Land Use Planning & Zoning Flashcards
7 cards from real CMO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Land Use Planning & Zoning flashcards as text
What is the primary function of a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)?
Answer: To hear appeals of zoning administrator decisions and grant variances or special exceptions
A BZA serves as a quasi-judicial body that hears appeals from administrative zoning decisions and considers requests for variances and special exceptions.
A 'setback' requirement in a zoning ordinance specifies:
Answer: The minimum distance a structure must be located from property lines, roads, or other features
Setbacks establish minimum distances between structures and property boundaries, roads, or water features to ensure light, air, safety, and neighborhood character.
Eminent domain allows a government to take private property for public use. Which constitutional provision requires just compensation for such takings?
Answer: Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause
The Fifth Amendment's Takings Clause states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.
A Planned Unit Development (PUD) differs from conventional zoning primarily because it:
Answer: Allows flexible mixing of land uses and site design in exchange for overall project quality and open space
A PUD allows developers to mix uses, vary setbacks, and cluster units in exchange for providing amenities such as open space, enabling creative design not possible under standard zoning.
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the land use context is used to:
Answer: Identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential environmental effects of a proposed development or policy
An EIA systematically analyzes the potential environmental consequences of a project so decision-makers and the public can weigh them before approving development.
Which of the following best describes a 'subdivision plat'?
Answer: A formal map dividing land into lots, blocks, streets, and easements that must be reviewed and recorded
A subdivision plat is a legal map that divides a larger parcel into smaller lots, defines streets and easements, and must be reviewed, approved, and recorded with the county.
A municipality places a temporary halt on accepting or processing development applications while it updates its land use regulations. This is known as a:
Answer: Development moratorium
A development moratorium is a temporary pause on permit processing or approvals that allows a municipality time to study conditions and update its regulations.