Study Guide Ch. 3 Plan Types

Question 1

Plan

Answer 1

An adopted statement of policy, in the form of text, maps, and graphics, used to guide public and private actions that affect the future. A plan provides decision makers with the information they need to make informed decisions affecting the long range social, economic, and physical growth of a community.

Question 2

Plans are developed in response to

Answer 2

A series of goals and objectives

Question 3

Goals

Answer 3

General statements of intent for the overall design

Question 4

Objectives

Answer 4

Specific statement that suggest how goals are going to be accomplished and are thus more action oriented

Question 5

Comprehensive Plan

Answer 5

Planning document that establishes a government’s (usually municipality or county) policy for the long term future development of the land under their control
Usually over a twenty or thirty year period
(Aka master plans)
Bring together all of the major determinants of growth and development into a single planning document, and they establish a series of nonbinding policy goals
Include speculative plans to illustrate how policy goals might be translated into the built environment, and although they may be used to influence capital improvement programs or zoning ordinances, the information contained in a comprehensive plan is considered non-binding and can be revised if so desired.

Question 6

Speculative plans

Answer 6

illustrate how policy goals might be translated into the built environment, and although they may be used to influence capital improvement programs or zoning ordinances, the information contained in a comprehensive plan is considered non-binding and can be revised if so desired.

Usually associated with the portion of the comprehensive plan known as the “implementation program”

Question 7

Implementation program is divided into

Answer 7

Short term (1-3 years)
Medium term (4-10 years)
Long term (11-20 years)

Question 8

Comprehensive plans are used to

Answer 8

- organize large-scale processes
- coordinate decision-making at the local level
- provide general guidance to landowners, developers, and other stakeholders
- promote informed decision-making
- establish direction and consensus related to future development

Question 9

Comprehensive plans typically address the following subjects:

Answer 9

- land use
- economic development
- natural and cultural resources (including hazards)
- housing
- transportation
- utilities
- community demographics
- community facilities (including parks)

Question 10

Land Use plans

Answer 10

Describe future possibilities for development within a defined planning area (e.g.., neighborhood, district, city, etc.) as such they are typically located within a larger comprehensive plan document.

Primary purpose of land use planning is the regulation of land uses, with the goal of preventing conflicts between competing uses (e.g., a daycare located next to an oil refinery)

Within the context of the US, land use is typically controlled via zoning

Question 11

Regional Plans

Answer 11

Distinct in that they cover geographic areas “regions” that cross the jurisdiction of more than one governmental unit

Regions can be defined according to numerous criteria (watershed boundaries, transportation network, metropolitan region) with the caveat that the region is defined by some sort of unifying or coherent framework

Question 12

Contents of regional plans

Answer 12

Precise contents will vary according to how a region is defined (e.g., watershed vs. regional sewer district).

all will contain maps as well as an implementation program

Question 13

Implementation program
Regional maps

Answer 13

- an implementation schedule
- development criteria
- monitoring and evaluation
- coordination between governmental units
- proposed legislative changes

Question 14

Urban Plans

Answer 14

Typically use three dimensional design drawings to explore ideas and describe potential design concepts

Similar to comprehensive plans in that they use a holistic tool used to plan for future development and community needs

3d drawings emphasized not only because addressing smaller geographical area (thus allowing drawings to address a higher level of detail) but also because urban plans are most concerned with issues that cannot be suitably addressed in two-dimensional drawings, such as building massing and shadow studies

Because they address a greater degree of spatial complexity, they typically require interdisciplinary collaboration between urban designers, architects, landscape architects, urban planners, civil and environmental engineers, and economic analysts

Question 15

Urban plans are typically prepared for

Answer 15

- downtown areas, waterfronts, campuses, neighborhoods, large mixed-use developments and other special districts

Question 16

Urban plans are used to

Answer 16

- create a holistic vision for the future
- develop implementation strategies for proposed development and other short and long range initiatives
- improve design quality across a specific district
- market a specific district to development interests
- facilitate compromise between competing interests

Question 17

Urban plans typically contain the following elements:

Answer 17

- executive summary
- description of existing conditions
- analysis drawings
- summary of strengths and weaknesses
- development program (including market studies)
- urban design plan and perspective renderings
- street framework plan (including section drawings)
- open space framework plan
- design guidelines (including massing, height, building setbacks, architectural styles, parking, streetscapes, signage and materials)
- implementation plan

Question 18

Neighborhood plans

Answer 18

Similar to urban plans, they translate the concerns of a comprehensive plan to a smaller scale

Are used to address detailed goals, policies, and guidelines related to land uses in a specific neighborhood

Defining the boundaries of a neighborhood is a critical aspect of this plan document

Due to their specificity, neighborhood plans will often include suggested amendments to existing zoning and design guidelines for specific streets, as well as code enforcement and public maintenance.

Typically regarded as addressing issues across a 1- to 2-year timeframe and are subject to frequent updates

Question 19

Site master plans

Answer 19

Can be understood as a document (with accompanying concept level plans) that addresses much of the content of a comprehensive plan, but at the scale of a site.

Will typically address a long-term timeframe (20-30 years) and - although more specific than a framework plan - the graphics and content of the master plan will not be resolved beyond concept level detail

Question 20

Primary goals of a site master plan

Answer 20

- outlining a phased growth plan for future site development
- identifying maximum development potential for a site
- highlighting critical cultural and environmental resources on a site and ensure that future development preserves these site assets
- considering how sustainable site design measures can be incorporated
- incorporate public feedback into site development

Question 21

Framework plan

Answer 21

Planning tool or document that can coordinate future growth, development and investment within a given community.

Catch all term that takes a variety of considerations into account, including land use, open space, transportation/circulation, architecture and sustainability, and they are most often used by universities as a tool for campus planning

Can be understood as a series of independent elements that are united under the structure of a single plan document.

Question 22

Historic preservation plans
(Historic/cultural restoration)

Answer 22

Used to identify, preserve and restore critical cultural and historic resources

National Preservation Act of 1966 - development cannot have an adverse effect on historic properties or resources

Historic preservation policies are thus most often often applied to sites of considerable historical significance

Question 23

National Register of Historic Places assesses sites based upon the following criteria:

Answer 23

- is the site associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of American history
- is the site associated with the lives of persons significant to US history
- does the site embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction
- has the site yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history
Note: these policies do not generally cover wilderness or habitat areas

Question 24

Plans vs policies

Answer 24

Policies often apply to a single building or property

Historic/cultural restoration and preservation plans are typically enacted through the creation of special historic districts

Question 25

Historic Preservation designation Process

Answer 25

Assessing and documenting existing or potential historic/cultural resources in a given area

Preliminary studies often take the form of a cultural resource assessment that uses archival research and field-based research to document the location, quality, and historic significance of built works or structures including (but not limited to bridges, buildings, walls, and signs.)

Question 26

Two distinct types of historic districts

Answer 26

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) established standards by federal government

Local districts established by municipal ordinances

Not mutually exclusive, often applying to same locations with local district applying additional protection and or financial incentives that supplement those established in the NRHP

At local level, historic districts are implemented as zoning “overlay districts” with special local land use controls

Question 27

Preservation

Answer 27

The process of applying measures to protect the existing form, integrity and materials of a historic property, structure or resource.

As such, preservation efforts will prioritize routine maintenance rather than replacement of features or new construction

Question 28

Rehabilitation

Answer 28

Entails repairing, altering or adding to an existing historic resource to accommodate a compatible use.

Note that all work conducted should preserve any and all features that contain historic or cultural merit

Question 29

Restoration

Answer 29

Is the process of removing features from a historic resource to accurately depict the historic resources as it would have appeared in a particular period of time.

Restoration may also entail reconstructing features that were removed from the original structure or resource

Question 30

Reconstruction

Answer 30

Involves using new construction to accurately depict the form, features and detailing of a non-surviving historic resource

Question 31

Parks, open space and trails master plans

Answer 31

Used to organize the provision of recreational services and outdoor spaces to a community and include environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, historic, transportation and urban design elements

Question 32

Parks and trails master plans are drafted at various scales

Answer 32

National, state, regional, and local because they are organized around political/social boundaries as well as ecological resources

Question 33

Parks, open space and trails master plans are typically drafted to accomplish the following

Answer 33

- protect natural resources and wildlife
- provide space for public recreation
- enhance a sense of community through providing public space
- create new/support existing cultural infrastructure
- support economic development initiatives
- promote general public health
- augment existing development patterns

Question 34

Goals and objectives of open space master plans typically address

Answer 34

- quantity of a specific resource (e.g., the percentage of land in a new development that will be set aside for open space)
- location and accessibility of desired resources (e.g., ensuring that all residents have equitable access to open space)
- balance of resources (e.g., ensuring that tennis courts or fitness trails are evenly distributed throughout a community)
- environmental protection (e.g., identifying specific natural resources that will be protected)
- sustainability and maintenance (e.g., ensuring that park resources are adequately funded)
- coordination with broader policy initiatives (e.g., reviewing that open space plans are supported by/do not conflict with the transportation initiatives)

Will vary in their emphasis due to different community needs and different access to environmental resources

Question 35

Parks, open space and trails master plans will also include:

Answer 35

- inventory of existing assets, include the size, function, facilities and resources associated with each site
- demand assessment based upon projected trends in the community
- surplus and deficiency analysis to identify development/redevelopment opportunities
- implementation plan targeted at addressing deficiencies

Question 36

Parks and rec plans to be re-evaluated

Answer 36

Every 5 years to ensure that they remain relevant to the community and its needs

Plan contents usually drafted in reference to other policy documents (especially a community’s comprehensive plan)

Question 37

View corridor plan

Answer 37

Used to protect or otherwise control the viewshed of a specific area.

Can take numerous forms:
- component within another plan (comprehensive plan, open space plan, historic preservation plan)
- stand-alone plan or ordinance
- defined as a zoning overlay district

Question 38

Viewshed

Answer 38

Area visible from a specific point or locality, or all views located along/from a specific road, trail, park, or historic landmark

Borders of viewsheds are usually defined by topography, structures, vegetation, or other physical barriers, but in some cases can be limited by distance or changes in land use or visual character

Question 39

Viewshed protection is based around the following four measures:

Answer 39

- a master plan or document that describes the community’s support for viewshed protection
- surveying public opinions and perceptions regarding scenic quality and preferences
- an accurate visual inventory and assessment process for the viewshed in question, including techniques such as visibility studies and digital viewshed modeling
- enforcement mechanisms to protect the viewshed (e.g., building height limitations or setbacks, streetscape standards, landscape design guideline)

Question 40

Redevelopment plans

Answer 40

Intended to promote economic development and quality of life, specially in those areas that are recognized as being underdeveloped or in need of economic revitalization

As such, redevelopment plans are often targeted as brownfield and greyfield sites or as urban in-fill development

Question 41

Reasons for drafting redevelopment plans

Answer 41

- responding to competition from nearby communities or regions
- addressing the loss of a major industry or employer in the area
- promoting a community to specific industries
- tackling economic stagnation or decline
- creating new tax revenues
- finding uses for underutilized spaces or resources in a community

Question 42

Redevelopment plans are typically informed by:

Answer 42

Economic analyses and other background studies that indicate the relative strengths and weakness of a specific district, area or community, and these economic indicators are used to drive community outreach, as well as to inform the various plan components.

Question 43

Redevelopment plans typically outline:

Answer 43

- a community’s relationship to the local economy
- desired industries or other economic drivers
- location and characteristics of sites identified for redevelopment
- public resources that can/will be dedicated toward redevelopment efforts
- public-private coordination strategy
- implementation plan and performance monitoring

Question 44

Environmental Resources Plan

Answer 44

Used to identify and protect lands, water bodies, wildlife and other natural resources from incompatible forms of development

Question 45

Environmental resource planning must begin by

Answer 45

Establishing a framework to identify and evaluate a community’s natural resources since communities will value their natural resources differently depending on local and context
(e.g., fishing or farming community the economic value of a natural resource may be of greater importance than aesthetic or recreational uses for that same resource)

Question 46

Environmental resource plans will typically contain:

Answer 46

- descriptions of the identified critical and sensitive resource areas
- GIS maps of critical and sensitive resource areas (supported by field surveys)
- an analysis of the carrying capacity of the resources identified or, if not known, mechanisms for determining the carrying capacity of each resource
- a description of the public outreach techniques used to determine which resources are critical, and the level of degradation deemed acceptable for each
- policies to protect the resources
- implementation strategies

Question 47

Multi-Modal Transportation Plan

Answer 47

Address improvements to and investments in a transportation network with the explicit goal of increasing safety and accessibility, while also improving quality of life and encouraging economic development

Will address the use of roads by private vehicles, public transportation (buses, light rail) as well as the needs of cyclists and pedestrians

Question 48

Transportation plans are drafted for multiple scales

Answer 48

Including federal, state, regional, and local levels, as well as for specific transit corridors due to their interconnectedness

Transportation plans should be developed in collaboration with officials from higher levels of government (e.g., state and federal) to ensure conformity with broader transportation initiatives

Question 49

Six steps that define transportation plans development

Answer 49

1. Evaluate system capacity, deficiencies, and needs
2. Establish goals and objectives
3. Define and prioritize future needs
4. Develop, evaluate, and select potential solutions
5. Prepare and adopt the plan, including public review and comment
6. Implement, monitor, and evaluate plan performance

Question 50

Transportation plans typically contain the following elements:

Answer 50

- executive summary, including goals and objectives of the transportation plan
- description of planning and public outreach strategy
- description of existing conditions (restricted to transportation and land use)
- summary of transportation needs
- projections of future conditions (restricted to transportation and land use)
- development scenarios to meet future conditions
- cost implications and potential funding sources
- implementation plan and performance monitoring

Question 51

Related documentation
Strategic implementation plan

Answer 51

Not a discrete document in their own right, component found in other plan documents (e.g., historic preservation plan, parks master plan) and they outline how the strategies and programs described in that plan will be achieved

Provide specific information on how each strategy/program will be achieved

Question 52

Strategic implementation plans address:

Answer 52

- funding and other financial considerations
- specific sites or resources that will be targeted by the program
- design/planning standards relevant to the proposed strategy
- participants and organizations that are vital to the implementation strategy, including who/what will execute the program
- specific targets and timelines for each strategy/program
- how progress will be measured/evaluated

Question 53

Design Guidelines

Answer 53

A set of recommendations or requirements intended to organize the character of the built environment through controlling form and aesthetics.
They can be applied to a broad range of design elements including site furnishings, plant selection, hardscape selection, streetscapes and resource efficiency standards

Often included as parts of other plans

Question 54

Design guidelines are intended to

Answer 54

- improve the built environment through high-quality, cost-effective design and construction
- establish aesthetic continuity
- support and maintain broader planning and design objective
- ensure the health, safety, and welfare of site users
- mitigate the negative impacts of development

Question 55

Feasibility Studies

Answer 55

Typically examine a proposed project’s costs and benefits and are used for both public and private sector projects

Question 56

A feasibility study provides critical information, including:

Answer 56

- market analysis (for private sector projects)
- development yield of a site (taking into account physical and regulatory constraints)
- regulatory permits and approvals required for project approval
- estimated project timeline (including political obstacles/incentives that can be expected)
- budget/funding mechanisms available for project funding
- initial design concepts

Include elements from the pre-design (inventory and analysis) and design phases