CLA Land Use Regulations & Zoning Law 3

Question 1

A municipality's comprehensive plan differs from a zoning ordinance primarily because the comprehensive plan:

Accepted Answer

Is a policy document that guides future land use decisions but is not self-executing

Answer

A comprehensive plan is a long-range policy document expressing community goals and guiding principles for land use, but it is generally not self-executing and requires implementing regulations such as zoning ordinances.

Question 2

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs allow property owners in designated sending zones to:

Accepted Answer

Sell unused development potential to landowners in receiving zones

Answer

TDR programs allow owners in sending zones (often areas to be protected) to sell their unused development rights to owners in receiving zones, enabling higher density development elsewhere while preserving the sending area.

Question 3

Which zoning tool allows a municipality to require that a developer provide public amenities—such as public plazas or affordable housing—in exchange for permission to build at higher densities than the base zone allows?

Accepted Answer

Incentive zoning (bonus zoning)

Answer

Incentive or bonus zoning allows developers to exceed base zoning standards (e.g., height or FAR limits) in exchange for providing specified public benefits, creating a negotiated trade-off between density and amenities.

Question 4

A landscape architect is reviewing a project near a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which types of rivers are classified as having outstandingly remarkable values but are not yet protected?

Accepted Answer

Study rivers

Answer

Study rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act are those identified for potential designation that are undergoing study to determine if they possess outstandingly remarkable values worthy of protection, but have not yet been formally designated.

Question 5

An overlay district in a zoning code functions by:

Accepted Answer

Adding supplemental requirements to the base zone regulations without eliminating them

Answer

An overlay district imposes additional or modified requirements on top of an existing base zone, addressing specific issues such as historic preservation, flood hazards, or airport approach zones without eliminating the underlying zone.

(CLA) Certified Landscape Architect Practice Test

(CLA) Certified Landscape Architect Practice Test

CLA Land Use Regulations & Zoning Law 3