Sec 2-3 glossary key 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 and unbuildable; and land to be dedicated for schools and parks or other facilities dedicated for public use.
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 percent of its gross monthly
income (GMI) for the housing, including utilities.
Aquifer
An underground, water-bearing layer of earth, porous rock, sand, or gravel, through which
water can seep or be held in natural storage. Aquifers generally hold sufficient water to be used as a water
supply.
Attainment Area
An area determined to have met federal or State air quality standards, as defined in 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 7 p.m. to 10
p.m. and after addition of 10 decibels to sound levels in the night from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
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 ten 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 ratio 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 which may be required of an owner or developer as a substitute
for a 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 acre. (See “Acres, Gross,” and “Acres, Gross Developable.”)
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 amenity at the same site or at another location. Under
California State Law, residential projects that provide affordable housing may be entitled to a 35 percent
increase of the underlying zone district.
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 effect
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 the 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 an overwhelming and overriding risk to humans. The status is determined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
An environmental assessment that fulfills the requirements of
CEQA and is designed to inform decision-makers, responsible and trustee agencies, and the general
public of a proposed action (project) and the range of potential environmental impacts of that action. An
EIR recommends measures to mitigate significant adverse impacts identified in the analysis, and provides an opportunity to identify environmental benefits that might balance some potentially significant adverse environmental effects. An EIR also analyzes alternatives to the proposed project. EIRs are informational documents used in the review of a project prior to taking action on it.
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 identify and avoid placing a disproportionately large number of minority and low-income populations in certain geographical locations.
Equivalent Noise Level (Leq)
A single-number representation of the fluctuating sound level in decibels
over a specified period of time. It is a sound-energy average of the fluctuating level.
Erosion
The process by which material is removed from the earth’s surface (including weathering,
dissolution, abrasion, and transportation), most commonly by wind or water.
Expansive Soils.
Soils that swell when they absorb water and shrink as they dry.
Fault
A fracture in the earth’s crust forming a boundary between rock masses that have shifted. An
active fault is a fault that has moved recently and which is likely to again. An inactive fault is a fault which shows no evidence of movement in recent geologic time and little potential for movement.
Flood, 100-Year.
That flood event that has a one-percent chance of occurrence in any one year.
Flood, 500-Year
The magnitude of a flood expected to occur on the average every 500 years, based on historical data. The 500-year flood has a 1/500, or 0.2 percent, chance of occurring in any given year.
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 flood.
Floor Area, Gross
The total horizontal area in square feet of all floors within the exterior walls of a building, but not including the area of unroofed inner courts or shaft enclosures.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The ratio between gross floor area of structures on a site and gross site area.
Thus, a building with a floor area of 100,000 square feet on a 50,000 square-foot lot will have a FAR of 2.0.
General Plans
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.
All cities and counties in California are required by law to have general plans.
Global Climate Change
A change in the average air temperature that may be measured by wind
patterns, storms, precipitation, and temperature. The rate of temperature change has typically been incremental, with warming and cooling occurring over the course of thousands of years. In the past 10,000 years the earth has experienced incremental warming as glaciers retreated across the globe. However, scientists have observed an unprecedented increase in the rate of warming over the past 150 years, roughly coinciding with the global industrial revolution.
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.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases play a critical role in
determining the Earth’s surface temperature. Six specific greenhouse gases are regulated in California, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride
Green Building
A green building generally refers to one that is environmentally-friendly in terms of
energy consumption, water conservation, or the waste produced during its entire life-cycle. A green building is intended to have less impact on the environment than a traditional structure. Green buildings
are often designated with the use of rating systems.
Groundwater
Water under the earth’s surface, often confined to aquifers capable of supplying wells and
springs.
Groundwater Recharge
The natural process of infiltration and percolation of rainwater from land areas
or streams through permeable soils into water-holding rocks that provide underground storage (i.e. aquifers).
Habitat
The natural environmental of a plant or animal.
Hazardous Material
A material or form of energy that could cause injury or illness to persons, livestock,
or the natural environment. Some examples from everyday life include, gasoline, fertilizers, detergent, used cooking oil, mineral spirits, batteries, and paint.
Hazardous Waste
Waste which requires special handling to avoid illness or injury to persons or damage;
to property. Includes, but is not limited to, inorganic mineral acids of sulfur, fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, chromium, phosphorous, selenium and arsenic and their common salts; lead, nickel, and mercury and their inorganic salts or metallo-organic derivatives; coal, tar acids such as phenol and cresols and their salts; and all radioactive materials.
Historic Resources
Standing structures of historic or aesthetic significance, with significance usually
defined by state and federal agencies, but which may also be defined locally.
Household
The group of people occupying one housing unit. For purposes of planning, the number of
households in a community equals the number of occupied housing units, which is usually less than the total number of available housing units.
Impervious Surface
Any material that reduces or prevents absorption of water into land.
Implementation
Actions, procedures, programs, or techniques that carry out policies.
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.
Infiltration
The introduction of underground water, such as groundwater, into wastewater collection
systems. Infiltration results in increased wastewater flow levels.
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.
Infrastructure
Permanent utility installations, including roads, water supply lines, sewage collection pipes, and power and communications lines.
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 the 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 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 ten percent of the time. It is a commonly
used descriptor of community noise, and has been used in Federal Highway Administration standards and the 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 10 p.m. and before 7 a.m.). 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 computed over 1, 2, and 8-hour sample periods. The Leq is a “dosage” type measure and is the basis for the descriptions used in current standards, such as the 24-hour CNEL used by the State of California.
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 Attenuation
Reduction of the level of a noise source using a substance, material, or surface.
Noise Contours
Lines drawn about a noise source indicating equal levels of noise exposure. CNEL and
Ldn are the metrics utilized herein to describe annoyance due to noise and to establish land use planning criteria for noise.
