Chapter 6

Question 1

Doctrine of Laches

Answer 1

Failure to do something at the proper time, especially such delay as will bar a party from bringing a legal proceeding.

Question 2

Police Power

Answer 2

The right of any political body to enact laws and enforce them, for the order, safety, health, morals and general welfare of the public.

Question 3

Building Permit

Answer 3

Written governmental permission for the construction, renovation or substantial repair of a building.

Question 4

Certificate of Occupancy (CO)

Answer 4

A document issued by a governmental authority that a building is ready and fit for occupancy.

Question 5

Eminent Domain

Answer 5

A right of the government to acquire property for necessary public use by condemnation; the owner must be fairly compensated.

Question 6

Abutting

Answer 6

Parcels of land next to each other that share a common border.

Question 7

Accessory Uses

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Accessory Apartment Uses

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Family

Answer 9

A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.

Question 10

Group Home

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Demography

Answer 11

The statistical study of human populations.

Question 12

Master Plan

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Moratorium

Answer 13

A temporary prohibition of an activity

Question 14

Subdivision Regulations

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Topography

Answer 15

The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area

Question 16

Variance

Answer 16

The authorization to improve or develop a particular property in a manner not authorized by zoning.

Question 17

Area Variance

Answer 17

Permission to modify or exceed the bulk regulations imposed by local zoning ordinances.

Question 18

Use Variance

Answer 18

Permission to use or develop land other than that permitted by local zoning ordinances.

Question 19

Air Rights

Answer 19

Rights in real property to use the space above the surface of the land

Question 20

Building Code

Answer 20

Regulations established by state or local governments stating fully the structural and egress requirements for buildings.

Question 21

Census Tract

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Certificate of Occupancy (CO)

Answer 22

A document issued by a governmental authority that a building is ready and fit for occupancy.

Question 23

Condemnation

Answer 23

Taking private property for public use, with fair compensation to the owner; exercising the right of eminent domain.

Question 24

Cul-de-sac

Answer 24

A blind alley: a street with only one outlet.

Question 25

Deed Restriction

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Easement

Answer 26

A right that may be exercised by the public or individuals on, over or through the lands of others.

Question 27

Escheat

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Home Occupations

Answer 28

A business conducted in a residential dwelling unit that is incidental and subordinate to the primary residential use.

Question 29

Infrastructure

Answer 29

Basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or city.

Question 30

Lead Agency

Answer 30

The governmental agency that oversees the environmental impact process and makes final decisions.

Question 31

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)

Answer 31

Oversees public recreational areas and administrates federal and state preservation programs authorized by federal and state law.

Question 32

Non-conforming Use

Answer 32

Utilization of a use that does not comply with local zoning for a particular parcel.

Question 33

Right-of-Way

Answer 33

The right to pass over another’s land pursuant to an easement or license.

Question 34

Setbacks

Answer 34

The distance from the curb or other established line, within which no buildings may be erected.

Question 35

Spot Zoning

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Subdivision Regulations

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Survey

Answer 37

The process by which a parcel of land is measured and its area ascertained; also the blueprint showing the measurements, boundaries and area.

Question 38

Taking

Answer 38

The act of a government body obtaining a property under its power of eminent domain.

Question 39

Transfer of Development Rights

Answer 39

The purchase and use of air rights from adjoining or nearby properties.

Question 40

Zoning Ordinance

Answer 40

Act of city or country of other authorities specifying type and use to which property may be put in specific areas.