The Tools of Land-Use Planning (Ch. 9)

Question 1

What are the two broad categories of direct action by which a municipality can shape its land-use patterns?

Answer 1

1. Public capital investments

2. land-use controls

Question 2

Briefly explain what a public capital investment.

Answer 2

Public capital investments create a powerful economic force that can shape development. These projects include water infrastructure, sewer lines, universities, airports, schools, etc.

Question 3

What are bonds?

Answer 3

A promise to make repayments to the buyer on a regular prearranged basis. Interest payments are made once or twice a year and the principal is repaid on the bond’s maturity date.

Question 4

What is a capital improvement plan?

Answer 4

The CIP lays out the expected sequence of investments and thus gives the municipal government a rough schedule of when and in what amounts it will have to issue bonds and also a rough indicator of how much in will have to spend on debt services.

Question 5

What are the main budgeting differences between state & local governments and the federal government?

Answer 5

State and local governments make a distinction between the operating budget and the capital budget. The federal government does not. State and local governments typically have a requirement to maintain a balanced budget. The federal government does not.

Question 6

What requirements make up a zoning ordinance?

Answer 6

Site layout requirements, requirements for structure characteristics, uses to which structures may be put and procedural matters.