Chapter 6: Land Use Regulations

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Police Power

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Building Permit

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Certificate of Occupancy (CO)

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Eminent Domain

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Condemnation

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Abutting

Question 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.

Answer 7

Accessory Uses

Question 8

A second residential unit that may be contained with 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.

Answer 8

Accessory Apartment Uses

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Family

Question 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.

Answer 10

Group Home

Question 11

The statistical study of human populations.

Answer 11

Demography

Question 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.

Answer 12

Master Plan

Question 13

A temporary prohibition of an activity.

Answer 13

Moratorium

Question 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.

Answer 14

Subdivision Regulations

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Topography

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Variance

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Area Variance

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Use Variance

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Air Rights

Question 20

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.

Answer 20

Census Tract

Question 21

A blind alley;

A street with only one outlet.

Answer 21

Cul-de-sac

Question 22

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.

Answer 22

Deed Restriction

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Doctrine of Laches

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Easement

Question 25

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 decent.

Answer 25

Escheat

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Home Occupations

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Infrastructure

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Lead Agency

Question 29

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

Answer 29

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

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Non-Conforming Use

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Right-of-Way

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Setbacks

Question 33

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.

Answer 33

Spot Zoning

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Survey

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Taking

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Transfer of Development Rights

Question 37

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

Answer 37

Zoning Ordinance