Chapter 6 Flashcards
Doctrine of Laches
Failure to do something at the proper time, especially such delay as will bar a party from bringing a legal proceeding.
Police Power
The right of any political body to enact laws and enforce them, for the order, safety, health, morals and general welfare of the public.
Building Permit
Written governmental permission for the construction, renovation or substantial repair of a building.
Certificate of Occupancy (CO)
A document issued by a governmental authority that a building is ready and fit for occupancy.
Eminent Domain
A right of the government to acquire property for necessary public use by condemnation; the owner must be fairly compensated.
Abutting
Parcels of land next to each other that share a common border.
Accessory Uses
The use of land that is subordinate, incidental to, and customarily found in connection with the principal use allowed on a lot by the zoning law. A garage is incidental to the principal use of a lot as a single-family residence and customarily found on a single-family parcel.
Accessory Apartment Uses
A second residential unit that may be contained within an existing single-family home, garage, or carriage house. An accessory apartment is usually required to be a complete housekeeping unit that can function independently with separate access, kitchen, bedroom, and sanitary facilities.
Family
A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
Group Home
A home where a small number of unrelated people in need of care, support, or supervision can live together, such as those who are elderly or mentally ill.
Demography
The statistical study of human populations.
Master Plan
A long-term planning document. It establishes the framework and key elements of a site reflecting a clear vision created and adopted in an open process. It synthesizes civic goals and the public’s aspirations for a project, gives them form and organization, and defines a realistic plan for implementation, including subsequent approvals by public agencies.
Moratorium
A temporary prohibition of an activity
Subdivision Regulations
The control of the division of a tract of land into individual lots by requiring development according to specific design standards and procedures adopted by local ordinances.
Topography
The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area
Variance
The authorization to improve or develop a particular property in a manner not authorized by zoning.
Area Variance
Permission to modify or exceed the bulk regulations imposed by local zoning ordinances.
Use Variance
Permission to use or develop land other than that permitted by local zoning ordinances.
Air Rights
Rights in real property to use the space above the surface of the land
Building Code
Regulations established by state or local governments stating fully the structural and egress requirements for buildings.
Census Tract
Small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a country or equivalent entity that are updated by local participants prior to each decennial census. The primary purpose of the census tracts is to provide a stable set of geographic units for the presentation of statistical data.
Certificate of Occupancy (CO)
A document issued by a governmental authority that a building is ready and fit for occupancy.
Condemnation
Taking private property for public use, with fair compensation to the owner; exercising the right of eminent domain.
Cul-de-sac
A blind alley: a street with only one outlet.
Deed Restriction
A imposed restriction in a deed for the purpose of limiting the use of the land such as:
1) A restriction against the sale of liquor thereon.
2) A restriction as to the size, type, value or placement of improvements that may be erected thereon.
Easement
A right that may be exercised by the public or individuals on, over or through the lands of others.
Escheat
The reversion to the State of property in event the owner thereof abandons it or dies, without leaving a will and has no distributees to whom the property may pass by lawful descent.
Home Occupations
A business conducted in a residential dwelling unit that is incidental and subordinate to the primary residential use.
Infrastructure
Basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or city.
Lead Agency
The governmental agency that oversees the environmental impact process and makes final decisions.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)
Oversees public recreational areas and administrates federal and state preservation programs authorized by federal and state law.
Non-conforming Use
Utilization of a use that does not comply with local zoning for a particular parcel.
Right-of-Way
The right to pass over another’s land pursuant to an easement or license.
Setbacks
The distance from the curb or other established line, within which no buildings may be erected.
Spot Zoning
The application of zoning to a specific parcel of land within a larger zoned area when the rezoning is usually at odds with a city’s master plan and current zoning restrictions.
Subdivision Regulations
The control of the division of a tract of land into individual lots by requiring development according to specific design standards and procedures adopted by local ordinances.
Survey
The process by which a parcel of land is measured and its area ascertained; also the blueprint showing the measurements, boundaries and area.
Taking
The act of a government body obtaining a property under its power of eminent domain.
Transfer of Development Rights
The purchase and use of air rights from adjoining or nearby properties.
Zoning Ordinance
Act of city or country of other authorities specifying type and use to which property may be put in specific areas.
