Topics likely on exam Flashcards
Sampling error vs non-sampling error
Sampling error is one which occurs to the unrepresentativeness of the sample selected for observation.
Non-sampling error- error that has arisen from human error - such as error in problem identification, leading questions, method, or procedure used.
Systematic random sampling
Equal chance of being selected, every Xth person is surveyed
Location quotient
Used in economic base analysis. The LQ is a comparison of the local economy to the regional or national economy to identify specializations in the local economy
Location quotient is the division of the local/ regional employment by the national employment, equaling 3.
(Ratio of total local employment of an industry to that industry nationally).
LOCAL DIVIDED BY NATIONAL.
Ratio greater than 1 = region exporting versus
Ratio smaller than 1 = region importing
Corbusier
1920s. Wrote the book - “Toward Architecture”
Modern architect and founding member of the Congrès International d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM), which advocated functional separation of land uses, highways, and high rises set in parks.
Radiant City / Contemporary City- utopianism (visionary plan with its underlying purpose to improve mankinds urban experience through extensive major changes in conventional methods.)
- Comprised primarily of high density skyscrapers surrounded by open park spaces & bisected by high-speed vehicular routes in a large superblock arrangement.
What are principles of authentic engagement?
Authentic engagement is equitable and inclusive
Authentic engagement is connected to decision-making
Authentic engagement is connected to change
What is the best way to resolve a conflict in the community?
Consensus Building
What is a facilitator / When to use facilitation?
- Facilitator is someone who assists a group in accomplishing its task. Assumes responsibility for the process. Skilled at working with the public in many settings
- Political commitment to a group-determined outcome or recommendation
- There are more than 2 dominant perspectives or solution sets (mediation may need to be explored in two-set cases)
- The problem is complex and the value continuum is broad
- There is a broad-based desire to seek resolution to the perceived problem
Roles of facilitator
- Guide
- Motivator
- Bridge builder
- Clairvoyant
- Priaser
- Pacemaker
- Taskmaster
- Active listener
When to use negotiation vs. mediation vs. arbitration
NEGOTIATE: To confer with another person (NO third party)
Conferring, discussing, compromising.
MEDIATION: Neutral & impartial third party
Encourages & facilitates resolution of a dispute without prescribing what it should be.
Informal & non-adversarial.
Mutually acceptable agreement.
ARBITRATION: An alternative to litigation. The hearing / determination of a dispute by an impartial referee.
Used to settle disputes between labor and management.
Can be BINDING or NONBINDING. If binding - the arbitrator makes the final call.
What describes environmental justice?
Ensuring that everyone has a fair chance of living the healthiest life possible.
Which economic analysis method would be most effective for this situation -
the city wants to determine the cost of providing service to a new development.
Fiscal Impact Analysis
BECAUSE
Fiscal impact analysis calculates the total cost to the city of new development, as well as the tax revenue that is generated from the development.
A Midwestern city is proposing to increase the maximum multi-family density from 8 units per acre to 16 units per acre. In order to determine the financial impact on public services, which of the following analysis methods should be used?
Fiscal Impact Analysis
What are usually collected when building permits are issued and are subject to the dual rational nexus standard?
IMPACT FEES.
- They do NOT cover all infrastructure and service costs
- Funds CANNOT be used anywhere within the city.
You are the planner for a small but rapidly growing suburb. The council has directed you to implement a development impact fee ordinance. Which of the following would you do first?
Determine the infrastructure costs associated with new development using local data.
Which program is likely to be used to address the goal of passing on development costs to new residents?
Impact fee program.
Impact Fees
Essentially a community “buy-in” fee for new residents and businesses. Developers are assessed a fee to add or expand public capital facilities that their new homes and businesses will need.
Typically charged for off-site infrastructure needed to provide new service to a development, such as a water or sewer main.
CANNOT be used to pay for the cost of upgrading an existing system or raise level of service in the community.
Zero based budgeting
Expenses have to be justified for each new period.
Must start with a zero base each time - every year.
Budget is based on DECISION PACKAGES.
Ties decision packages to long range goals.
Tribal designated statistical area?
A unit drawn by tribes that do not have a recognized area.
Tribes DO have recognized nationhood status.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
A MSA includes at least one city with 50,000 or more inhabitants, or an urbanized area (of at least 50,000 inhabitants), and a total metropolitan population of at least 100,000.
Consolidated MSA
A Consolidated MSA is made up of several PMSA’s. An example is the Dallas-Fort Worth Consolidated Metropolitan Area. Dallas and Fort Worth are each primary metropolitan statistical areas.
Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA)
A Core Based Statistical Area is defined by the US Office and Budget to provide data description for areas where there is a core area with at least 10,000 people that when combined with other adjacent communities is socially and economically integrated.
2010 Census fastest growing region
The South by 14.3%
Urbanized area
The Census Bureau defines an urbanized area wherever it finds an urban nucleus of 50,000 or more people.
Must have core with population density of 1000 people per square mile - may contain adjoining territory with at least 500 people per square mile.
Urban cluster
Urban clusters have at least 2,500 but less than 50,000 persons and a population density of 1,000 persons per square mile. This delineation of built-up territory around small towns and cities is new for the 2000 Census.
Micropolitan Statistical Area
A population of more than 10,000 people and less than 50,000 people. This includes a central county and adjacent counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration as measured by commuting.
Census Designated Places
(CDP)
The equivalent of an incorporated place for data purposes. This is for settled concentrations of population that are not incorporated.
Linear Population Projection Method
Linear method uses the change in population (increase or decline) over a period of time and extrapolates that change into the future, in a LINEAR fashion.
Increases at the same rate that it has in the past
Example = population has grown an average of 1000 ppl per year over the last 20 years, it would be presumed to grow by 100 ppl per year in the future.
Shift-Share
(population projection)
(analysis)
The population projection technique that allocates a projected population expansion to subregional areas is called.
DIFFERENT THAN
A shift-share analysis, determines what portions of regional economic growth or decline can be attributed to national, economic industry, and regional factors. The analysis helps identify industries where a regional economy has competitive advantages over the larger economy. To conduct a shift-share analysis one must know the INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT for the REGION and the NATION.
Cohort Survival Method
Uses the current population plus natural increase (more births, fewer deaths) and net migration (more in-migration, less out-migration) to calculate a future population.
Deaths, births, migration, and fertility rates are components of this population projection method.
THE MOST accurate population projection, requires tons of data. Detailed, very accurate method to make short term population projections that can handle many variables.
Shortest time interval for which estimate can be made is the length of time it takes for all members of an age cohort to age (ex 10-14). If data is available for each age (year) the method can be used to project the population year by year.
Ratio (step-down) method
ratio between population of a city & a county at a known point in time such as the census to project future populations
The step-down method assumes that the relationship of a locality to some larger geographic entity–county or state–will prevail in the future and that population projections at the larger scale represent degrees of reliability that are not possible to achieve at the smaller scale of analysis.
Exponential and Modified Exponential Method
Exponential method uses the RATE of growth or decline. Ex- the percentage change in population over a period of time to estimate the current or future population. Percentage of change is extrapolated into the future.
Symptomatic Method
This method uses any available data indirectly related to population size, such as housing starts or new rivers licenses. It then estimates the population using a ratio.
Example, the average household size at 2.5 data on 100 new single-family building permits that are issued this year, would yield an estimate of 250 new people will be added to the community.
RELIES ON CENSUS DATA.
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. Exporting industries make up the economic base of a region.
TO identify economic base industries a location quotient is calculated for each industry. Ratio of the industry’s share of local employment divided by its share of the enation (or other levels of government).
Location quotient of less than 1 = importing economy.
Quotient greater than 1 = area is exporting economy.
Gompertz curve
Population projection method -
Time series mathematical model in which growth is slowest at the start and end of a given time period.
YEARS for the generations
BOOMERS: Born between 1946 - 1964 *** KNOW THIS
GEN X: 1965 - 1976
ECHO BOOM (GEN Y): 1979 - 1995
MILLENIALS: (children of baby boomers) 1977 - 2000
GEN Z: born after 2000
Hierarchy of census entities
Census tract -> Block Groups -> Blocks
Nominal Group Technique
A group process involving problem identification, solution generation, and decision making.
Involves problem clarification, silient idea generation, round robin idea collection, grouping, and ranking.
Can be used for groups of any size that want to come to a decision by vote / ranking. More of a written process than Delphi. Solution with the highest ranking is selected.
Good for a QUICK desire for consensus.
Delphi Method
A structured process of public participation with the intent of coming to a consensus decision. Surveying a panel of experts.
Successive rounds of argument and counter argument that work towards a consensus. SEEQUENCE OF QUESTIONAIRRES.
More of a discussion / interaction than Nominal (nominal more of a voting process).
Panel of stakeholders & citizens asked to complete series of questionnaires
Questions written as hypotheses, after each round feedback is presented anonymously. Participants revise answers based on replies heard. The range of answers decreases and the group converges toward a single solution.
The method was created in 1944 for the U.S. Army Air Force. A panel of selected, informed citizens and stakeholders are asked to complete a series of questionnaires.
Brainstorming
Informal, initial stages of a project, small internal group setting.
Charrette
An interactive problem-solving process convened around development of specific plans.
INTENSIVE.
It’s a charrette if they mention an architect. DESIGN.
Collaborative, brings together citizens, stakeholders & staff to develop / design plan. Reimagining exercise.
Helpful to quickly develop consensus.
Small groups with a facilitator who is usually a design professional
Virtual charettes increase participants
Best used for a visible design projects that will impact people’s lives.
Stratified Sample
Has the population divided into strata according to variables that are thought to be related to the variables of interest.
Sample taken from each stratum.
Intended to reduce sampling error because the strata are related to the variables of interest.
MPO
Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Created to meet federal requirements for urban transportation planning.
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962- these MPOs help reach federal requirements from this act which requires official planning processes.
Not a level of government but it DOES have effective control over transportation improvements within the area.
Projects must be a part of an MPO adopted plan to receive federal funding.
- Federally mandated for urbanized areas with a population over 50,000
- Channel federal funds for transportation projects
- Maintain a long-range transportation plan for a region
- Their decision making committees can be comprised of local, state, and federal representatives
3 C’s of an MPO
Comprehensive, Cooperative, Continuing process.
Enterprise zone vs Empowerment zone
ENTERPRISE ZONE: Economically distressed area targeted for improvement - businesses who locate or expand in zone can create jobs / receive tax exemptions and tax credits.
(Usually tax breaks at the STATE level)
EMPOWERMENT ZONES:
Economically distressed rural & urban zones designated by HUD. Businesses in zone can get federal grants & tax incentives. Businesses get credits for hiring people within the zone.
(Usually tax breaks at the FEDERAL level)
Federal Telecommunications Act (1996) requires that:
Local decisions must be based off substantial evidence & they must be rendered in a timely manner.
- Requires localities to provide written notice of denial AND written reasons for denial of applications to build cell towers.
- Local governments must not unreasonably discriminate among competing providers
- Local governments must act on all wireless tower permit requests within a reasonable time
- Any decision by a local council denying a wireless tower must be substantiated by evidence in writing.
Hadacheck v Sebastian - 1915
ZONING case testing whether an LA zoning ordinance violated the 14th amendment due process & equal protection clauses.
Restriction of uses is NOT a taking.
Brick manufacturing plant in a specific location in the city did NOT violate the 14th amendment.
Stressed that the police power is one of the most essential, and “least limitable,” powers of government.
Dolan v City of Tigard - what do municipalities have to do as a result of this case when they impose conditions on land use approvals for individual parcels?
The court found that the exaction on a property must be roughly proportional in nature and extent to the impact of the proposed land development.
- Develop findings that quantify the projected impact of the project on public facilities.
- Avoid requiring dedications that would restrict the property owner’s right to use a portion of the property.
- Develop precise findings.
Concerns the extent to which the requirements are appropriately related to the scope and impact of the development project.
Nollan V California Coastal Commission, the court used which test to determine whether the access condition advanced a legitimate state interest?
Essential Nexus.
Required that an offer to dedicate a lateral public easement along Nollans’ beachfront lot.
Kelo v New London 2005
QUESTION: Taking of private property was serving a legit public use because it was eminent domain for private development. It was aligned with the comp plan.
It was a taking WITH just compensation.
was upheld - it was legitimate use of police power.
Euclid v Ambler (1926)
Zoning - 5th Amendment Case
Key question was whether the zoning ord violated the 14th amendment.
Key outcome: upheld modern zoning as a proper use of police power - as long as there was a threat of a nuisance.
Alfred Bettman filed an influential brief with the court.
TIF
Tool / Real estate development technique
Anticipated increase in tax revenue from increased property values used to pay off bonds sold for redevelopment.
Can be used for the public purpose of redeveloping a blighted area.
Controversial critique: Lining the pockets of developers?
This is a way to develop a funding source for a project that DOES NOT raise additional taxes, & does not discourage development interests.
Main Street Program
A program to revitalize traditional commercial districts (particularly in small towns)
Developed by National Main street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Four key areas:
- Organization
- Design
- Promotion
- Economic Restructuring
(center is COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION)
Some have the purpose of revitalization in the context of historic preservation.
Scenario Planning
Uses the best in available technology to help citizens visualize different futures for their cities and regions, typically by taking inputs such as density, mixed-use development, and transportation nodes, together with population estimates, to show different outcomes, assess resilience or model hazard effects.
CAN utilize the charrette process.
Types of scenario planning**
NORMATIVE: describe a preferred, and achievable, end state.
Usually structures tactics to support the preferred scenario.
Primary purpose = reach a specific target.
EXPLORATORY: describe an unknowable, but comprehensible, array of future end states that may occur.
Deploys “contingent” tactics as the future unfolds in real time.
Primary purpose = navigate uncertainty.
PREDICTIVE: What will happen?
Accessory uses (ADUs) Can be described as:
Permitted only if they are incidental to the principal use.
Agins v City of Tubron (1980) Established a test - a regulation is a taking if it can be shown that it:
Developed 2 part takings test.
Deprives property of all economically viable use OR fails to substantially advance a legitimate government interest.
TDR - Transfer of Development Rights
Voluntary, market-driven growth management tool that permits higher intensity development in designated “receiving” areas in exchange for land or resource preservation in designated “sending” areas.
Yielding partial or complete right to develop in exchange for a right to develop another parcel more intensively.
Trying to protect one area and develop another.
A way to help stop sprawl.
An economic incentive for preserving undeveloped land.
Usually private to private.
If unexpended line-item funds remain in a local government budget at the end of a fiscal year, what is standard budgetary practice?
- Return unspent money to the general fund
- Transfer excess funds to cover shortages in other lines
- Expend funds on allowable items before year-end
NOT allowed to carry over the remainder to the same line of the next years budget.
“Use it or lose it”
New Urbanism
Was formed, in part, as a counter response to what is known as “modernist urbanism,” exemplified by Radiant City (Ville Radieuse), an unrealized project to house three million inhabitants designed by the French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier in 1922.
The project involved replacing central Paris with sixty-story glass cruciform skyscrapers set in green space.
promotes compact, walkable neighborhoods.
Apply at the regional, neighborhood, and block levels.
New Urbanism, in contrast, promotes mixed-income, walkable neighborhoods with a variety of architectural styles.
The Transect
Conceptual device for orienting development on a rural to urban continuum.
Often used in New Urbanism and form based zoning.
T1 (rural) -> T6 (urban) & special district
Precedent for New Urbanism & who designed
Precedent = Mariemont, OH (1923) - John Nolen designed it, Mary Emery was founder
Physical aspects of new urbanism
- Higher density and mix of uses
- Variety of housing choices & grid street patterns
- Ped scale and multi-modal transportation systems
- Garages in the BACK.
Commercial aspects of new urbanism
Mixed uses, curbside parking, projecting business signage
( NOT big box )
Physical aspects new urbanism is NOT
- parking lots
- cul-de-sacs
- strict segregation of uses
First new urbanism town
Seaside, FL
Gaithersburg, Maryland
A new urbanist community
Hallmarks of new urbanism
- Livable streets arranged in compact, walkable blocks
- A range of housing choices to serve people of diverse ages and income levels
- Schools, stores, and other nearby destinations reachable by walking, biking, transit service.
- An affirming, human-scaled public realm where appropriately designed buildings define and enliven streets and other public spaces.
Key figures in New Urbanism
Calthorpe
Duany - Seaside
Moule
Plater-zyberk
Polyzoides
Colomon
Peter Katz- Wrote “The New Urbanism - Toward an Architecture of Community”
John Nolen - Mariemont OH (precedent new urbanist city)
WalkScore
WalkScore measures walkability on a scale from zero to 100 based on walking routes to destinations such as grocery stores, schools, restaurants, and retail. Parks are one of the destinations WalkScore measures, implying that more and better distribution of parks would lead to a higher score.
Complete Streets
Safe, accessible, and convenient street for all users regardless of transportation mode, age, or physical ability.
WHAT ARE THEY?
- Democratizing the streets: benefit everyone
- Policy consideration / changes
- Different approaches
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
- Skinny streets
- Street connectivity
- Context-sensitive streets
- Complete streetscape design elements
COMPLETE STREETS FOR EVERYONE:
- Ped safety
- Public health
- Vulnerable populations
DEVELOPING WITH COMPLETE STREETS:
- Economic development
- TOD
- Challenges (can be seen as costly, can be seen as lack of right of way space)
Book Value vs Marketing Value
Book Value:
- Dif between total assets and liability
- The total value of the company’s assets that shareholders would receive if company was liquidated.
- Takes into account depreciation, etc.
Market Value: (On the books valuation)
- Value according to the stock market.
Form Based Code:
DO still deal with land use even though not primary focus!
Type of zoning code that regulates development to achieve a specific urban form.
The regulations and standards in form-based codes, presented in both diagrams and words, are keyed to a regulating plan that designates the appropriate form and scale (and therefore, character) of development, rather than just setting distinctions in land-use types.
Conventional zoning code focuses on land use rather than form, whereas form-based codes focus on form over use.
Bias in statistics
Can be caused by faulty design or deficient execution of the sampling process. DEFINED as the difference between expected value of an estimator and real value of the parameter.
SYSTEMATIC error resulting in deviation in estimates of pop parameters caused by faulty design and/or deficient execution of sampling process.
NOT a result of sample size - increasing sample size will NOT reduce bias in estimates.
MEASUREMENT bias: errors occurring during real time sampling.
NON-REPRESENTATIVE: often intentional. Selection bias- not implementing random methods. Results in inadequate representation of elements of the population.
Bureau of reclamation mission statement
The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.
Planning concept that uses information and comm tech to engage citizens to deliver city services & to enhance urban systems is known as:
SMART CITIES
Uses Info & Comm Tech (ICT) to optimize citizen engagement, service delivery, and systems performance.
Term has been around since 1990s. Includes tech such as automated car systems, intelligent digital signage, smart grids, cloud services, home energy management.
Can result in cost efficiencies, resilient infrastructure, and an improved urban experience.
Golden V Planning Board of the Town of Ramapo dealt with which issue:
GROWTH MANAGEMENT. Governments can CONDITION DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL on the PROVISION OF SERVICES.
Upheld a zoning ordinance that made issuance of a development permit contingent on the presence of public facilities.
The Golden case marked the 1st time in the US that a town was legally approved to control its own growth.
Recognized growth phasing programs.
CATEGORIES OF INFRASTRUCTURE: public utilities, drainage facilities, parks, road access & firehouses.
Performance standards that could take up to 18 years
Board of Zoning Adjustments - responsibilities
Considers requests for variances / exceptions to zoning standards. DO NOT have the power to make overarching zoning decisions.
Also responsible in some states for the interpretation of unclear provisions in the zoning code.
Quasi-judicial (rather than legislative).
The SZEA authorized them to: hear & decide appeals from determinations made by local zoning officials, grant variances to provide relief from the terms of the zoning ordinance.
Rezoning itself is governmental (City Council)
What is the difference between zoning and subdivision regulations?
While ZONING REGS address the type of use, density, and dimensional requirements of development allowed within a community, SUBDIVISION REGS control the pattern of development.
3 types of categories allowed in permitted land uses
1- Principle uses (uses that are allowed by right)
2- Accessory uses (uses that are permitted only if they are incidental to the principle use)
3- Special uses (land uses allowed only by a special review)
Legal basis for impact fees
Legally based on “police power” of local government.
Authorized by state enabling acts or home rule. Dillon rule states (NC / Virginia) finding it hard to secure required special acts from state legislatures to assess fees.
Under Nollan: You have to demonstrate a nexus between the public improvement and the development impact. For example, the development would result in X number of vehicle trips per day on the arterial roadway.
Rational Nexus Test
Under Dolan: The amount that is charged must be proportionate to the impact.
Rough proportionality test
Major difference between subdivision dedications and impact fees?
Dedications are limited to on-site improvements. Impact fees can provide either on-site or off-site improvements.
Criticisms for impact fees
- Impact fees add to the cost of housing (this is misdirected)
- Accused of being anti-growth (this is misdirected)
LEAST to MOST predictable zoning mechanisms
(Least) - Euclidean
- Conditional
- Form-based
(Most) - Performance zoning
What does this describe?
Modest, clustered residential developments to mixed-use master planned communities, often approved through the use of overlays, as conditional uses or a separate zoning category.
Planned Unit Development.
Implicit Bias
A form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, that nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors.
L’enfants Plan
- George Washington appointed L’Enfant to design the new U.S. Capital city in 1791
- Plan lays out a grid system bisected by radial streets with circles at principal intersections.
- Plan was realized in 1902 after McMillan Commission used L’Enfant’s plan as a corner stone of their report to recommend redesign of Washington.
- Introduced the real expression of the CITY BEAUTIFUL movement into the future design discussions of Washington D.C.
Planning commissions responsibility
Advise the governing bodies on zoning matters but often have final authority in the adoption of master plans and subdivision review.
Floodplain vs watershed vs water table
FLOODPLAIN: an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding.
WATERSHED: Is a region drained by, or contributing water to, SURFACE WATER.
Area that contributes recharge to a surface water body.
WATER TABLE: Is the underground boundary between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. Water pressure and atmospheric pressure are equal at this boundary.
ALSO The level below the soil which is seasonally saturated with water & the upper surface of groundwater.
Police Power & Legal basis for zoning as valid police power
- Power of the STATE (not fed government) to regulate and control behavior in order to protect & promote greater public welfare.
- Police power must be delegated by state to counties & municipalities.
The city requiring a building permit before construction can begin is an exercise of police power.
Euclid established zoning as valid exercise of police power.
Does local government have police power? DEPENDS
- DIllon’s rule - municipal gov has
no powers unless expressly restricted by the state
- Home Rule - municipal gov has all powers unless expressly regulated by the state
Dillon’s Rule vs. Home Rule States
DILLON’S RULE: Have powers EXPRESSLY granted by the state
HOME RULE: Local governments have broad authority & powers related to matters of local concern.
Are historic trends central to a fiscal impact analysis?
NO.
