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.
Shift share economic analysis
Used to determine the amount of regional job growth that is attributable to national trends vs. unique regional factors.
Simple Random Sampling
Each individual has an equal chance of being selected for the sample
Systematic
Every Xth individual is selected from the list, starting at a randomly chosen point.
Stratified
Population may have 2 or more groups in the study. Provides the best results because it ensures even coverage of the population but maintains the random selection probabilities.
Cluster Sampling
a probability sampling method in which you divide a population into clusters, such as districts or schools, and then randomly select some of these clusters as your sample
Used when stratified or simple random sampling would be difficult and/or expensive
Difference between sampling error and survey bias
- Sampling error NATURAL consequence of sample size being smaller than population size. Can be minimized by bigger sampler.
- Bias results from distorted description of the population error. Faulty design / deficient execution of the sampling process. NOT a result of sample size, increasing the sample size will NOT effect this.
Difference between sampling error and survey bias
- Sampling error NATURAL consequence of sample size being smaller than population size. Can be minimized by bigger sampler.
- Bias results from distorted description of the population error. Faulty design / deficient execution of the sampling process. NOT a result of sample size, increasing the sample size will NOT effect this.
Environmental Indicators Initiative
Comes from the EPA- to collect data & to improve the agency’s ability to report on the state of trend in environmental conditions & impacts on human health / nation’s natural resources.
Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)
EIS is for federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. If the environmental assessment determines that there is a significant impact, then an environmental impact statement is required.
EIS Addresses these 5 topics:
1- The environmental impact of the proposed action
2- Any unavoidable impacts
3- The range of alternatives to the proposed action
4- The impact of the alternatives
5- Any irreversible commitment of resources involved in proposed actions
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Agencies can prepare a smaller shorter document than a full EIS. The findings of the EA determine whether an EIS is required. If the EA indicates that no significant impact is likely, then the agency can release a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) & carry on with proposed action.
Most EAs result in a FONSI.
Steps of an EIS
1- Scoping
2- Notice of Intent (NOI)
3- Draft EIS
4- Final EIS & proposed action
5- Record of decision
Visioning efforts - to ensure it is successful you would focus on the following:
- Make sure key community institutions and opinion leaders are involved with the process
- Engage elected officials & city managers to gain their support of the effort
- Plan to follow-through and implement the resulting vision & action plan
DO NOT - allow the community to design & manage the visioning effort WITHOUT assistance,
The visioning process allows for early citizen involvement, impartial leadership, all inclusive citizen participation, AND…
Heavy media involvement.
Neighborhood plan
- Focuses on specific geographic area of a local jurisdiction that typically includes substantial residential development, associated commercial uses, and institutional services such as recreation and education.
- MORE detailed than the general plan.
- The sponsors of neighborhood plans include cities, community development organizations, foundations, and private developers.
Goal vs Objective vs Policy vs Measure
GOAL: provide a long-term result (or the long-term end toward which activities a ultimately directed).
(example - Train the chapter’s planners to pass the AICP exam)
OBJECTIVES: more specific, measurable statements of desired or intermediate ends that are achievable and mark progress toward a goal.
(example - Increase the chapter’s AICP exam passage rate above the national average by 2021)
POLICIES: Courses of action that indicate how the goals and objectives of a plan should be realized.
(Develop a comp FL Chapter AICP Exam Prep training manual)
MEASURE: Metric used to assess progress towards meeting the objective.
(example - annually monitor the chapter’s AICP exam passage rate by section)
Environmental Justice
EPA defines as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
Tied to the 1994 President Clinton Executive Order 12898 “Federal actions to address EJ in minority populations and low-income populations”.
This exec order requires that achieving EJ must be part of each federal agency’s mission to identify and address the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their actions on minority and low-income populations.
Oregon Visioning Model - order of questions
1- Where are we now?
2- Where are we going?
3- Where do we want to be?
4- How do we get there?
Non-sampling error can be increase by
Asking leading questions
Linear statistical relationship
Assesses whether two variables are related to each other (example- health outcomes & environmental indicators).
The correlation coefficient measures the strength of a linear relationship.
*DOES NOT show whether the 2 elements influence each other, instead they just show strength of a linear relationship.
Linear regression
Gets at a linear relationship between the dependent variable & the explanatory variable.
y (dependent variable - like passing aicp) = a + b1x1 + b2x2 + e
Benefits of each type of survey
(Mail, phone, online)
- MAIL: low-cost, LOWEST response rate (around 20%)
- PHONE: useful for yes/no answers. Response rate varies. Usually more expensive than mail / online surveys. Can be BIASED based on interviewer. May not reach a representative sample.
- ONLINE: Inexpensive. Won’t reach people without internet access, can introduce significant bias.
Stratified sampling
Population is divided into separate groups or classes, sample is drawn so that each of the classes are represented.
Cluster sampling
Special form of stratified sampling where specific target or group of the population is sampled from, such as the elderly or residents of a specific neighborhood.
Incremental Theory
1959 Charles Lidblom: “The Science of Muddling Through”
Reaction to rational planning.
- Argued that people make their plans and decisions in an incremental manner, accomplishing goals through a series of successive, limited comparisons.
- Way of getting additional information about a proposed project
- An alternative to synoptic rationality
Example = zoning ordinances.
CRITICISM:
- some situations need a major change rather than incremental.
- doesn’t specify whose values should be used.
Equity Planning
Norman Krumholz
- Cleveland - 1970s
- Specifically disadvantaged communities should be prioritized
- Redistribute power, resources, participation from elite to poor & working class
CRITICISM: If local leaders not aligned with progressive action - can be problematic.
Rational Planning
Pure rationality - assumes planners know all the information in a given situation. This is IMPOSSIBLE - instead, we just “satisfice” (Herbert Simon). Accepts the human mind is limited in its ability to solve problems - instead choose alternatives that are good enough.
ALSO CALLED SYNOPTIC
STEPS: set goals, determine alternatives, evaluate alternatives, choose an alternative, implement an alternative, evaluate.
Criticisms:
- Can’t be used for “wicked problems”
- Doesn’t specify who sets goals.
- Value-free - goals based
Transactive Planning
1973 - John Friedmann.
FACE TO FACE.
Book = Retracking America - A Theory of Transactive Planning.
Shift away from advocacy planning (planner no longer the technical expert).
This planning - gets public more involved in planning process.
Mutual learning: planning shares technical knowledge, citizens provide community knowledge.
CRITICISMS:
- Time consuming
- How to evaluate each persons community knowledge
- Doesn’t work with large differences in opinion and/or too many stakeholders
Communicative Theory
CURRENT theory of choice.
Emphasizes that the planner NEGOTIATE and BUILD CONSENSUS. More intensive citizen participation process.
Planning operates within realm of politics & variety of stakeholder interests.
ROOTS = American pragmatism, European critical theory, Advocacy & transactive planning
SHIFT. From planning for different groups -> planner is facilitator among stakeholders.
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
- Listen to people’s views & assist in forging consensus among dif viewpoints.
- Mediate with discussion.
- Structured to foster group understanding.
Anticipatory Planning
Effective for issues with high uncertainty.
Strategic Plan
Sets priorities to strengthen the operations of an ORGANIZATION / agency (NOT the municipality as a whole)
- Example when appropriate: guiding a reorganization of city functions
Short term (5 years or fewer)
Sets goals, objectives, and policies for reaching the set of objectives.
Steps to a strategic plan
1- Scan the environment, identify key factors and trends that are important to the future and determine how external forces will influence events. Identify the organizations mandates.
2- Select key issues based on the above scan
3- Set “mission statements” or broad goals that will establish the direction of the strategy development process.
4- Conduct external and internal analyses. Look in depth at outside forces that will affect the achievement of above goals. SWOT analysis.
3 Elements of a Comp Plan
1- Description of existing conditions
2- Statement of goals and objectives
3- Description of future needs and proposals for meeting needs
PURPOSE of a Comp Plan
- Provide a guide for individual decisions
- Assure the efficient provision of public services
- Protect common property resources, limit “spillover” effects (externalities)
- Facilitate cooperation among competing interests
- Comply with state mandates.
Steps in a comp plan making process (7 steps)
1- Assess community conditions
2- Develop Goals, Objectives, Priorities
3- Develop alternatives (collect data, prepare plans
4- Evaluate alternatives
5- Implement plan
6- Monitor plan progress
7- Evaluate implementation
4 Steps of Visioning Process
1- Community Brainstorming & Suggestions
2- Establishing Goals, Developing a Vision
3- Bringing Commitment to the Vision
4- Implementing the Vision
Goal setting hierarchy:
GOAL: value based statement describing future condition, not necessarily measurable
OBJECTIVTE- measurable statement of desired end (locating, character, timing)
POLICY: rule or course of action that indicates how the goals / objectives are to be realized
CRITERIA: measurable dimensions of objectives used to compare how close dif proposed policy alts will come to meeting the goals of solving the problem
MEASURE: the actual criteria measurements that will e taken of each proposed policy alt
PROGRAM: series of related, mission oriented activities aimed at carrying out particular goal or policy.
** Steps to put together a general plan
1- ID issues & stakeholders
2- Stating goals, objectives, & priorities
3- Collect data & analysis
4- Preparing plan
5- Draft programs for impl
6- Evaluate impacts of plans and impl programs
7- Review and adopt plans
8- Review and adopt impl programs
9- administer impl programs.
Visioning process involves:
Early citizen involvement,
Impartial leadership,
All inclusive citizen participation
Heavy media involvement
The saving of time and $
Environmental Scanning
1st step in the strategic planning process!
Best used to survey & interpret data to identify external opportunities & threats that could influence future decisions.
Original Oregon Model is framed with these 4 questions to undertake the visioning process-
( & 5th question added? )
1- Where are we now?
2- Where are we going?
3- Where do we want to be?
4- How do we get there?
5- Are we getting there?
Preemption
When a sate power supersedes & overrides local regulations
Eminent domain
Provides governments with the power to take private land for public use with fair compensation
Public Hearing
Usually associated with a governing body
Mandated by law
Allow formal citizen input
Includes a technical presentation, group Q&A, a formal transcript.
INEFFECTIVE at building public participation & consensus
Ingredients of a Vision Statement
- Positive present tense language
- Identify uniqueness
- Emphasize diversity of the region
- Include high standards
- Include time period
- Mention people and quality of life
Disadvantages of Visioning
- Cost-intensive
- Creates unrealistic expectations the government can’t fulfill
- Dependent on facilitator
Advantages of Visioning
- Builds excitement about the planning process
- Builds momentum for implementation
- Builds consensus (catalyst to bring residents together & inspired to get involved)
- Keeps process on track
Scoping
Gathering information to establish the breadth, or scope, of a project.
Includes establishing project objectives, deliverables, and exclusions.
Scope creep
An incremental expansion of the project scope that can negatively affect the outcome of a project
Environmental Scanning
1st step in the strategic planning process!
Best used to survey & interpret data to identify external opportunities & threats that could influence future decisions.
Steps in a planning process
Stage 1: Pre-Planning
Community Diagnosis
Determine your community’s purpose, capacity, and readiness for planning.
Identify key stakeholders
Process Design
Establish a budget for planning.
Issue an RFP, if applicable.
Incorporate opportunities for public participation and education.
Stage 2: Planning
Data Collection and Analysis
Assess your community’s data and information needs.
Issue Identification
Involve local decision-makers and the public in identifying key community issues, challenges, opportunities, and desires.
Identify a vision for the future development of the community.
Goal and Objective Formulation
Develop goals and measurable objectives to help attain your community’s vision.
Strategy Formulation
Identify potential plan implementation strategies to satisfy goals and objectives.
Take formal action to adopt the plan.
Stage 3: Post-Planning
Plan Implementation
Adopt a specific course of action to implement the plan.
Monitoring and Assessment
Monitor progress towards achieving stated goals, objectives, and indicators
Assessment vs evaluation
Assessment analyses the intended and unintended consequences of policies, plans, programs, and projects.
Evaluation examines a plan, project, or program against a set of criteria, usually to establish organizational accountability.
Multiplier method
use the base section (LQ) activity and the total activity of the area to measure local economy growth. Part of a regional input-output modeling system. ECONOMIC BASE ANALYSIS.
Used to project number of jobs created (can also be used to project job loss).
Types of Local Government
- General purpose: counties, cities, townships, etc.
- Special purpose: school districts, fire districts, etc.
- Special district: independent unit of local government created by referendums to perform gov’t functions in specific geographic areas, power to incur debt & levy taxes.
- Area wide planning organizations: provide grants & planning assistance.
- Regional planning agency: develop regional plans and review regional impacts, usually not transferred local government powers.
Creative placemaking
Process where community members, artists, arts and culture organizations, community developers, and other stakeholders use arts and cultural strategies to implement community-led change. This approach aims to increase vibrancy, improve economic conditions, and build capacity among residents to take ownership of their communities.
Why are random samples from a population desirable?
They get close to the characteristics of a population at a minimum cost.
Which growth management technique would likely be used to control growth to coincide with a CIP?
Building permit caps (like from the Petaluma case).
When coupled with a CIP, they time the issuance of permits to coincide with the community’s ability to support development and its demands.
What are usually collected when building permits are issues 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.
Incremental Budgeting
Decision making that focuses on annual changes in the budget & underlying issues.
Primary purpose fiscal impact analysis
To assist city or county officials determine if a project will generate sufficient revenue to defray necessary public service costs
Concurrency Requirement
The link between growth in a community and timing of capital investments.
Needs to be included in a CIP.
Detailed information about a community’s debt would be vital for carrying out which task?
Requesting a change in bond rating.
Per the SSZEA - what is the basic rezoning process?
1) Submittal of the zoning application
2) Application review by staff
3) Notice is given of the planning commission public hearing
4) The staff report is created
5) The planning commission hearing
6) The planning commission recommendation
7) The recommendation is forwarded to the governing body
8) Notice given of the governing body public hearing
9) The governing body hearing occurs
10) The governing body decision
3 main functions of taxes
1- redistribute income
2- create revenues to finance government goods & service
3- When overall demand is large, reduction of income and spending.
Capital Improvement Budget - how long does it show expenditures for
For the NEXT FISCAL YEAR. (1 year). The CIP shows how capital improvements will be financed the next 5 - 10 years.
Protects the community from sharp tax increases.
Planning staff
Supports boards mentioned above in their zoning functions and also makes changes to maps, codes, and procedures.
Planning commissions responsibility
Advise the governing bodies on zoning matters but often have final authority in the adoption of master plans and subdivision review.
Legislative branches with power and responsibility for zoning decisions:
City council
Board of county commissioners
Board of supervisors
Town board
Board of freeholders
2 legal events that give zoning its roots
Events in the 1920s
- Standard state zoning enabling act - 1926
& - Village of Euclid v Ambler Realty Co
Prior to zoning, regulation was based on common law “nuisance”
Ways to implement plans:
ZONING
SMART CODES / FORM BASED CODES
SUBDIVISION REGS
Economic Impact Analysis
Concentrates on cash flow to the private sector
Measured in income, jobs, output.
Fiscal Impact Analysis
Impact of development, land use change, or plan on cost / revenues of governmental units.
PROJECTS $ -> PUBLIC SECTOR.
Might look at city property tax rate, average cost of educating a child, average cost per square foot of constructing a public building. NOT historic trends.
TYPES of taxes
Progressive: The more money you make the more tax you pay.
Regressive: The more money you make the less taxes you pay.
Proportional: The amount of taxes you pay are the same low income to high income.
Types of selection procedures for hiring consultants (5)
1- sole-source procurement
2- selection from a list of prequalified candidates
3- selection based on responses to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
4- selection based on proposals submitted in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP)
5- selection based on a two-step process consisting of an RFQ followed by an RFP
RFQ (selection procedures)
Request for Qualifications.
Typical selection process similar to selection from list of prequal candidates, major difference is GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT is added to the process.
More rigorous set of selection procedures needed, because agency will not be familiar with firms submitting statement of quals.
RFP (selection procedures)
Request for Proposal.
Slowest process for selecting a consultant - most burdensome for both local agency and interested consulting firms.
Requires proposed scope of work program & budget.
Combined RFP & RFQ Process (selection procedures)
Two-part selection process.
RFQ process first to shortlist consultants.
This shortlist of consultants then goes through the RFP process.
This is the longest process
Cost-benefit analysis
Estimates the total monetary value, costs and benefits, of a project. Used for public projects like highways and other public facilities.
Jules Dupuit - 1848. Became common with the US Army Corps of Engineers- undertake waterway system projects when the total benefits exceed the costs of the project.
Requires everything be converted to a monetary value.
Social & environmental benefits- such as the preservation of open space, have a monetary value.
Must set particular time & location
Proposed project is compared to the current situation without the project.
If ratio of benefits is GREATER THAN 1 - then the monetary benefits of the project outweigh its monetary costs.
Cost-effectiveness analysis
Method for selecting among competing projects when resources are limited.
Developed by the military.
Example- community has $50,000 to spend on park improvements then several different projects can be prepared such as adding playground equipment or purchasing a new lawnmower.
CE Ratio = (Cost of new strategy - cost of current practice) / (effect of new strategy - effect of current practice)
Linear Programming (project management technique)
Interactive multi-goal programming technique.
Attempts to find the optimum design solution for a project. This system takes a set of decision variables, within constraints, and generates an optimum design solution.
Horizontal or Flat (Organizational Form)
Few or no levels of management between management and staff level employees.
Employees less supervised and have more involvement in decision making process.
PROS: provides employees greater level of responsibility, can increase efficiency, reduce costs, speed up communication. Streamlined. ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS.
CONS: Employees can lack clear sense of directive or job duties. Clear lines of authority unlikely. Structure doe snot align well with bureaucratic protocols / expectations. Generalists > specialists. Power struggles over authority. Harder for larger organizations.
Hierarchal (vertical) - (Organizational Form)
A vertical organization works best where there are large and functionally complex organizations. In this case, there could be divisions based on function with a chain of command leading from the divisions to the director.
Pyramid.
Every employee is subordinate to someone else within the organization, except the very top level.
PROS: Employees have clear sense of leadership and level of responsibility. Sense of ability to be promoted. Departmental loyalty.
CONS: Departments focus on their own interests, bad communication between departments. More bureaucracy which can slow things down.
Matrix
Matrix Organizations encourage interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.
CONS: difficult to manage, ineffective for large organizations, dual authority (which can cause confusion).
Could form both horizontal and vertical chains of command with fewer formal rules. Can cause confusion.
Elements to a strategic plan (8)
1- Analyze the community / orgs needs
2- Identify results - determine what long-term objectives the city or organization is going to pursue
3- Admit uncertainties - SWOT analysis
4- Involve strategic stakeholders.
5- Develop and evaluate alternatives.
6- Identify the role of the city.
7- Develop a funding policy.
8- Evaluate performance.
Performance zoning does the following
- Requires site plan review
- Sets specific standards to be met in order to gain approval
- Regulates the character of the use itself.
IT DOES NOT increase the speed of development review
What type of zoning approval allows certain uses in a specific zoning district under specific circumstances?
Conditional use.
Participatory Budgeting
- Community members vote on capital budget priorities in their service area
Mobility as a Service (MAAS) vs Mobility on Demand (MOD)
MAAS= An integrated mobility concept in which travelers can access their transportation modes over a single digital interface.
MaaS focuses on passenger mobility allowing travelers to plan, book, and pay for as-you-go and/or subscription basis.
MOD= concept based on the principle that transportation is a commodity where modes have distinguishable economic values. BROADER CONCEPT.
CPTED
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
- Created in 1960s to combat urban renewal strategies.
- Concept of “Defensible space”
- Coined term by C. Ray Jeffery
- Concerns natural surveillance, access control & territoriality
- BIGGEST SINGLE DETERRENT TO CRIME = Can increase the perceived likelihood of detection & apprehension.
DOES NOT include “connectivity to nature”
Health Impact Assessment & major steps
uses quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the health consequences of a policy, project, or program where health is not the primary objective. For example, the city of Columbus, Ohio’s public health department provides an HIA on each development proposal in the city, which allows the health department to provide critical input on the health impacts of proposed developments.
EPA uses HIAs as a tool “to promote sustainable and healthy communities” when making decisions.
MAJOR STEPS:
- Screening
- Scoping (planning the HIA and identifying what health risks and benefits to consider)
- Assessment (identifying affected populations and quantifying health impacts of the decision)
- Recommendations (suggesting practical actions to promote positive health effects and minimize negative health effects).
- Reporting (presenting results to decision makers, affected communities, and other stakeholders)
- Monitoring and evaluation (determining the HIA’s impact on the decision and health status)
4 Sections of an EIS
- Description of the proposed action and its purpose and need
- Description of the affected environment
- Presentation of a range of alternatives to the proposed action, including a “no action” alternative
- An analysis of the environmental impact of each of the proposed actions and range of alternatives.
Which act was most important for advancing environmental justice?
Executive Order 12898
stated that federal actions shall address environmental justice in minority and low-income populations.
What to do when there is a high level of distrust in the planning process?
Enlist the aid of experienced community organizers
Freedom of information rules
Vary from state to state.
Freedom of Information Act is a federal law that requires full or partial disclosure of public information and documents controlled by the fed government.
State & localities have their own requiremenets.
You are making a presentation to the County Commissioners of the draft hazard mitigation plan. As part of the presentation you cover which of the following?
I. Natural hazards, such as hurricanes
II. Man-made hazards, such as chemical spills
III. Development strategies to mitigate risk
IV. Hazards assessment for the county
ALL
How many people are homeless in the US?
2018 estimate - 554,000
INEQUITY
Marked by the attributes of disproportionately & institutionalized inequity
5 key elements for diverse communities
Economic opportunity, health & safety, transportation & access, housing affordability, and placemaking
Median summary is appropriate for which data types?
Ordinal, interval, ratio
Which of the following is NOT a condition that could be used for plat approval for a subdivision?
- Performance bond
- Dedication of ROW
- Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
- Exaction
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR).
Exaction, dedication of Right-of Way (ROW) and performance bonds might all be required.
Alan Ehrenhalt has written about a process known as “The Great Inversion”
Poor, diverse suburbs surrounding wealthy central cities
In inclusive planning processes, what action is least likely to build civic trust and social capital and increase the likelihood of an equitable distribution of community benefits?
Communication via social media
Why should planners support the use of social media in planning communication?
Everyone who has internet access can engage, and that can be equalizing.
Planners can reach more people, especially if they use multiple social media platforms.
Social media allows planners to communicate without a gatekeeper.
How do leaders vs. managers approach performance review & subordinate feedback?
- A manager gives objective feedback.
- A leader gives constructive feedback.
What would a transportation impact fee be based on?
The fee would be based on the projected number of trips based on the land use.
The impact fee should be based on a rational nexus demonstrating how the fee is proportionately related to the impact of the development. This would best occur based on the number of trips by type of land use.
Transportation System Management (TSM) - steps in transportation modeling
Traditional 4 step transportation forecasting model.
1- Trip Generation - The number of trips that a particular site is likely to generate.
2- Trip Distribution
3- Mode Choice
4- Trip Assignment
How do urbanized areas and urban clusters related to metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas?
Urbanized areas and urban clusters form the urban cores of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, respectively
Policies to pursue in neighborhood planning?
- Comprehensive plans provide the framework for neighborhood planning and should be done within the context of the broader community
- A comprehensive plan should reflect neighborhood plans and neighborhood plans should support the broader needs of the community
- Neighborhoods should be encouraged to seek the best organizational structure to achieve their goals and objectives
Primary purpose of subdivision regulations
recording land and ensuring the health and safety of residents. While it can be a tool as part of growth management, it is not in and of itself a growth management tool.
Steps in the neighborhood planning process
- Engage the public
- Define the problems
- Present the necessary information
- Identify goals
APA equity definition
“just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Unlocking the promise of the nation by unleashing the promise in us all.”
Invasion / succession dynamics are involved with which planning theory?
Concentric zone theory
In order to improve the sample reliability, which of the following should you do?
Increase the sample size
Advocacy Planning
Paul Davidoff
Developed in 1960s
MIX OF rational + incremental planning.
- Way to represent interests in the community.
- Planners should represent special interest groups rather than the entire community.
- SHIFT who the planner plans for -> methods stay the same.
CRITICISM: can result in conflict among interest groups
plural planning
Definition of social justice
promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.
best represented by the phrase “choice and opportunity for all persons.”
Recall Bias
Recall bias occurs when interviewees present incorrect accounts or inaccurate data due to shortcomings of their own memory. This could easily happen in an interview setting.
Resiliency Vs Mitigation
Mitigation can help minimise climate change, so we don’t get increasingly severe storms, adaptation helps prepare for the more severe storms which we are already beginning to experience, and resilience helps us bounce back more quickly following these storms.
MITIGATION: efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases.
CLIMATE RESILIENCE: Climate resilience is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous events, trends, or disturbances related to climate.
Resilience
Refers to the ability of a community to return to its original form after it has been changed. Resiliency is often used to refer to a community’s ability to recover from a natural hazard, economic shock, or other major events. One example of resilience planning is the Resilience Building Coalition’s efforts to modify the design and building standards to make more resilient communities.
Hazard Mitigation
includes the actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards`
Third Place
Level, neutral place between work & home that individuals frequent for social connection to their community.
Defined in the 1980s by sociologist Ray Oldenburg.
Carrying capacity
Biological concept, max population size of a species that could be sustained in perpetuity with the given resources.
Used to discuss max population & employment that can be carried in a certain community.
Can relate to the amount of land available for development.
Used first by 1845 state senator James Buchanon
Ian McHarg wrote about the concept of carrying capacity Design with Naure
Ian McHarg
Father of modern ecology.
Overlay GIS analysis.
Wrote Design with Nature
Transportation Demand Management
TDM - general term used to describe strategies for the efficient use of transportation.
Examples:
Car Sharing
Flextime
Guaranteed Ride Home
Public Transit
Park-and-Ride
HOV Lanes
Telecommuting
Commute Trip Reduction
Transit Oriented Development
Census Tract
Typically has a population between 2,000 and 8,000 people.
Its the smallest area where all information is released.
Census Block
The smallest level at which the Census data is collected. There are typically
400 housing units per block.
Census Block Group
A group of Census Blocks.
They generally contain 600-3,000 people, and are used to present data and control block numbering.
Population forecast pyramids
Show the underlying demographic structure, usually gender of population (male/female)
Important considerations for local governments in budgeting process
- Consider long range capital facility & operating costs
- Forecast revenue & expenditure estimates into the future
- Determine long term benefits costs of adding personnel
What do facilitation and mediation have in common?
Both involve a 3rd party facilitator with no direct stake in the outcome to facilitate the discussion.
Jurisdiction requires that developers dedicate right-of-way and construct road facilities required for new plats. What method, which is part of the subdivision process, ensures that the developer will meet this obligation?
- Performance Bond
Common types of exactions used in subdivision regulations
- Improvements & dedications of land, requirement to provide infrastructure to serve land being developed.
DIF TYPES of performance guarantees or bonds:
- Performance bond (guarantees improvements will be made)
- Irrevocable letter of credit
- Cash in an escrow account
- Impact fees: Not tied directly to any requirements for improvements, can be used for off-site improvements.
Based on dual rational nexus test (nollan/dolan)
Collected when permits are issued, NOT prior to final plat approval. - Development agreement (contract between developer and a city/county outlining the subsidies that the local government will provide to the project)
- CBA: Legally enforceable contract, signed by resident groups or coalitions directly affected by specific development project & by a developer. Common to be separate from the development agreement.
South Burlington v Mount Laurel Case
zoning must provide the opportunity for affordable housing. It is exclusionary zoning if a community fails to provide a “fair share” of housing for low- and moderate-income people
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Regulations do not prevent a jurisdiction’s achieving a fair share of regional growth, but affirmative measures should be used to ensure that a fair share goal is reached
What is Capital Improvements Programming (CIP)
- Plan / road map to fund NEW public infrastructure and build improvements over a FIXED period of time.
- Can incorporate the rehabilitation or replacement of existing capital.
- CIP is the KEY way the COMP PLAN is implemented, CIP reviewed for its compliance with the COMP PLAN.
- Best practices include an economic analysis of the fiscal impact of new investments, including the life cycle costs of maintaining and operating facilities or infrastructure.
Guidelines for preparing a CIP:
1- Long-term projections of demographics and growth patterns should inform both facilities and services standards.
2- Fiscal impact analysis is an essential tool for projecting facility and infrastructure expenditures and annual net costs.
3- Funding plans should match facilities costs with sources of funding, as many facilities may have multiple or alternative sources of funding, requiring a CIP to include more than the traditional bond funding.
4- Funding plans must also consider the timing of growth and provide for concurrency between the need for improvements and other construction.
5- Facility needs will most likely exceed the funding available through traditional forms of public finance, requiring creativity and innovation and the exportation of costs.
6- There are limits to the extent to which costs can be exported; They must meet strict tests of nexis and reasonableness,. However - the use of these tools may be essential to funding the volume of facilities and infrastructure needed.
7- CIP should be fully integrated and linked with the local comp plan, using all of the tools available to fund capital projects.
Hazard mitigation plan (according to the Stafford Act)
The Stafford Act outlines four primary components hazard mitigation plan:
1. An evaluation of the natural hazard in the designated area
2. A description and analysis of the state and local hazard management policies, programs, and capabilities to mitigate the hazards in the area
3. Hazard mitigation goals and objectives and proposed strategies, programs, and actions to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerability to hazards
4. A method of implementing monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan; such evaluation is to occur at least on an annual basis to ensure that implementation occurs as planned, and ensure that the plan remains current
General Obligation BOnd
Taxing of a jurisdiction is pledged to pay interest and principal to retire a debt.
Capital Improvement Budget - how long does it show expenditures for
For the NEXT FISCAL YEAR. The CIP shows how capital improvements will be financed the next 5 - 10 years.
Protects the community from sharp tax increases.
- Can be described as a stand-alone package or program
- Each package describes the what, the cost, who will benefit, & possible alts
- Projects can be ranked quickly & objectively
- Has been used for over 50 years.
