Neighborhood Context / Zoning & Environment

Question 1

Imageability

Answer 1

The quality of a physical environment that evokes a strong image in the mind of an observer.

Question 2

Massing

Answer 2

The overall book of a (n/e) building in relation to the size and massing of nearby buildings, massing is closely related to scale.

Question 3

Scale

Answer 3

The relative size of something as related to another element of known size. The most common scale known is the human scale, in which objects and spaces are judged relative to the size and form of the human body.

Question 4

Catchment Area

Answer 4

The geographical region a surrounding base population resides within. Ex: School districts, housing developments, industrial zones.

Question 5

Preservation

Answer 5

Attempts to retain all historic fabric throughout conservation maintenance and repair.

Question 6

Rehabilitation

Answer 6

Emphasizes the retention and repair of historic material, but gives more latitude to replacement.

Question 7

Restoration

Answer 7

Focuses on the retention of materials from the most significant time in a property’s history while permitting the removal of materials from other periods.

Question 8

Reconstruction

Answer 8

Allows the opportunity to recreate a non-serving site, landscape building structure, or object in new materials.

Question 9

Setting

Answer 9

The setting is the larger area or environment in which a historic building is located. It may be an urban, suburban, or rural neighborhood or a natural landscape in which buildings have been constructed. The relationship of buildings to each other, setbacks, fence patterns, views, driveways and walkways, and street trees and other landscaping together establish the character of a district or neighborhood.

Question 10

Zoning

Answer 10

the division of a city or other area into districts in order to regulate the use of land, location and size of building within those districts.

Question 11

Setback

Answer 11

The minimum distance a building must be placed from a property line.

Question 12

Zero-lot line

Answer 12

When zoning allows the building to be placed on the property line.

Question 13

FAR

Answer 13

Floor Area Ratio
the ratio of the gross floor area within a structure to the area of the lot on which the structure is situated.

Question 14

Bulk Plane Restriction

Answer 14

A zoning technique that establishes an imaginary inclined plane beginning at the lot line, center of the street, or another designated point at a given elevation (usually,` but not always ground level).

Question 15

Variance

Answer 15

Permission from the local zoning AHJ to deviate from the zoning regulations.

Question 16

Conditional use permit

Answer 16

Allowing a nonconforming use if the property owner meets certain conditions. A conditional use permit is often granted if the exception is in the public interest.

Question 17

Easement

Answer 17

The right to use another’s land for a specific purpose or to prevent the land’s owner from using it for a particular purpose. Most commonly used for a utility easement.

Question 18

Access easement

Answer 18

If a parcel of land is not served by a public road, an access easement may be granted that gives the landowner tand the public the right to cross an adjacent property.

Question 19

Support easement

Answer 19

for the construction of common party walls between properties.

Question 20

Joint easement

Answer 20

allow two or more property owners to share a common feature such as a driveway.

Question 21

Scenic easement

Answer 21

Protect views and development in scenic areas. Often used by public agencies to control land use without the need to purchase large tracts of property.

Question 22

Conservation easement

Answer 22

Limit land use in large areas. Often used by public agencies to control land use without the need to purchase large tracts of property.

Question 23

Right-of-way

Answer 23

the legal right of one party or the public to traverse land belonging to another. Most common form refers to the public land used for streets and sidewalks.

Question 24

Geotechnical report

Answer 24

Document prepared b a geotechnical engineer. Includes a field investigation of a building site using various types of soil tests, laboratory testing of soil samples to determine allowable bearing pressures, and a variety of other information and requirements to inform the building program and design.

Question 25

FEMA

Answer 25

Federal Emergency Management Agency.