Plan Implementation

Question 1

Amortization

Answer 1

Technique for the removal of non-conforming uses after the value of a non-conforming use has been recovered— or amortized— over a period of time.

Question 2

Auger test.

Answer 2

Used to test for soil permeability, as in the case where you are seeing if the site would support a septic drainfield. An auger can be used to retrieve soil samples and examine soil profile.

Question 3

Board of Adjustment

Answer 3

Acts in a quasi-judicial manner and can grant variances and hear appeals. (Note: Per the study guide, special exceptions like conditional use permits and special use permits, would be decided by a planning commission).

Question 4

Overlay Districts

Answer 4

Examples include: Airport, Commercial corridor, Flood Hazard.

Question 5

Explain difference between Euclidian, Cumulative and Modified Cumulative zoning

Answer 5

Euclidian: Places most protective restrictions on residential land uses, less on commercial, and even less on industrial uses.
Cumulative: Each successive zoning district allows the uses from the previous zones.
Modified cumulative: Districts are cumulative by type of land use.

Question 6

Explain differences between types of taxes

Answer 6

Progressive: Tax rate increases as income increases
Proportional: Tax rate is same regardless of income
Regressive: Tax rate decreases as income increases

Question 7

Consistency Doctrine

Answer 7

Ensuring that day-to-day land use decision are made consistent with comprehensive plan. Best practice for planning is that zoning, capital improvements, rezonings and zoning amendments are in conformance with future land use map. Sometimes problems arise with consistency between different plans, such as an economic development strategy and a climate resiliency plan that may show planned development in areas subject to sea level rise.

Question 8

Accountable Implementation

Answer 8

Ties plan actions to timetables, activities, budgets and agencies. Effectiveness is reported, and plans are adjusted accordingly. Important to consider tied to capital budgeting and annual budgeting process.

Question 9

Explain difference between conformance-based evaluation and performance-based evaluation in plan implementation evaluation

Answer 9

Conformance: Sees planning as having the ability to control future development. The more the outcomes conform to the plan, the more successful the plan has been.
Performance: Achievement of end-state goals is not main concern. Rather, desirable outcomes in general are considered a success.

Question 10

Explain policy evaluation versus program evaluation

Answer 10

Policy: System or community-level
Program: Program level

Question 11

Performance Based Zoning

Answer 11

Regulate development by setting desired performance standards (e.g., no negative impact on watershed, limit on noise or odors, etc.) rather than restricting specific uses on a property. Difficult to administer, not widely used.

Question 12

Spot zoning

Answer 12

1-2 parcels treated differently than surrounding properties. Can be legally challenged. Typically want to treat areas that are similar and have development objectives, similarly

Question 13

Contract or conditional zoning

Answer 13

Not allowed in many areas. Allows government to enter into a development agreement for a specific property for a specific development plan. Can function as an overlay zone (conditional zone). Planners have mixed feelings on this.

Question 14

Form Based Codes

Answer 14

Design based regulations that translates community’s vision for design into visual standards. As long as visual standards are met, uses can be easily approved. Challenge: Need a strong sense of what community should look like. You need strong sense of what form should be. Tending to have building form and public space standards that is tied back to regulating plan. On regulating plan, streets are classifed, and building and form standards are tied back to the street classification.

Question 15

Transect

Answer 15

Used in form based code. In urbanism and planning, the term transect provides a conceptual framework for understanding how the scale of built environments can vary from place to place.

The transect cuts a cross section across a spectrum of environments, ranging from completely natural and unspoiled at one end of the spectrum, through exurban and suburban communities, and finally into the varieties of density found in more urban settings at the other end.

urban planning model created by the New Urbanist Andrés Duany. Can also be traced back to Patrick Geddes

Question 16

Hybrid Code

Answer 16

Takes elements of form-based code and puts them into traditional Euclidian framework.

Question 17

Spot zoning versus variance or conditional use

Answer 17

It is a legislative decision, which changes the underlying laws. Spot zoning is not legal, since it treats same properties in different manner.

Question 18

Local Revenue Sources

Answer 18

Limited, delegated authority from state. Types include:
Property tax, excise tax, hotel tax, local option meals tax, licenses, permits, fees and penalties, and community preservation surcharge

Question 19

Mill Rate (property tax)

Answer 19

If your community has a mill rate of 10, that is 1% property tax rate.

Question 20

Tax Increment Financing

Answer 20

Pay for infrastructure upfront that then improves tax base, you use the anticipated increase in tax base to pay for improvements upfront. Collect tax based on growth in property value and use for special projects in that area (bond/borrow against it and pay off over time, pay as you go, giving developers in area a tax break (credit enhancement), etc.). Can be concern for other taxing districts, like fire districts, who may not realize tax that they were anticipated for an area. Can use less than 100% of increase in projected value (the percentage is termed capture rate).

Question 21

Business Improvement District

Answer 21

Create a special tax district in specific geographic area where property owners have agreed to a special supplemental tax to fund improvements, art, marketing, patrols, cleaning, etc. States have to allow this type of district. Not set time frame, and typically need to be renewed after a certain amount of time.

Question 22

Types of Budgeting

Answer 22

Line-item budgeting: Every budget item has a specific line in the budget
Program budgeting: Basic program buckets of funding
Zero-based bucket: Budget resets every year, and you need to justify your new budget allotment
Budgeting Annually: Start with what you had last year, and base on this

Question 23

Participatory Budgeting

Answer 23

Set aside a portion of budget to allow that to be budgeted through a direct democracy process

Question 24

Capital Improvement Planning

Answer 24

Typically used for durable goods (buildings, vehicles, etc.) that are longer-term purchases. Inputs: Needs, available funding based on long-term budget forecast, looking at potential ways to increase revenue streams (e.g., thinking about how land use changes may increase revenue). 5 (6 in WA) year CIPs. Often run by finance or PW, and coordinates with other departments. In some states, Planning Board must approve CIP. More common in town with a City Manager. May or may not be fiscally constrained (living within resources).

Question 25

Bond Ratings

Answer 25

3 primary agencies, they look at how city is run and give city a rating that determines how good your bond interest rate will be. Good bond rating = saves taxpayers money.

Question 26

Community Benefit Agreement

Answer 26

Way of coming to agreement on a large-scale project, is a way to negotiate an agreement with developer (typically they need a modification to city requirements, so this is an opportunity to negotiate). Some ideas of items negotiated: requirements for local hiring, job training, affordable housing, provision of community facilities.

Question 27

Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)

Answer 27

Tax exempt entity voluntarily pays a tax. Negotiated in private.

Question 28

Fiscal Impact Analysis

Answer 28

Look at potential revenue (e.g., from property tax or sales tax or lodging/dining, etc.) and compare that to costs (police, fire protection, schools, additional city staff, etc.).

Question 29

Explain difference between 2 different types of TIF

Answer 29

Credit enhancement - Lower tax rate on private property for a certain amount of time to help lower developer’s operating expenses and entice them to locate
Infrastructure - Borrow against future tax revenue and dedicating those funds to pay off a bond.

Question 30

But-for test in TIF

Answer 30

Test for TIF - But for the improvements I make now, these investments would not happen. I won’t get added value unless I do these improvements. Not supposed to credit a TIF unless you can prove added value. Used in some states, but not all.