Architecture and Design Site Planning and Urban Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'FAR' (Floor Area Ratio) measure in zoning regulations?
- The ratio of building height to street width
- The ratio of total building floor area to the area of the site (Correct answer)
- The percentage of a site covered by impervious surfaces
- The front yard setback as a ratio of lot depth
Correct answer: The ratio of total building floor area to the area of the site
FAR is calculated by dividing the total gross floor area of all building floors by the total area of the site.
Question 2: What is a 'setback' in site planning?
- The allowable building height above grade
- The required minimum distance between a building and a property line (Correct answer)
- The grade change across a site
- The distance a parking lot must be from the street
Correct answer: The required minimum distance between a building and a property line
Setbacks are zoning-mandated minimum distances from property lines within which buildings may not be placed.
Question 3: The 'urban heat island effect' refers to:
- Increased solar radiation in urban areas due to air pollution
- Higher temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas due to paved surfaces and buildings (Correct answer)
- The thermal mass effect of masonry buildings
- Increased wind speeds between tall buildings
Correct answer: Higher temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas due to paved surfaces and buildings
The urban heat island effect occurs because paved surfaces and buildings absorb and re-radiate heat, making cities warmer than surrounding rural areas.
Question 4: In site grading, a '2% minimum slope away from the building' is required primarily to:
- Provide accessible routes for pedestrians
- Direct surface water away from the foundation (Correct answer)
- Meet zoning requirements for lot coverage
- Accommodate underground utility placement
Correct answer: Direct surface water away from the foundation
Grading at least 2% away from the building ensures surface water drains away from the foundation, preventing water infiltration and moisture problems.
Question 5: What does 'lot coverage' mean in zoning?
- The maximum FAR allowed on a site
- The percentage of the lot area that can be covered by buildings and structures (Correct answer)
- The ratio of parking spaces to building floor area
- The maximum impervious surface area including all paving
Correct answer: The percentage of the lot area that can be covered by buildings and structures
Lot coverage is the percentage of the total lot area that may be covered by building footprints and sometimes other impervious surfaces.
Question 6: The 'five-minute walk' (roughly 1/4 mile) is used in urban design as a standard for:
- Maximum parking lot travel distance
- Comfortable pedestrian catchment area for transit stops and neighborhood amenities (Correct answer)
- Block length in grid street systems
- Bicycle infrastructure spacing
Correct answer: Comfortable pedestrian catchment area for transit stops and neighborhood amenities
A quarter-mile walk shed (~5 minutes) is the standard measure for defining walkable pedestrian catchment areas around transit and services.
Architecture and Design Site Planning and Urban Design 1
What does 'FAR' (Floor Area Ratio) measure in zoning regulations?