Site Planning and Design Flashcards

What is a 'LEED site credit' for 'reduced parking footprint' designed to encourage?

Answer: Minimizing impervious surface by providing fewer parking spaces than maximum zoning allows

This LEED credit rewards projects that provide fewer parking spaces than zoning maximums, reducing impervious cover, heat island effect, and dependence on automobiles.

What is the primary benefit of a 'bioswale' in stormwater management?

Answer: It slows, filters, and infiltrates stormwater through vegetated channels

Bioswales are vegetated channels that slow stormwater runoff velocity, filter pollutants through soil and plant uptake, and promote infiltration into the ground.

Which sun angle consideration most directly influences building orientation for passive solar heating in US climates?

Answer: Low winter sun altitude and southern exposure

In the US, orienting glazing to the south and using overhangs sized for the low winter sun captures solar heat in winter while shading in summer.

What does 'ADA accessible route' require on a site?

Answer: At least one level, firm, stable path connecting accessible parking, entries, and site elements

An accessible route must provide a continuous, unobstructed path with compliant slope, width, and surface connecting accessible site features and building entrances.

What is a 'phased development plan' in the context of large site projects?

Answer: A strategy that divides a large project into sequential construction stages to manage cost and market demand

Phased development breaks large projects into sequential stages so that earlier phases can generate revenue or be occupied while later phases are still being designed or built.

What does 'solar access easement' protect?

Answer: A property owner's right to receive unobstructed sunlight over neighboring land

A solar access easement is a legal agreement preventing adjacent landowners from constructing improvements that would block sunlight to a specified property.