AICP - FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF
PRACTICE ZONING EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
overlay zoning - ANSWER-place more restrictions on property owner than PUD. set of
additional restrictions that are placed over the top of an existing zone. Two common
overlays are for airports and historic preservation
Other types of overlays can include - ANSWER-neighborhood revitalization zones, flood
hazard areas, enterprise zones, and foreign trade zones
variance - ANSWER-a change in the terms of the zoning regulations due to economic or
physical hardship. There are two types of variances: the use variance and the area
variance
use variance - ANSWER-A use variance allows a property to have a use not explicitly
allowed under the zoning district regulations. For example, a business owner would like
to operate an ice cream shop in an area that is not zoned for restaurant uses. A use
variance would allow the business to operate.
area variance - ANSWER-An area variance allows a property to be excluded from the
physical site requirements under the zoning ordinance. For example, an area variance
would allow a property owner to build his or her house with only a 20 foot front setback
instead of the required 25 foot setback.
In order for the community to issue a variance the property must meet specific
requirements, including the following: - ANSWER-"Unique to the surrounding property;
Must have a physical or economic hardship;
The variance will not result in a reduction in property values;
The property owner did not cause the need for the variance;
The variance is not contrary to the spirit of the zoning ordinance."
Septic and package treatment wastewater treatment approaches are effective as long
as - ANSWER-they are properly maintained
Partially close the street - ANSWER-traffic calming method that can reduce cut through
traffic by making street a one way and limiting traffic to local traffic
Consolidated Plan - ANSWER-"Beginning in 1995, the HUD required local communities
to prepare a Consolidated Plan in order to receive funding from a number of HUD
programs. The Consolidated Plan is a collaborative process whereby a community
establishes a unified vision for community development actions. It is a means to analyze
the entire community and explore the linkages to the larger region. It builds on local
, assets and coordinates a response to the needs of the community. It integrates
economic, physical, and human development in a comprehensive and coordinated
fashion so that individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities can work together
and thrive.
The consolidated planning process replaces the planning and application requirements
for the following:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG)
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
The Consolidated Plan is both a process and a document. It is a process through which
a community identifies its housing, homeless and community development needs and
establishes multi-year goals, priorities and strategies and an annual action plan for
addressing those needs. The Consolidated Plan is also a public document that details a
community's community development and housing profile, needs assessment and
barriers to meeting needs, an inventory of local institutions and resources, long-term
strategic plan, annual action plan, and program performance reports."
Cumulative Zoning - ANSWER-"Cumulative zoning is less protective of various land
uses than Euclidean zoning. Single-family residential districts are the most exclusive.
However, in cumulative zoning, each successive zoning district allows all the uses from
the previous zones:
Single-Family District allows single-family homes
Multi-Family District allows apartments and all uses allowed in the Single-Family District
Commercial District allows retail and commercial uses and all uses allowed in the Multi-
family District
Industrial District allows industrial uses and all uses allowed in the Commercial District
In a city with cumulative zoning, a person could build a single family house in any
zoning district. However, a factory could only locate in an industrial district."
Modified Cumulative Zoning - ANSWER-A modified version of cumulative zoning has
been developed to allow cities to provide a greater degree of protection than they could
with cumulative zoning. In this type of zoning, districts are typically cumulative by type of
land use. For example, a multi-family district would allow both single-family homes and
multi-family housing. However, the industrial district would not allow residential uses.
The figure below provides an example of how modified cumulative zoning works.
non conforming use - ANSWER-a property use that existed prior to the adoption of
district regulations and is allowed to continue under the "grandfather clause."
accessory use - ANSWER-incidental to the main use of a property. It is typically located
on the same lot as the main use and smaller in size than the main use. Some examples
PRACTICE ZONING EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
overlay zoning - ANSWER-place more restrictions on property owner than PUD. set of
additional restrictions that are placed over the top of an existing zone. Two common
overlays are for airports and historic preservation
Other types of overlays can include - ANSWER-neighborhood revitalization zones, flood
hazard areas, enterprise zones, and foreign trade zones
variance - ANSWER-a change in the terms of the zoning regulations due to economic or
physical hardship. There are two types of variances: the use variance and the area
variance
use variance - ANSWER-A use variance allows a property to have a use not explicitly
allowed under the zoning district regulations. For example, a business owner would like
to operate an ice cream shop in an area that is not zoned for restaurant uses. A use
variance would allow the business to operate.
area variance - ANSWER-An area variance allows a property to be excluded from the
physical site requirements under the zoning ordinance. For example, an area variance
would allow a property owner to build his or her house with only a 20 foot front setback
instead of the required 25 foot setback.
In order for the community to issue a variance the property must meet specific
requirements, including the following: - ANSWER-"Unique to the surrounding property;
Must have a physical or economic hardship;
The variance will not result in a reduction in property values;
The property owner did not cause the need for the variance;
The variance is not contrary to the spirit of the zoning ordinance."
Septic and package treatment wastewater treatment approaches are effective as long
as - ANSWER-they are properly maintained
Partially close the street - ANSWER-traffic calming method that can reduce cut through
traffic by making street a one way and limiting traffic to local traffic
Consolidated Plan - ANSWER-"Beginning in 1995, the HUD required local communities
to prepare a Consolidated Plan in order to receive funding from a number of HUD
programs. The Consolidated Plan is a collaborative process whereby a community
establishes a unified vision for community development actions. It is a means to analyze
the entire community and explore the linkages to the larger region. It builds on local
, assets and coordinates a response to the needs of the community. It integrates
economic, physical, and human development in a comprehensive and coordinated
fashion so that individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities can work together
and thrive.
The consolidated planning process replaces the planning and application requirements
for the following:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG)
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
The Consolidated Plan is both a process and a document. It is a process through which
a community identifies its housing, homeless and community development needs and
establishes multi-year goals, priorities and strategies and an annual action plan for
addressing those needs. The Consolidated Plan is also a public document that details a
community's community development and housing profile, needs assessment and
barriers to meeting needs, an inventory of local institutions and resources, long-term
strategic plan, annual action plan, and program performance reports."
Cumulative Zoning - ANSWER-"Cumulative zoning is less protective of various land
uses than Euclidean zoning. Single-family residential districts are the most exclusive.
However, in cumulative zoning, each successive zoning district allows all the uses from
the previous zones:
Single-Family District allows single-family homes
Multi-Family District allows apartments and all uses allowed in the Single-Family District
Commercial District allows retail and commercial uses and all uses allowed in the Multi-
family District
Industrial District allows industrial uses and all uses allowed in the Commercial District
In a city with cumulative zoning, a person could build a single family house in any
zoning district. However, a factory could only locate in an industrial district."
Modified Cumulative Zoning - ANSWER-A modified version of cumulative zoning has
been developed to allow cities to provide a greater degree of protection than they could
with cumulative zoning. In this type of zoning, districts are typically cumulative by type of
land use. For example, a multi-family district would allow both single-family homes and
multi-family housing. However, the industrial district would not allow residential uses.
The figure below provides an example of how modified cumulative zoning works.
non conforming use - ANSWER-a property use that existed prior to the adoption of
district regulations and is allowed to continue under the "grandfather clause."
accessory use - ANSWER-incidental to the main use of a property. It is typically located
on the same lot as the main use and smaller in size than the main use. Some examples
