Site Analysis

Question 1

Small Scale Map

Answer 1

Large area shown with little detail.

Question 2

Large Scale Map

Answer 2

Small area of land shown with great detail

Question 3

3 Basic Map Projections

Answer 3

Conic, Cylndrical, Planar

Question 4

Contour Lines

Answer 4

Lines of equal elevation.

The closer the lines are, the steeper the elevation

Question 5

Slope

Answer 5

Change in elevation divided by horizontal distance

Question 6

Slope guidelines

Answer 6

0-0.5% = no drainage, not suited for development;
0.5-1% = no problems, ideal for all types of development;
1-3% = slight problems for large commercial areas; acceptable for residential;
3-5% = major problems for commercial/industrial/large scale residential;
5-10% = suitable only for specially designed development.

Question 7

What type of slope is good for all developments?

Answer 7

0.5 to 1% slope. No problems, ideal for all developments.

Question 8

Floor Area Ratio

Answer 8

ratio of the gross floor area of a building to its ground area

For instance, if a 20,000-square-feet parcel has a FAR limit of 0.5, then the floor area of the building or house on the site may not exceed 10,000 square feet. This FAR could be achieved with either a single-story, 10,000-square-feet structure or a 2-story structure with 5,000-square-feet per floor.

Question 9

Site Planning

Answer 9

Site Planning includes a range of factors including site selection, transportation, earthwork and utilities, and design of the site. Individual land uses have different site planning criteria

Question 10

What is the difference between a preliminary plat and final plat?

Answer 10

A final plat is a more precise drawing, done by a surveyor - much more regulatory.

Question 11

FAR is the ration of what to what?

Answer 11

Ratio of amount of floor space on a parcel to the amount of land area of the parcel.

FAR = 3 can mean a 3 story building covers the parcel of land completely.

FAR = 3 can also mean 6 story building on half of the building site. 6 x .5 / 1 = 3

Question 12

What is the key difference between a variance and a special use permit?

Answer 12

A special use permit, aka conditional use permit, is granted to allow land uses in zones where the use isn’t allowed.

A variance is granted because of the specific conditions of the property.

Question 13

How is an overlay zone different from a floating zone?

Answer 13

An overlay zone applies rules to a specific area.

A floating zone is not located on a zoning map but is a defined type of zone that can be applied in a proposed location. Like a PUD.

Question 14

What is the difference between form-based codes and design guidelines?

Answer 14

Form based codes are regulatory; guidelines often lack the ability to regulate - they are simply guidelines

Question 15

How is land use dealt with in a form-based code?

Answer 15

The regulation of landuse is included in form-based code but it is a secondary concern after the regulating of form

Question 16

How is a urban to rural transcet used in form-based coding?

Answer 16

If a form-based code is transect-based, it will have 6 zones that vary along an urban-to-rural continuum (or transect).

Rules will be applied according to the urban-to-rural-character of the zone.

Question 17

Why is performance zoning not more common?

Answer 17

Difficult to administer and costly in terms of measuring performance.

Question 18

What can be done about zoning nonconformities?

Answer 18

Rezone to minimize nonconformities.

Sanction benign nonconformities.

Phase out detrimental nonconformities.

Question 19

What does a design review board do?

Answer 19

Implement design guidelines.

Can deal with purely aesthetic issues

Need standards to operate.