Glossary of Planning Terms Flashcards
Acre, gross
Area of a site calculated to the centerline of bounding streets and other public rights-of-way
Acre, gross developable
Area of a site, including proposed public streets and other proposed rights-of-way but excluding areas subject to physical or environmental constraints, which include creek corridors and floodways, and areas to be dedicated for greenways or habitat protection
Acre, net
Area of a site excluding land to be dedicated for required easements for vehicles and rights of way, either public or private; land dedicated to be hazardous or unbuildable; and land to be dedicated for public use (schools, parks, etc.)
Affordable housing
Housing capable of being purchased or rented by a household of extremely low, very low, low, or moderate income, based on the household’s ability to make monthly payments. Housing is considered affordable when a household pays less than 30% of its gross monthly income (GMI) for the housing, including utilities
Attainment area
An area determined to have met federal or state air quality standards, as defined by the federal Clean Air Act or the California Clean Air Act. An area may be an attainment area for one-pollutant and a non-attainment area for others
Best Management Practices (BMP)
The combination of standards, procedures, conservation measures, and management practices that reduces or avoids adverse impacts of development. BMPs most commonly refer to water supply and quality management, but may also refer to other resources or planning concerns, such as air quality, agriculture and soils, biological resources, etc.
Buffer area
A landscape area, usually containing trees, shrubs, and other natural surfaces, used to protect a resource such as a waterway or agricultural land, or to increase the compatibility of adjacent land uses
Buildout
That level of development characterized by full occupancy of all developable sites in accordance with the General Plan; the maximum probable level of development envisioned by the General Plan under specified assumptions about densities and intensities. Buildout does not necessarily assume parcels are developed at maximum allowable intensities
Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
The multi-year scheduling of public physical improvements based on studies of fiscal resources available and the choice of specific improvements to be constructed
Climate Action Plan (CAP)
A plan to address community, agency, or business contributions to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and global climate change. A CAP usually consists of an existing GHG inventory, a projection of future emissions, a prioritized list of potential relevant actions the jurisdiction could take to reduce existing and future GHG emissions, some quantification of costs and benefits of each action, an estimate of the overall effect of plan implementation in terms of GHG reductions, and an implementation program including responsible parties, funding sources, and timelines for implementation
CNEL (Community Noise Equivalent Level)
The average equivalent A-weighted sound level during a 24-hour day, obtained after addition of five decibels to sound levels in the evening from 7pm to 10pm and after addition of 10 decibels to sound levels in the night from 10pm to 7 am.
Compatible
Capable of existing together without conflict or ill effects
Conservation
The management of natural resources to prevent waste, destruction, or neglect
Consistent
Free from variation or contradiction. Programs in the General Plan are to be consistent, not contradictory. State law requires consistency between a general plan and implementation measures such as the zoning ordinance
Curb cut
The opening along the curb line at which point vehicles or other wheeled forms of transportation may enter or leave the roadway. Curb cuts are essential at street corners for wheelchair users
dBA
The “A-weighted” scale for measuring sound in decibels; weights or reduces the effects of low and high frequencies in order to stimulate human hearing. Every increase of 10 dBA doubles the perceived loudness though the noise is actually 10 times more intense
Decibel (dB)
A unit of measurement used to express the relative intensity of sound as heard by the human ear describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the radio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter)
Dedication
The commitment by an owner or developer of private land for public use, and the acceptance of land for such use by the governmental agency having jurisdiction over the public function for which it will be used. Dedications for roads, parks, school sites, or other public uses often are required by the City as conditions of approval on a development.
Dedication, in lieu of
Cash payments may be required of an owner of developer as a substitute for dedication of land, usually calculated in dollars per lot, and referred to as in lieu fees or in lieu contributions
Density, Residential
The number of dwelling units per acre of land. Densities are usually expressed in units per gross developable area
Density bonus
The allocation of development rights that allow a parcel to accommodate additional square footage or additional residential units beyond the maximum for which the parcel is zoned, usually in exchange for the provision or preservation of an amity at the same site or at another location.
Detention area
A detention area is an area in the natural environment where rainwater runoff and stormwater naturally collects during a rain and then is pumped to other areas. Human activity and construction of homes have the effect of changing the size and shape of a detention area
Detention basin/pond
Facilities classified according to the broad function they serve, such as storage, diversion, or detention. Detention facilities are constructed to retard flood runoff and minimize the effects of floods
Developer
An individual who, or business which, prepares raw land for the construction of buildings or builds or causes to be built physical building space for use primarily by others, and in which the preparation of the land or the creation of building space is in itself a business and is not incidental to another business or activity
Development
The physical extension and/or construction of urban land uses. Development activities include but are not limited to: subdivision of land; construction or alteration of structures, roads, utilities, and other facilities; installation of septic systems; grading; deposit of refuse, debris, or fill materials; and clearing of natural vegetation cover (with the exception of agricultural activities). Routine repair and maintenance activities are not considered to be “development”
District
(1) An area of a city or county that has a unique character identifiable as different from surrounding areas because of distinctive architecture, streets, geographic features, culture, landmarks, activities, or land uses.
(2) A portion of the territory of a city or county within which uniform zoning regulations and requirements apply; a zone.
Dwelling unit
A room or group of rooms (including sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities, but not more than one kitchen) which constitutes an independent housekeeping unit, occupied or intended for occupancy by one household on a long-term basis
Easement
A right given by the owner of land to another party for specific limited use of that land. An easement may be acquired by a government through dedication when the purchase of an entire interest in the property may be too expensive or unnecessary; usually needed for utilities or shared parking
Endangered Species, California
A native species or sub-species of a bird, mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, or plant, which is in serious danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range, due to one or more factors, including loss in habitat, change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, or disease. The status is determined by the State Department of Fish and Game together with the State Fish and Game Commission
Endangered Species, Federal
A species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, other than the species of the Class Insect determined to constitute a pest whose protection under the provisions of the 1973 Endangered Species Act, as amended, would present and overwhelming and overriding risk to humans. The status is determined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice refers to the fair treatment of all people – regardless of race, income, and religion – when implementing policies that affect housing and the environment. The federal and State government have policies that require agencies to identity and avoid placing a disproportionately large number of minority or low-income populations in certain geographical locations
Expansive soils
Soils that swell when they absorb water and shrink as they dry
Floodplain
An area adjacent to a lake, stream, ocean, or other body of water lying outside the ordinary banks of the water body and periodically inundated by flood flows
Flood Zone
The relatively level land area on either side of the banks of a stream that is subject to flooding under a 100-year or a 500-year storm
Flood, 100-year
A flood event that has a one-percent chance of occurring in any one year
Floor Area, Gross
The total horizontal area in square feet of all floors within the exterior walls or a building, but not including the area of unroofed inner courts or shaft enclosures
General Plan
A set of policies and programs that form a blueprint for long-term development of the community. It consists of written text and diagrams that express how a community should develop, and is a key tool for influencing the quality of life. The plan is a basis for decision-making on land use, services, and public works used by policymakers such as the Planning Commission and the City Council.
Graywater
Usually defined as the wastewater produced from baths, showers, clothes washers, and bathroom sinks (though not kitchen sinks or toilets). Graywater may be recycled for irrigation, cooling, toilet-flushing, and certain other secondary uses without treatment
Historic Resources
Standing structures of historic or aesthetic significant, with significance usually defined by state and federal agencies, but which may also be defined locally
Infill
The development of new housing or other buildings on scattered vacant lots in a predominantly developed area or on new building parcels created by permitted lot splits
Intersection capacity
The maximum number of vehicles that has a reasonable expectation of passing through an intersection in one direction during a given time period under prevailing roadway and traffic conditions
Jobs-Employed Residents Ratio
Total jobs divided by total employed residents (i.e. people who live in the area, but may work anywhere). A ratio of 1.0 typically indicates a balance. A ratio greater than 1.0 indicates a net in-commute; less than 1.0 indicates a net out-commute
K Factor
Erosion factor K indicates the susceptibility of a soil to sheet and rill erosion by water. Factor K is one of six factors used in Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to predict the average annual rate of soil loss by sheet and rill erosion in tons per acre per year. The estimates are based primarily on the percentage of silt, sand, and organic matter and on soil structure and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). Values of K range from 0.02 to 0.69. Other factors being equal, the higher the value, the more susceptible the soil is to sheet and rill erosion by water
L10
A statistical descriptor indicating the sound level exceeded 10% of the time. It is a commonly used descriptor in community noise, and has been used in Federal Highway Administration standards and standards of some cities
Ldn (Day-Night Average Sound Level)
The A-weighted average sound level for a given area (measured in decibels) during a 24-hour period with a 10 dB weighting applied to night-time sound levels (after 10pm and before 7am). The Ldn is approximately numerically equal to the CNEL for most environmental settings
Leq (Equivalent energy level)
The sound level corresponding to a steady sound level containing the same total energy as a time varying signal over a given sample period. Leq is typically computer over 1,2, and 8-hour sample periods.
LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings
Level of Service (LOS) (traffic)
A qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream and the perception of motorists and/or passengers regarding these conditions. A level of service definition generally describes these conditions in terms of such factors as traffic volumes, speed and travel time, delays at traffic signals, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort, convenience, and safety
Liquefaction
A sudden large decrease in the shearing resistance of a cohesion less soil, caused by a collapse of the structure by shock or strain, and associated with a sudden but temporary increase of the pore fluid pressure
Mixed Use
A development project or a General Plan land use designation that includes two or more categories of land use, such as residential and commercial, or commercial and professional office
Noise Contours
Lines drawn about a noise source indicated equal levels of noise exposure. CNEL and Ldn are the metrics utilized heron to describe annoyance due to noise and to establish land use planning criteria for noise
Open Space
Any parcel or area of land or water that is essentially unimproved. The General Plan designates privately-owned rural/grazing lands, and devoted open space areas as defined by California planning law
Particulate Matter
Solid or liquid matter suspended in the atmosphere. Particulate matters can penetrate to the deeper portion of the lung, affecting sensitive populations croups such as children and people with respiratory diseases
Peak Hour
The busiest one-hour period for traffic during 24-hour period. The PM peak hour is the busiest one hour period of traffic during the evening commute period. The AM peak hour is the busiest one hour period during the morning commute
Pedestrian-Oriented Development
Development designed with an emphasis on the street sidewalk and on pedestrian access to the building, rather than on auto access and parking areas
Performance standards
A statement representing a commitment by a public agency to attain a specified level or quality of performance through its programs and policies
Planning Area
The land area addressed by a General Plan, including land within the city limits and land outside the city limits that bears a relation to the City’s plan
