also known as cost-revenue analysis, is used to estimate the costs and revenues of a proposed development on a local government. For example, if a developer plans to build a regional shopping mall, what will be the cost to extend and maintain infrastructure, provide police service, and transit access? The answers are then compared to the sales, property, and income tax generated from this new development. The fiscal impact is the difference between the revenues and expenditures generated by a proposed development. This is also known as the net fiscal impact. If revenues are greater than expenditures, a development has a positive fiscal impact. If expenditures exceed revenues, a negative fiscal impact results. If revenues and expenditures are equal, the impact is neutral.

CommunityViz

an ESRI software environment that allows agencies to analyze land use scenarios and create a 3D image. This allows citizens to visualize the potential for development and redevelopment.

Performance Bonds

an agreement between the property owner and the community to ensure that the final plat is built as shown on the drawings within a certain time period. If the developer fails to meet the requirements, the government may use the bond to cover the cost of constructing the improvements. The bond is released once the improvements are in place and have been inspected by the local government.

Estuary

an area where freshwater meets saltwater

Chicane

an artificial narrowing or turn on a road or auto-racing course Origin late 17th century [in the senses 'chicanery' and 'use chicanery']: from French chicane [noun], chicaner [verb] 'quibble,' of unknown origin.

John Muir

an early advocate for the creation of a national park system. He wrote extensively on populat publications, bringing national attention to sites that would ultimately become national parks, including Glacier Bay and Mount Rainier. He also championed protecting the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon.

ANOVA (analysis of variance)

an inferential statistical test for comparing the means of three or more groups

Design Charrette

an intense collaboration effort that brings together citizens, stakeholders, and staff to develop a detailed design plan for specific areas. A charrette may be held over one or more days. This is an effective technique for quickly developing consensus. Typically small groups are formed with each group focusing on a design solution for an area. Each group has a facilitator who is usually a design professional. In many cases, the local Chapter of the AIA may be engaged to have members serve as facilitators.

Megalopolis

any many centered, multi-city, urban area of more than 10 million inhabitants, generally dominated by low-density settlement and complex networks of economic specialization.

Emergency

any occasion or instance for which in the determination of the president, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lies and protect property and public healthy and safety, or lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the Unites States. as defined in the Stafford Disaster Relief Act.

Greenway

any scenic trail or route set aside for travel or recreational purposes

Datum

approximation of the Earth Surface as an ellipsoid to compute longitude and latitude.

Conservation Easements

are legal agreements between a property owner and a land trust (or other organization) in which the property owner agrees to place restrictions on the use of the property to protect natural resources.

Speed Humps

are raised areas placed across a road and are 3-4 inches tall. They reduce traffic speed by causing uncomfortable driving conditions if the driver goes too fast.

Traffic Circles

are raised landscape islands located at the center of an intersection and can vary in size. They reduce traffic speed by requiring drivers to slow to a pace that allows maneuvering around the circle.

Urban Development Action Grant Program (UDAG)

authorized under the 1977 amendments to the 1974 Housing & Community Development Act. The UDAG program promoted public-private partnerships for the redevelopment of urban areas. It also required intergovernmental cooperation in the placement of projects. Finally, it cut funding for the Section 701 comprehensive planning program.

Community Development Banks

banks that operate in low to moderate income areas. They are certified by the US Department of Treasury. In addition, banks can seek an alternative designation by the National Community Investment Fund if they locate branches and provide loans to economically distressed areas.

Baby Boomers

born between 1946 and 1964

Operating Budget

budget for day-to-day expenses

Capital Budget

budget for major capital, or investment, expenditures and long term purchases. CIP includes project descriptions, estimated costs, construction timelines, and sources of funding.

Housing Act of 1954

called for slum prevention and urban renewal. Additionally, the Act provided funding for planning for cities under 25,000 population. The 701 funds were later expanded to allow for statewide, interstate, and regional planning.

The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899

considered the oldest environmental law in the US - prohibited the construction of any bridge, dam, dike, or causeway over the navigable waterways in the US without Congressional approval. The Act also required Congressional approval for all wharves, piers, or jetties and the excavation or fill of navigable waters

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)

created a $1.6 billion Superfund to clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites and requires major industries to report annual releases for toxic wastes into the air, water or ground. Superfund is the common name for CERCLA. There are more than 1,200 superfund sites across the US. A tax on petroleum and chemical industries provides funding to help pay for the cleanup of superfund sites.

Theodore Roosevelt

created five national parks and signed the Antiquities Act, which created 18 National Monuments including the Grand Canyon. H created 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and more than 100 million acres of national forests.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

created in 1927 in order to create the Colorado River Aqueduct. It was built between 1933 and 1941 and is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It ran a water pipeline to Los Angeles.

National Affordable Housing Act of 1990

created the HOME program, which provides funds for housing rehabilitation.

The Wilderness Act of 1964

created the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Act defined wilderness as "an area of undeveloped Federal land retailing is primeval character and influence without permanent improvements or human habitation." According to the National Park Service, as of 2016, there are more than 106 million acres of federal public lands designated as wilderness.

Choker

curb extension in the middle of a block. The street is narrowed to restrict the speed of traffic in each direction.

Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)

data available through the American Community Survey

Modal Split

deals with how people get to where they want to go, and the form of transportation that they use. By having information on the number of people using their cars, various forms of mass transit, bicycles, or walking, we are able to estimate how many vehicles need to get from one place to another.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

dramatically improved the national parks through the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was set up during the depression. There was also an expansion of the park system under FDR, including the addition of civil war battlefields and Lincoln Memorial in care of the National Park System. He also helped create Olympic and Kings Canyon National Parks, and directed funds to purchase land to create the Smoky Mountains National Park (the first time federal funds were used to purchase park land).

Healthy Corner Store Initiatives

emerged in a number of communities. This program provides financial assistance to small corner grocery stores to increase the offering of healthful foods in underserved neighborhoods, as well as educating store owners and residents of the need for healthy food options.

Green Infrastructure

emphasizes the role of the natural environment in land use planning. A significant emphasis is on converting single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure (piped drainage and water treatment systems) - to reducing and treating stormwater at its source.

The Antiquities Act of 1906

established that archeological sites on public lands are public resources and obligated federal agencies to preserve sites for future generations. Additionally, the law authorizes the President to protect landmark structures, and objects of historic or scientific interest by designating them as National Monuments

The Organics Act of 1916

established the National Park Service to manage national parks and national monuments

The Water Quality Act of 1965

established the Water Pollution Control Administration within the Department of the Interior. This was the first time water quality was treated as an environmental concern rather than a public health concern.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

estimates the total monetary value of the benefits and costs to the community of a project(s) to determine whether they should be undertaken. Typically this is used for public projects such as highways and other public facilities.

Trip Distribution

examines where people are going. Regions are divided into traffic zones (TZA)and data is provided on # of trips between zones.

Impact Fees

fees that municipalities charge builders of new housing or commercial developments to help offset the costs of extending services

Digital Aerial Photography

frequently used by planners. Has allowed for increased accuracy to the .5 foot resolution. These photographs can be incorporated into GIS.

Generation X (Gen X)

generational cohort of people born between 1965 and 1976

Dedications

gifts of land for public purposes, such as roads, parks, and utilities

Public Transit

includes buses, light-rail, heavy rail, streetcars, and trolleys

Hazard Mitigation

includes the actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

has a population of more than 10,000 people and less than 50,000 people. This includes a central county and adjacent counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration as measured by commuting.

Homelessness

has risen over the last twenty years as a result of a growing shortage of rental housing and an increase in poverty.

Dispersion

how values are spread around the central tendency

Agricultural Land Trust

identifies agricultural lands that should be preserved, and works with farm owners to participate in the trust via conservation easement.

Wetlands

including swamps, marshes, bogs, and other similar areas. They are areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support vegetation typically adapted for life in a saturated soil conditions. Wetlands can be natural or constructed.

bi-variate relationship

interested in assessing whether two variables are related to each other.

Traffic Calming

involves horizontal as well as vertical adjustment. The purpose is overall speed or volume reduction

Swamp

is a freshwater wetlands that has spongy, muddy land and a lot of water

Tribal Designated Statistical Area

is a unit drawn by tribes that do not have a recognized land area.

Speed Table

is larger than a speed hump. It has a flat-top and may have brick or another textured material on the flat surface. It is long enough for the entire vehicle to rest on the flat section.

AADT (Average Annual Daily Traffic)

is the amount of traffic on a roadway in a 24 hour period, averaged over a year.

Seasonal Hour Volume

is the peak hour volume during different seasons.

Substantial Damage

means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before damage condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value or replacement cost of the structure before the damage occurred.

Scenic Resources

landscape patterns and landscape features that are aesthetically pleasing and contribute to the distinctness of a community or region.

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972

later amended in 1990, focused efforts to reduce polluted runoff in 29 coastal states.

Coefficient of Variation

measures the relative dispersion from the mean by taking the standard deviation and dividing by the mean.

Transportation Improvement Program

lists all projects for which federal funds are anticipated, along with non-federally funded projects that are regionally significant. The TIP represents the transportation improvement priorities of the region and is required by federal law.

Economic Base Analysis

looks at basic and non-basic economic activities. Basic activities are those that can be exported, while non-basic activities are those that are locally oriented. The exporting (basic) industries make up the economic base of a region.

Housing Act of 1959

made federal matching funds available for comprehensive planning at the metropolitan, regional state and interstate levels

Consolidated MSA

made up of several PMSA's. An example is the Dallas-Fort Worth Consolidated Metropolitan Area. Dallas and Fort Worth are each primary metropolitan statistical areas.

Regional Parks

managed by a special park district and serve multiple jurisdictions

degrees of freedom correction

n-1 because the mean is often estimated and not known.

Edge City

new concentration of business, shopping and entertainment outside a traditional urban area in what had recently been a suburb or rural community. The term was popularized in the 1991 book Edge City by Jeol Garreau who argued that edge cities were the new normal of urban growth worldwide. Garreau established five rules for a place to be considered an edge city

Age-Specific Fertility Rate

number of babies born per 1,000 females in a given age group.

Generation Z

people born after 2000 who make up the kids, tweens, and teens markets

Commute Trip Reduction (CTR)

one of the tools of a total transpiration demand management plan. Provides commuters with resources and incentives to reduce their vehicle trips, particularly during peak commute hours.

Aquifer

one or more strata of rock or sediment that is saturate and sufficiently permeable to yield economically significant quantities or water to wells or springs. An aquifer includes any geographical material that is currently used or could be used as a source of water within the target distance limit.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

originally passed in 1947 and established procedures for registering pesticides with the US Department of Agriculture. FIFRA was rewritten in 1972 when it was amended by the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act (FEPCA). The law has been amended numerous times since 1972, including some significant amendments in the form of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. FIFRA currently mandates that EPS regulate the use and sale of pesticides to protect human health and the environment.

Levels of Service

ranges from A to F - A means there is free flowing traffic and F means heavy congestions with severely reduced speeds.

New Urbanism

promotes compact, walkable neighborhoods. Its principles are defined in the Charter of the New Urbanism, which was adopted by the Congress for New Urbanism. These principles apply at regional, neighborhood and block levels. 1. New Urbanism promotes mixed-income, walkable neighborhoods with a variety of architectural styles 2. Neighborhoods should be defined with edges and centers and include public green spaces. 3. People should be able to access shopping, work, and school within a five-minute walk, or at least be able to access transit within a five-minute walk 4. The transect is a conceptual device for orienting development on a rural to urban continuum. This concept is used in New Urbanist planning practices and is often the basis of form-based codes 5. Tactical Urbanism refers to low-cost temporary changes to the urban environment that are intended to demonstrate the potential impacts that change can have.

Three Types of Taxes

proportional, progressive, regressive

Neighborhood Parks

provide access to basic recreation opportunities for residents of a neighborhood. They are ideally within walking distance and bicycling distance of most residents and are small in size, typically five or fewer acres.

Housing Act of 1961

provided interest subsidies to nonprofit organizations, limited-dividend corporations, cooperatives, and public agencies for the construction of public housing projects for low and moderate income families to rent.

The Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976

provided the EPA with responsibility for reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Certain substances are generally excluded, including food, drugs, cosmetics, and pesticides.

Sampling Error/Distribution

provides a connection between the sample and the population. Because a sample does not contain all the information in the population, any statistic computed from the sample will not be identical to the population statistic, but shows variation. That random variation is the sample error/distribution.

Guaranteed Ride Home

provides commuters who regularly carpool or use transit with a reliable ride home if an emergency arises. GRH programs provide commuters with a backup transportation option in case they need it.

Highway Capacity Manual

published by the Transportation Research Board, provides concepts, guidelines, and procedures for computing highway capacity and quality of service based on road type.

Brownfields

real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant

Dumbbell Tenement

referred to as "Old Law Tenements" was built throughout New York City starting in 1879, but often had poor lighting, little air, and little space.

Resilience

refers to the ability of a community to return to its original form after it has been changed. often resiliency is used to refer to a community's ability to recover from a natural hazard, economic shock, or other major events.

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)

relates to air quality and requires that a project will not increase emissions above a specified PSD increment.

Federal Highway Act of 1962

required a regional transportation plan for metropolitan planning; called for the 3 C's of planning - comprehensive, continuing, and cooperative

Transit-Oriented Development

residential and commercial areas designed to encourage the use of public transportation. A TOD neighborhood has a center with a rail, or bus station, surrounded by medium to high-density development and progressively lower-density spreading outwards. TOD neighborhoods typically have a diameter of one-quarter to one-half mile (stations spaced 1/2 to 1 mile apart), which represents pedestrian scale distances. Some of the benefits of TODs are overall reduction in VMT and the number of vehicle trips, increase in walking and bicycling, and reduction of emissions from vehicles.

The National Environmental Police Act of 1969

resulted in the creation of the Council on Environmental Quality. NEPA requires Federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment for all major Federal actions that may significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Not all federal actions require a full EIS. Agencies can first prepare a smaller, shorter document called the Environmental Assessment

Planning & Zoning Commission

reviews development plans, reads staff reports, interprets zoning regulations, approves, conditionally approves, denies applications, visits sites prior to meetings, discusses applications with applicants, holds public hearings when required, forwards land use recommendations to City Council or County Council when needed.

Surface Water

rivers, lakes, oceans, ocean-like water bodies and coastal tidal waters.

Effluent Standards

set restrictions on the discharge of pollutants into the environment. Effluent guidelines reduce the discharge of pollutants that have serious environmental impacts. The EPA has effluent guidelines for more than 50 categories.

Digital Elevation Models

show digital data about the elevation of the Earth's surface as it varies across communities. Allows planners to analyze and map it. DEMS can be used for stormwater management, flood control, land use decisions, and other purposes.

Net Present Value

shows the monetary value of a project, discounted to today's present value.

Linear Parks

significantly longer in length than width. The New York High Line is an example

The Historic Sites Act of 1935

sought to organize federally owned parks, monuments, and historic sites under the National Park Service. It also declared a national policy to preserve historic sites, buildings, and objects of national importance and public use.

Level of Service (parks)

standards include percentage of the population within 1/2 mile of a neighborhood or trail.

environmental assessment

the findings of the EA determines whether an EIS is required. If the EA indicates that no significant impact is likely then the agency can release a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and carry on with the proposed action. Otherwise, the agency must conduct a full-scale EIS. Most EAs result in a FONSI.

Generation Y (Millennials)

the group of consumers born between 1979 and 2000

GIS Attributes

the information about an object or feature

Sweat Equity

the interest or increased value in a property earned from labor put towards the restoration of a property. Habitat for Humanity is an example.

Wildlife Corridor

the linkage that joins two similar wildlife habitats. The National Resource Conservation Service provides guidance on conservation corridor planning.

Ambient Air Quality Standards

the maximum air contaminant concentrations allowed in the ambient air.

Median

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it

Mode

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Death Rate

the number of deaths each year per 1,000 people

Trip End

the origin or destination point of a journey

Concurrency

the practice of requiring that infrastructure be in place and available at a specified level of service prior to allowing new development to occur.

Zoning

the separation of land uses or functions into separate districts or zones. It is implemented through locally enacted legislation that regulates and controls the use of private property.

census block

the smallest level at which the Census data is collected, There are typically 400 housing units per block.

Standard Deviation

the square root of the variance

NAICS (North American Industry Classification System)

the standard by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data about the US economy. NAICS was developed by the Office of Management and Budget and in 1997 it replaces the Standards Industrial Classification System. It is a six-digit code that allows planners to be able to select industry segments to analyze, for example, conducting a shift share analysis on a particular NAICS designated industry

Z-Score

the standardization of the original variable by subtracting the mean and dividing by the standard deviation. If the Z score is more than 2, then the observation is more than 2 standard deviations away from the mean and is an outlier.

Performance Based Budget - Cons

time-consuming to prepare and requires goals and objectives to be stated in measurable terms.

Transportation Demand Management

transportation demand management or travel demand management (both TDM) is the application of strategies and policies to reduce travel demand (specifically that of single-occupancy private vehicles), or to redistribute this demand in space or in time (i.e. car sharing, flextime, guaranteed ride home, public transit, park-and-ride, HOV lanes, telecommuting, commute trip reduction, transit-oriented development

Colonias

unincorporated subdivisions with little or no infrastructure that are sold to low-income individuals. Colonias are located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas and their residents are predominantly Hispanic. Colonias have grown as a result of a limited supply of adequate, affordable housing near the Mexico border.

Golden vs Ramapo

upheld a developments point systems for awarding permits.

Associated Home Builders of Greater East Bay v. City of Livermore

upheld temporary moratoriums on building permits

Construction Industry of Sonoma County vs. City of Petaluma

upheld the annual number of building permits issues

Young vs American Mini Theaters

upheld zoning that adult theaters cant be within 1000 feet of each other

Solar Photovoltaic Systems

use photovoltaic technology to capture radiant energy from the sun and create electricity. Photovoltaic cells are placed on panels that are then placed on rooftops or mounted on the ground. Cells can operate at the residential to the utility scale

T-test

used to compare the means of two populations based on their sample averages.

Facilitation

uses a person who does not have a direct stake in the outcome of a meeting to help groups that disagree work together to solve complex problems and come to a consensus. The facilitator is typically a volunteer from the community who is respected by all groups. In some cases, a professional facilitator is hired to assist in running the meeting.

Pay-As-You-Go

uses current funds to pay for capital improvement projects.

Biomass Energy

uses organic material which is burned to create energy. Biomass is renewable organic matter such as wood or ethanol (derived almost exclusively from corn)

General Obligation Bonds

voter-approved bonds for capital improvements. Use tax revenue of the government to pay back the debt

Community Development Block Grant Program in 1974

was created under the Housing & Community Development Act. This grant program provides flexibility for communities to use federal funds for the improvement of blighted areas. The CDBG program consolidated six categorical urban programs into one. Additionally the Act created the Section 8 Housing voucher program (amending the 1937 legislation) that provides rent subsidies for low-income housing.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development

was formed in 1965 through the HUD Act of 1965. It also put into place rent subsidies for the poor, home loans at reduced interest rates, and subsidies for public housing projects.

Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966

was the launch of the model cities program. The Act provided financial incentives for coordinated metro area planning for open spaces, water supply, sewage disposal, and mass transit. It also established a loan guarantee program to encourage the development of "new communities." The Civil Rights Act of 1968 made racial descrimination in the sale or rental of housing illegal.

Non-Point Source Pollution

water pollution that does not have a specific point of origin

potable water

water that is safe to drink

Amortization

when a community requires conformity within a certain time frame based on original investment, use, and other factors contributing to the financial status of the owner.

Weighted Mean

where there is a greater importance placed on specific entries or when representative values are used for groups of observations.

Wind Power

wind turbines are 100+ feet tall in order to catch the wind more efficiently. Distributed wind energy systems are small residential wind turbined with capacities of up to 100kQ and are designed for on-site consumption. Utility scale turbines are designed to generate power which can be contributed to the energy grid.

Tactical Urbanism

• activist approach to neighborhood building and activation using short-term, low-cost, and scalable interventions and policies • allows for small-scale reclamation, redesign, or reprogramming of public space • policies differ by case, typically low-cost, efficient solutions - Focuses on making immediate impact on a neighborhood