Unit 19: Planning, Zoning, and Environmental Hazards

Question 1

True/False Florida’s concurrency provision mandates that infrastructure of transportation and public schools be in place before new development is allowed.

Answer 1

False. Florida’s concurrency provision mandates infrastructure for sanitary sewers, drinking water, and waste treatment facilities be in place before new development can begin. State-mandated concurrency is not required for transportation, schools, and parks.

Question 2

True/False Urban sprawl is characterized by automobile-dependent development land uses that are NOT functionally related and that require inefficient use of public facilities and services.

Answer 2

True. Urban sprawl is characterized by low-density, automobile-dependent development with either a single use or multiple uses that are not functionally related, requiring the extension of public facilities and services in an inefficient manner, and failing to provide a clear separation between urban and rural uses.

Question 3

True/False City planning commissions are typically delegated final authority for site plan approval.

Answer 3

True. There are three areas of responsibility for which city planning commissions are commonly delegated final authority: (1) subdivision plat approval, (2) site plan approval, and (3) sign control.

Question 4

A residential zoning category requires at least 10,000 square feet per lot. The developer is reserving 25% of the land to streets and sidewalks. The tract of land for development consists of 120 acres. How many residential lots are available for development?

A) 327 lots
B) 392 lots
C) 326 lots
D) 393 lots

Answer 4

B) 392 lots. 43,560 square feet per acre ×.75 land available for lots = 32,670 square feet available per acre. 32,670 ÷ 10,000 minimum square feet per lot = 3.267 lots per acre. 3.267 × 120 acres = 392.04 or 392 total subdivision lots.

Question 5

True/False The purpose of commercial zoning is to regulate density (the number of buildings per acre).

Answer 5

False. The purpose of commercial zoning is to regulate intensity of use. Intensity is determined by the type and amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic generated by a commercial enterprise. Residential zoning regulates density, or the number of buildings per acre.

Question 6

True/False The Florida Building Code contains an energy code that sets minimum R-values for walls, ceilings, and floors.

Answer 6

True. The energy code sets a minimum standard for energy use in buildings. R-value refers to the effectiveness of insulation and is measured by its resistance to heat flow.

Question 7

True/False A strip of park-like green space can be a buffer zone.

Answer 7

True. A buffer zone is a strip of land separating a higher density land use from a lower density use.

Question 8

True/False Special exceptions are granted by zoning boards to relieve a hardship not created by the property owner.

Answer 8

False. A property owner must show that a hardship exists or will be created by strict compliance with zoning requirements to be issued a variance (not a special exception).

Question 9

True/False Most dwelling units in planned unit developments are clustered, with planned green spaces between clusters.

Answer 9

True. The trade-off for smaller residential lots is open green spaces.

Question 10

True/False Potentially responsible parties can be ordered to take responsibility for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

Answer 10

True. CERCLA created a process for identifying potentially responsible parties and ordering them to take responsibility for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

Question 11

True/False Flood insurance is available for purchase by any property owner concerned about water damage.

Answer 11

False. Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters, and business owners if their community participates in the national flood insurance program. To participate, communities in special flood hazard areas must comply with construction regulations imposed by the NFIP.

Question 12

True/False The NFIP requires that new construction in V zones be elevated to or above the 100-year floodplain.

Answer 12

True. The NFIP requires that all new and substantially improved residential structures in V zones be elevated to or above the base flood elevation (100-year floodplain).

Question 13

True/False Florida law mandates radon disclosure at the time of or before entering into a contract for sale.

Answer 13

True. Chapter 404, F.S., requires radon disclosure at the time or before a person enters into a contract for sale and purchase or a rental agreement. Florida law does not require testing to determine radon levels before sale or lease.

Question 14

True/False All known asbestos found in a structure should be removed.

Answer 14

False. Not all asbestos-containing material poses a hazard. It is best not to disturb asbestos material that is in good condition.

Question 15

is continuing land use that is not in compliance with a newly enacted zoning ordinance.

Answer 15

Nonconforming use

Question 16

is a self-contained development planned under special zoning ordinances that allow maximum use of open space by reducing lot sizes and street sizes.

Answer 16

A planned unit development (PUD)

Question 17

A special type of land use that is characterized by clustered homes and mixed land use is called a

A) special exception.
B) planned unit development.
C) development of regional impact
D) variance.

Answer 17

B) planned unit development. A planned unit development (PUD) is a type of special land use allowed under most local zoning ordinances. The developer clusters residential units on smaller lots to create maximum open spaces. A variety of types of housing is also a characteristic of PUDs.

Question 18

A public park is categorized under which zoning classification?

A) Agricultural
B) Special use
C) Public use
D) Green space

Answer 18

B) special use. Most zoning authorities consider all property owned by all levels of government as a type of special use property. Special use zoning includes, for example, city parks, county courthouses, and federal post office buildings. This zoning category is exempt from local zoning regulation.

Question 19

Which statement BEST describes a local planning commission?

A) The commission members have a planning and land-use background.
B) The commission is the final authority in matters relating to planning.
C) Commission members are representative of the community’s residents.
D) Commission members are elected officials.

Answer 19

C) commission members are representative of the community’s residents. Planning commissions are most effective when composed of members who represent all walks of life.

Question 20

Which characteristic is used to rate the effectiveness of insulation?

A) Electrical code
B) Building statistic
C) R-value
D) Buffer zone

Answer 20

C) R-value. R-value refers to the effectiveness of insulation and is measured by its resistance to heat flow.

Question 21

A parcel of land contains 80 acres. A developer has reserved 25% of the land for streets and green space. Applicable zoning regulations require a minimum of 9,500 square feet per residential lot. The number of permissible lots is

A) 275.
B) 232.
C) 366.
D) 257.

Answer 21

A) 275. 43,560 sq. ft. per acre ×.75 land available for lots = 32,670 sq. ft. available. 32,670 ÷ 9,500 minimum sq. ft. per lot = 3.4389474 lots per acre. 3.4399474 × 80 acres = 275 lots.

Question 22

City planning commissions typically do NOT have final authority for

A) commercial sign control.
B) zoning revisions.
C) subdivision plat approval.
D) site plan approval.

Answer 22

B) zoning revisions. Three areas of responsibility for which city planning commissions are commonly delegated final authority are (1) subdivision plat approval, (2) site plan approval, and (3) sign control.

Question 23

The purpose of residential zoning is to control

A) noise and air pollution.
B) density.
C) intensity of use.
D) special use of land.

Answer 23

B) density. Residential zoning controls density, or the number of homes per acre.

Question 24

Which local law implements the comprehensive plan?

A) Health ordinance
B) Energy code
C) Building code
D) Zoning ordinances

Answer 24

D) zoning ordinances. Zoning ordinances are local laws that implement the comprehensive plan. Local government exercises police power by regulating and controlling the use of land and structures within designated land-use districts or zones.

Question 25

A small restaurant that existed before a change to residential zoning is an example of a

A) variance.
B) nonconforming use.
C) special exception.
D) PUD.

Answer 25

B) nonconforming use. If a property’s use was lawfully established but no longer conforms to current zoning, the use is allowed to continue as a nonconforming use.

Question 26

In municipalities with planning commissions, the final authority in planning matters is the

A) professional staff director.
B) elected city government officials.
C) planning commission support staff supervisor.
D) planning commission chairperson.

Answer 26

B) elected city government officials. The planning commission is responsible for planning, but the elected government must make the final decisions based on recommendations.

Question 27

Florida’s concurrency provision requires that the infrastructure for which item be in place before new development?

A) Public schools
B) Public parks
C) Waste treatment
D) Transportation

Answer 27

C) waste treatment. Florida’s Growth Policy Act requires on a state-wide basis a concurrency provision mandating infrastructure for sanitary sewers, potable (drinking) water, and waste treatment facilities be in place before new development is allowed.

Question 28

Which term refers to the belief that the government should NOT interfere in private business affairs?

A) Escheat
B) Lis pendens
C) Laissez-faire
D) Caveat emptor

Answer 28

C) laissez-faire. Laissez-faire is a philosophy of noninterference by the government in private business affairs.