Plan Making Flashcards
Best way to solicit citizen input in plan making
Neighborhood group leaders and citizen committees
Most effective way to generate adequate citizen participation
Developing a multi-faceted public information program
Common citizen surveys
Mailed - inexpensive but slow
Telephone - fast, cheaper but some do not have phones and must have interviewers
In-person - works well but very expensive and could be bias
Charrette
Intensive interactive problem-solving process convened around development of specific plans. Experts within and outside community.
Citizen Advisory Committee
Citizens groups presumed to represent the ideas and attitudes of local residents. Purpose to advise planning agency.
Planners primary obligation
serve the public interest
Citizen referendum
citizens vote their approval or disapproval of a public measure by official ballot.
Delphi technique
used to develop consensus between two or more groups that are in conflict. Develop goals & objectives. Group facilitation skills.
Focus groups
Representative sample of a community. Facilitated in an informal setting directed toward a specific subject.
Ladder of Citizen Participation: Sherry R. Arnstein
Defines citizen participation in terms of amount of control citizens have over policy decision. Without distribution of power, citizen participation is “empty ritual”
Factors that are important in determining population projections
Migration, birth rate, death rate
Tiger file
Digital database of geographic features, such as roads, railroads, rivers, lakes, legal boundaries, census statistical boundaries, etc. covering the entire US
Cohort survival method of population projection
The study of a group by a specific characteristic (age, grade, income) increased by the rate that group survives into the next year
Housing Unit Method (HUM)
A process of using housing data for population projections
Symptomatic indicators
Data series such as building permits that are reflective of population change and can be used in developing current population estimates
Composite method for estimating populations
Takes various age groups and determines the estimate for each, then aggregates them together
Constant share technique
Assumes that the portion of a sample’s type (people, age occupation, animal, etc.) in a given population/area will remain the same over time
Shift share technique
A projection for employment. Population takes into account the shift/movement of jobs and people from or to a community.
Floodplain map
A map that shows the vulnerability of a flood according to the 100 year flood
Soil Map
A map showing the distribution of soil types or other soil mapping units in a relation to the prominent and cultural features of the earth’s surface
Soil Profile
A cross section of the earth’s showing the makeup of the soil layers
Agency responsible for soil map database
NRCS (National Resource Conservation Service) division of US Department of Agriculture
Agency responsible for floodplain maps
FEMA
USGS orthophoto
An aerial photograph that has been altered in such a way that the lens distortions are removed and so that it may be scaled for mapping purposes
Scale of a USGS orthophoto
1:12,000
Electronic town meeting
Electronic tool used to gather public feedback on the WTC proposals
USGS topoographic map
Scale 1:24,000, 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:100,000, 1:250,000
Only map to cover the entire US in detail
USGS topographic map
First year the USGS topographic map was produced
1879
topographical map
A map that uses contour lines to portray the shape and elevation of the land. Topographic maps render the three-dimensional ups and downs of the terrain on a two-dimensional surface
Information on topographical map
Both natural and manmade features. Natural features include mountains, valleys, plains, lakes, rivers, and vegetation. Man made features include roads, boundaries, transmission lines, and major buildings.
How man USGS topographic maps are there total
55,000
Plan making
A three-part process including 1) goals and visions, 2) analysis of current problems, 3) creation of alternatives
Visioning
A process whereby citizens attend a series of meetings that provide the opportunity to offer input on how the community could be in the future
Strategic planning
Sort-term in focus and specific in accomplishing certain objectives. Used to assist an organization in guiding its future. Strategic planning sets goals, objectives, and policies for reaching the set objectives
Goal
A general statement that may not be realized, but is something towards which to strive.
Objective
A more specific and attainable statement
Survey
Research method that allows one to collect data on a topic that cannot be directly observed. Surveys are used extensively in planning to assess attitudes and characteristics of the public on a wide range of topics.
Cross-sectional survey
Gathers information about a population at a single point in time
Longitudinal survey
gathers information about a population over a period of time
Written surveys
Mailed, printed in a newspaper, administered in a group setting, or other method. Used when trying to obtain information from a broad audience. Low cost but typically low response rate.
Group-administered surveys
Used for specific populations. Allows a high and quick response rate. This survey method requires a small sample size.
Drop-off survey
Survey left at someone’s residence or business to be completed. Response rates are higher than mail surveys because of personal contact with the respondent. Expensive due to time required to distribute. Sample size smaller than mail surveys.
Phone/oral interview surveys
Useful for yes/no answers. Allows follow up on answers. Response rate varies greatly. Expensive method because of time to complete. Can be biased by interaction with the interviewer. Difficult to use long questions and multiple answers with this method.
Electronic surveys
Growing in popularity. Administered on web or via email. Inexpensive method that can generate quick responses. This method has a higher response rate than written or interview surveys. Downside is that it will not reach people without internet access.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
the ration of the gross floor area of the building to its ground area. Used primarily to determine building density on a site or the size of a building in relation to the size of the lot in which it sits
Small scale map
Shows a large land area with little detail
Large scale map
Shows a limited land area in great detail
Contour Lines
Shows lines of equal elevation
Contour interval
Shows the distance between contour lines. The closer the lines are, the steeper the terrain.
Slope
The change in elevation divided by the horizontal distance.
Slope of 0-0.5%
No drainage, not suited for development
Slope of 0.5-1%
No problems, ideal for all types of development
Slope of 1-3%
Slight problems for large commercial areas; acceptable for residential
Slope of 3-5%
Major problems for commercial/industrial/large scale residential
Slope of 5-10%
Suitable only for specially designed development
Scale of 1:24,000
1 inch represents 2,000 feet
1 acre
43,560 square feet
Normal distribution
Symmetrical dispersion around the mean. This is a bell curve
Population
The total of a collection
Sample
A subset of the population
Descriptive statistics
Describe the characteristics of a population
Inferential statistics
Determines characteristics of a population based on observations made on a sample from that population. What is observed in the sample is assumed to apply to the population.
Central tendancy
The typical or representative value of a dataset. Can be reported by a variety of ways including mean, median, and mode.
Mean
average of a distribution
Median
the middle number of a distribution
Mode
The most frequent number in a distribution
Nominal data
Data that is classified into mutually exclusive groups that lack intrinsic order. Race and sex are examples of nominal data. Mode is the only measure of central tendency that can be used for this type of data.
Ordinal data
Data values are ordered so that inferences can be made regarding magnitude, but have no fixed interval between values. Educational attainment or a letter grade on a test is an example. Mode and median are the only measures of central tendency that can be used.
Interval data
Data that has an ordered relationship with a magnitude, such as temperature. 10 degrees is not twice as cold as 20 degrees.
Ratio data
Data has an ordered relationship and equal intervals. Distance is an example. 2 miles is twice as long as 1 mile. Any form of central tendency can be used for this type of data.
Range
Simplest measure of dispersion, it is the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
Variance
The average squared difference of scores from the mean score of a distribution.
Standard deviation
the square root of the variance
Standard error
The standard deviation of a sampling distribution. Standard errors indicate the degree of sampling fluctuation. The larger the sample size the smaller the standard error.
Confidence Interval
Gives an estimated range of values that is likely to include an unknown population parameter. The width of the confidence interval gives us an idea of how uncertain we are about the unknown parameter.
Hypothesis
A statement expressing a relationship. Makes a prediction of what you are trying to prove.
Null hypothesis
Relationship makes no difference; relationship has resulted from random chance.
Alternative hypothesis
States the hypothesis the research expects to support; the possibility that an observed effect is genuine.
Major population estimation and projection methods
Linear, symptomatic, ratio (step-down) method, and cohort survival.
Linear method
Uses the rate of growth (or decline) in population over a period of time to estimate the current or future population.
Symptomatic method
Uses available data to estimate the current population
Step-down ratio method
Uses the ratio between the population of a city and a county (or larger geographical unit) at a known point in time, such as the decennial census. This ratio is used to project the current or future population.
Cohort survival method
Uses the current population plus natural increase and net migration to calculate a future population. The population is calculated for men and women in specific age groups.
Net migration
The difference between the number of people moving in and the number of people moving out.
Economic base analysis
Looks at basic and non-basic economic activities. Basic activities are those that can be exported, while non-basic activities are those that are locally oriented. The exporting (basic) industries make up the economic base of a region.
Basic Economic Activities
Those that can be exported
Non-basic Economic Activities
locally oriented
Location-Quotient (LQ)
A ratio of an industry’s share of local employment divided by its share of the nation (or other level of government). A ratio of less than 1 indicates that an area imports an industry’s products of services, a ratio of greater than 1 indicates exporting.
Shift-share analysis
analyzes a local economy in comparison with a larger economy. This analysis looks at the differential shift, proportional shift, and economic growth.
Input-output analysis
Quantitative method to assist in economic policy decision-making. The analysis links suppliers and purchasers to determine the economic output of a region. Identifies primary suppliers, intermediate suppliers, intermediate purchasers, and final purchasers.
Household income
Defined in terms of the amount of income they earn relative to 100% of the Area Median Income
Area Median Income (AMI)
Refers to the middle or midpoint income for a particular area. The term is used to estimate the “average” income for a particular area.
Moderate income households
Earn between 80 and 120% of Area Median Income.
Low income households
Earn between 50 and 80% of Area Median Income
Very low income households
Earn no more than 50% of Area Median Income
Poverty thresholds
Used for calculating all official poverty population statistics
Poverty guidelines
Simplified version used for administrative purposes. Example - determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs.
Poverty rate
12.6% (increased for four years from 2000-2004)
Median household income
$46,326 annually
Baby boomers
people born between 1946 and 1964
Generation X
people born between 1965 and 1976
Echo Boom (Generation Y)
People born between 1977 and 2000
Megalopolis
A many-centered, multi-city, urban area of more than 10 million inhabitants, generally dominated by low-density settlement and complex networks of economic specialization.
Urban cluster
A contiguous, densely settled census block group that meet minimum population density requirements, along with adjacent densely settled census blocks that together encompass a population of at least 2,500 people but fewer than 50,000 people.
Urbanized Area
A contiguous, densely settled census block group that meet minimum population density requirements, along with adjacent densely settled census blocks that together encompass a population of at least 50,000 people.
Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)
Digital data about the elevation of the earth’s surface as it varies across communities allows planners to analyze and map it.
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
Uses a laser, instead of radio waves, that is mounted in an airplane to provide detailed topographic information
Fiscal Impact Analysis
Used to estimate the costs and revenues of a proposed development on a local government.
Average Per Capita Method
Divides the total local budget by the existing population in a city to determine the average per-capita cost for the jurisdiction. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis
Adjusted Per Capita Method
Varies fiscal impact based on expectations about the new development. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis
Disaggregated Per Capita Method
Estimates the costs and revenues based on major land uses. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis
Dynamic Method
Applies statistical analysis to time-series data from a jurisdiction. Type of Fiscal Impact Analysis.
The Ordinance of 1785
Established a system of rectangular survey coordinates for virtually all of the country west of the Appalachians. Established the basis for the Public Land Survey System.
Public Land Survey System
Land was to be systematically surveyed into square townships, six miles on a side. Each of these townships was subdivided into thirty six sections of one square mile, or 640 acres (259 hectares)
TIGER Files Include
Roads, Census blocks, and census tracts
Base map
Type of map used as a starting point for many planning projects, shows the essential nature or man determined features of an area.
