Sample Exam #1 Flashcards
Practice AICP Questions
The planning director of a small city is worried about gentrification in a historically diverse neighborhood where property values are rising quickly, displacing many of the long-term residents. Which of the following would be the least effective method of addressing gentrification?
a. Encourage equitable development.
b. Conduct a social impact assessment.
c. Distribute parks more evenly throughout the city
d. Take a comprehensive approach to mitigation.
While the equitable distribution of parks is important, it is a better method for addressing the effects of environmental racism than the effects of gentrification. Taking a comprehensive approach to mitigation by conducting a social impact assessment and encouraging equitable development are best suited to addressing gentrification in the neighborhood.
The correct answer is: Distribute parks more evenly throughout the city
The Planning Director has asked you to oversee a new project to develop additional sidewalks in a previously un-walkable neighborhood. How does social justice affect this area of planning?
I. Elderly populations are at a greater risk of being killed by a car while walking
II. Native American men are four times more likely to be killed while walking than white men
III. Minority households are more likely to be without a vehicle and thus walk more
IV. Children are likely to use the sidewalks to walk to school
The disparity in elderly and minority fatalities is important to consider in overseeing this project because it directly pertains to social justice: the ability of people to realize their potential in the communities they live in. That children will use the sidewalks is an important consideration, but not as directly connected to social justice.
The correct answer is:
I, II, and III
Which Supreme Court Case found that a regulation is a taking if it can be shown that it deprives a property of all economic viability and fails to advance a legitimate governmental interest?
In Agins v. City of Tiburon (1980), the Supreme Court held that the test for determining whether a zoning ordinance will be considered a taking is the “substantially advances” a legitimate state interest test. This test has since been overruled by the Lingle v. Chevron (2005) case finding that the “substantially advances” test would no longer be used to determine regulatory takings, reverting to the precedent of Penn Central v. New York City (1978) of a “reasonable return” on investment.
The correct answer is: Agins v. City of Tiburon
Which statement is not true regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
Select one:
a. There is no significant parallel between the ADA and the Civil Rights Act.
b. ADA disabilities include both mental and physical medical conditions.
c. It prohibits disability discrimination in all public housing.
d. It is a civil rights law providing similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did for race.
The ADA, passed in 1990, requires that facilities must be accessible to the public, including public housing. It is a civil rights law in that it provides similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities (both mental and physical) as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did for persons on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, and other characteristics. But unlike the Civil Rights Act, the ADA also requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.
The correct answer is: There is no significant parallel between the ADA and the Civil Rights Act.
What percentage of U.S. citizens do not have access to broadband at home?
a. Less than 5%
b. About 25%
c. 40%
d. The SEC does not track this information
About a quarter of adults do not have access to broadband at home, which can prevent citizens from learning about or participating in the planning process.
The correct answer is:
About 25%
Clarence Perry’s Neighborhood Unit Concept proposes an ideal neighborhood that creates walkability and access. Which of the following best describes the size of the neighborhood unit?
Select one:
a. 2,500 - 5,000 residents
b. 15,000 - 20,000 residents
c. 5,000 - 9,000 residents
d. 10,000 - 15,000 residents
Clarence Perry’s Neighborhood Unit concept identifies 5,000-9,000 residents with a density of ten units per acre, a school at the center, and buildings around the edges for shopping.
The correct answer is: 5,000 - 9,000 residents
You have just received the contract to prepare a waterfront master plan for a small town along a river. As you work with the town to prepare a detailed scope of work, which of the following should you consider?
Select one:
a. Examining opportunities for public space ad access
b. Ensuring that public goals remain the primary objective
c. Building on existing assets and site contexts
d. All of these are correct
All of these should be considered in developing a waterfront plan. In the November 2011 issue of Planning Magazine Tim Beatley wrote a piece “On the Waterfront” discussing issues of waterfront planning.
The correct answer is: All of these are correct
Deaths, Births, Migration, and Fertility rates are components of which of the following population projection methods?
Select one:
a. Linear Method
b. Symptomatic Method
c. Step Down Ratio Method
d. Cohort Survival Method
Deaths, Births, Migration, and Fertility rates are components of Cohort Survival Method.
The correct answer is: Cohort Survival Method
What feature characterizes Columbia, Maryland?
Select one:
a. Self-contained villages and neighborhood clusters
b. Prior land assembly
c. Jobs-housing balance
d. All of the above
In 1963, the Rouse Company began the development of Columbia, Maryland. The 14,000-acre master planned development was developed to provide jobs, recreation, shopping, health care, and a mix of housing at different price points. The development was designed to create a jobs-housing balance.
The correct answer is: All of the above
“Our county shall include small villages surrounded by farmland, open space, and nature preserves.” This statement is an example of:
Select one:
a. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats Analysis
b. Objective of the Comprehensive Plan
c. Text from an Ordinance
d. Community Vision Statement
The correct answer is a Community Vision Statement. The sentence explains what the community would like the county to look like.
The correct answer is: Community Vision Statement
The city plans to invest $25 million towards the redevelopment of a blighted area near Plannersville State University. The city will be acquiring land through eminent domain, clearing the sites, and installing new infrastructure. The city will then work out a deal with private developers to redevelop the sites. Citizens are concerned about the investment of this much in tax dollars for private redevelopment projects. One major concern is how the area will look when the project is complete. Which of the following planning tools would be least appropriate to use in this situation?
Select one:
a. An open data portal
b. UrbanSim
c. GIS
d. CommunityViz
CommunityViz and UrbanSim are 3D visualization and modeling tools. GIS is also capable of 3D visualization depending on how it’s utilized. Open data portals are about the provision of data, not 3D modeling.
The correct answer is: An open data portal
The city of Plannersville has recently completed the city’s comprehensive plan. What is the typical planning time period the comprehensive plan is likely to cover?
Select one:
a. 50 years
b. five years
c. ten years
d. 20 years
Twenty years is the typical time period for a comprehensive plan to cover. The plan is to be long range in nature (covering more than five years), however not so long that immense change is likely to occur.
The correct answer is: 20 years
How does the Concentric Zone Theory differ from the other theories of urban development?
Select one:
a. Concentric zones are nodes of activity
b. The use of “invasion-succession” in describing dynamics
c. Concentric zones were formed along major transportation lines
d. Land uses are based on the surrounding land values
The correct answer is invasion and succession. Concentric Circle theory, developed by Earnest Burgess in 1925, finds that growth happens by land uses expanding outward from one area to another. For example, downtown office towers expanding into a warehouse district.
The correct answer is: The use of “invasion-succession” in describing dynamics
Crime has been on the rise in the eastern part of your community. The neighborhood crime stoppers and community leaders have come together to try to come up with solutions to the problem. The neighborhood is working with the city planning department to improve the design of the neighborhood, using the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles.
The plan includes:
I. Natural Surveillance
II. Territoriality
III. Connectivity to Nature
IV. Natural Access Control
Select one:
a. I and II
b. I, II, and III
c. I, II, and IV
d. I, II, III, and IV
The APA Policy Guide on Security reported that Crime Prevention through Environmental Design includes natural surveillance, territoriality, and natural access control.
The correct answer is: I, II, and IV
You work for an Affordable Housing Corporation that is building a 22-unit rowhouse development in an area consisting mostly of single-family homes. The 7.3-acre site was approved by the city and building permits were issued. Because the property was zoned to allow for multifamily housing, there were no public hearings. However, once the construction began and neighbors realized the development was creating subsidized housing, they started a petition drive asking the City Council to revoke the building permit. You are preparing a presentation to the City Council in opposition of the downzoning of the property. Which of the following legal issues should you raise?
Select one:
a. The city cannot intervene in ongoing projects of the Affordable Housing Corporation
b. The Affordable Housing Corporation has a vested right to complete the project that is underway based on city’s expectations of the property.
c. The Affordable Housing Corporation can stop the development if the community pushes back against it enough
d. The community cannot protest the development due to its zoning as multifamily housing
The Affordable Housing Corporation has a vested right to complete the project that is underway based on the city’s existing ordinance. If the city were to rezone the property that would interfere with the corporation’s investment expectations of the property. A vested right has occurred because the building permit was issued for the project and the property was zoned for the use which is being constructed.
The correct answer is: The Affordable Housing Corporation has a vested right to complete the project that is underway based on city’s expectations of the property.
A[n] ___________________ is the right to use a property owned by another person for specific purposes.
Select one:
a. Easement
b. Buffer
c. Subdivision
d. Zoning
An easement is the right to use a property owned by another person for specific purposes.
The correct answer is: Easement
Economic development typically involves collaboration among various entities. Which of the following could be involved in collaboration focused on economic development?
Select one:
a. University research parks, artist organizations and business incubators
b. University research parks and artist organizations
c. University research parks and business incubators
d. University research parks, artist organizations, defense communities, and business incubators
Economic Development requires collaboration among institutions focused on advancing mutual gain for the public and the private sector. Good examples of collaboration in economic development are university research parks, arts organizations, defense communities, and business incubators.
The correct answer is: University research parks, artist organizations, defense communities, and business incubators
Which of the following problems would most likely be addressed by a state planner?
Select one:
a. Siting a new industrial park
b. Zoning regulations for recreational vehicles
c. Economic development incentives
d. Expanding an airport
State planners can be involved in economic development incentives for bringing major employers to the state. State planners would not be involved in zoning regulations, and the siting of an industrial park and expansion of an airport are typically the jurisdiction of local governments.
The city of Plannersville is a growing city of 5,000 people. You have just been hired as the Director of Economic Development. Your first task is to develop an economic development strategy. Below is a list of suggestions you have received from your Economic Development Task Force. Which of the following would be the most successful strategy?
Select one:
a. Work with existing businesses to expand
b. Attract a major employer with more than 1,000 employees
c. Development of a research park
d. Attract small start-up biotechnology companies
Existing businesses have a commitment and ties to the community. The other suggestions are unlikely to be successful because of the high cost (developing a research park), inappropriate scale (attract a major employer with more than 1,000 employees) or likely do not build on an existing business base (attract small start-up biotech companies).
The correct answer is: Work with existing businesses to expand
Which of the following would least describe effective neighborhood planning?
Select one:
a. Comprehensive plans provide the framework for neighborhood planning and should be done within the context of the broader community
b. A comprehensive plan should reflect neighborhood plans and neighborhood plans should support the broader needs of the community
c. Neighborhood should be encouraged to seek the best organizational structure to achieve their goals and objectives
d. Neighborhoods should focus on the needs inside their neighborhood without consideration of what occurs beyond their boundaries
The APA Policy Guide on Neighborhood Collaborative Planning identifies A, B, and C as policies that should be pursued in neighborhood planning.
The correct answer is: Neighborhoods should focus on the needs inside their neighborhood without consideration of what occurs beyond their boundaries
___________ is the discharge of pollutants into the environment in an untreated, partially treated, or completely treated state.
Select one:
a. Effluent
b. Emission
c. Stormwater
d. Pollution
Effluent is the discharge of pollutants into the environment in an untreated, partially treated, or completely treated state.
The correct answer is: Effluent
What is the name of a fund established to manage the revenues and expenditures of a minor league baseball park?
Select one:
a. Capital improvement fund
b. Bond fund
c. Enterprise fund
d. General fund
The correct answer is enterprise fund. An enterprise fund is an account that manages the revenues and expenditures of a self-sufficient activity such as a minor league baseball park, parking garage, or zoo.
The correct answer is: Enterprise fund
The U.S. Department of Transportation requires consideration of environmental justice issues during the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. What might this entail?
I. Identification of minority or low-income populations
II. Ensuring an inclusive public participation process
III. Numeric analysis of public health data
IV. Alternatives and Mitigation
Select one:
a. I, II, III and IV
b. I and III only
c. I, II and III only
d. II and IV only
Under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s process, consideration of environmental justice issues must be considered during preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). General principles required as part of the EIS analysis are: Identification of Minority or Low-Income Populations, Public Participation, Numeric Analysis (that agencies should consider relevant demographic, public health and industry data), and Alternatives and Mitigation.
The correct answer is: I, II, III and IV
A request for a rezoning has been submitted to allow for a medical waste disposal facility in a low-income neighborhood in the community. You are aware this will be a controversial rezoning. Which of the following would be the best course of action?
Select one:
a. Host a neighborhood meeting allowing community members to learn about the project in advance of a public hearing
b. Ask the police to attend the public hearing to ensure all participants behave in a civil manner
c. Tell the property owner that there will likely be angry residents and that they should go out into the community and talk to neighborhood leaders
d. Prepare a presentation for the public hearing that clearly explains the pros and cons of the zoning application.
For a complicated and controversial zoning case it can be wise to hold community meetings in advance of any public hearing to allow the community to learn about the proposed project. This meeting would include both the property owner or developer as well as neighborhood residents. While Answers B and C are also reasonable, A offers the best approach.
The correct answer is: Host a neighborhood meeting allowing community members to learn about the project in advance of a public hearing