AICP Fundamental Planning Knowledge 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which planning theory emphasizes that planners should act as advocates for underrepresented communities in the planning process?
- Rational Comprehensive Planning
- Advocacy Planning (Correct answer)
- Incremental Planning
- Communicative Planning
Correct answer: Advocacy Planning
Advocacy Planning, developed by Paul Davidoff in the 1960s, argues planners should represent marginalized groups who lack power in traditional planning processes.
Question 2: The Euclidean zoning system gets its name from which landmark U.S. Supreme Court case?
- Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City
- Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. (Correct answer)
- Kelo v. City of New London
- Nollan v. California Coastal Commission
Correct answer: Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.
Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. (1926) upheld the constitutionality of zoning ordinances, giving rise to the term 'Euclidean zoning' for use-separated land-use regulations.
Question 3: In the context of transportation planning, what does 'level of service' (LOS) primarily measure?
- The quality of public transit coverage in an area
- The operational conditions of a roadway from the driver's perspective (Correct answer)
- The environmental impact of a transportation corridor
- The financial performance of a transit agency
Correct answer: The operational conditions of a roadway from the driver's perspective
Level of Service (LOS) is a grading system (A through F) measuring operational conditions on a roadway, primarily based on speed, travel time, and congestion.
Question 4: What is 'smart growth' primarily designed to address?
- Increasing the efficiency of agricultural land use
- Reducing urban sprawl by promoting compact, transit-oriented development (Correct answer)
- Accelerating economic development in rural areas
- Maximizing tax revenue through commercial zoning
Correct answer: Reducing urban sprawl by promoting compact, transit-oriented development
Smart growth is a planning approach that promotes compact, walkable, mixed-use development to reduce suburban sprawl and its associated environmental and infrastructure costs.
Question 5: Which document typically serves as the legally binding implementation tool for a comprehensive plan's land use goals?
- The comprehensive plan itself
- A capital improvement program
- A zoning ordinance (Correct answer)
- An environmental impact statement
Correct answer: A zoning ordinance
The zoning ordinance is the primary legally enforceable regulatory tool that implements the land use vision established in a comprehensive plan.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program?
- To compensate landowners in areas where development is restricted while allowing increased density elsewhere (Correct answer)
- To transfer zoning authority from local governments to regional agencies
- To redistribute property tax revenues between municipalities
- To allow developers to exceed height limits in exchange for affordable housing contributions
Correct answer: To compensate landowners in areas where development is restricted while allowing increased density elsewhere
TDR programs allow landowners in protected 'sending' areas to sell unused development rights to buyers in designated 'receiving' areas, compensating owners without direct public expenditure.
Question 7: According to the AICP Code of Ethics, a planner's primary obligation is to:
- The client or employer who hired them
- The public interest (Correct answer)
- The elected officials who oversee planning
- Professional peers and the planning community
Correct answer: The public interest
The AICP Code of Ethics establishes that planners' primary obligation is to serve the public interest, even when this may conflict with the interests of clients or employers.
AICP Fundamental Planning Knowledge 2
Which planning theory emphasizes that planners should act as advocates for underrepresented communities in the planning process?