Chapter 3 - Plan Types - Comprehensive Plan Family

Question 1

What the helly are Comprehensive Plans?

Answer 1

-A planning doc that establishes government’s (municipality/county) policy for long-term future development
-Usually over 20-30 years
-AKA Master Plans
-Establish a series of non-binding policy goals, can be revised if desired

Question 2

What do Comprehensive Plans bring together?

Answer 2

-Bring together major determinants of growth and development to a single planning document
-Example: Comprehensive plan looking to reduce car use/reliance may establish a goal to encourage neighborhood designs that support a range of transportation choices.

Question 3

What are speculative plans?

Answer 3

-Often included in comprehensive plans to illustrate how policy goals might translate to built environment
-May be used to influence capital improvement plans or zoning ordinances
-Usually associated with the portion of Comprehensive Plan known as Implementation Program which are usually divided into: Short-term (1-3 years), Medium-term (-10 years), and Long-term (11-20+ years) strategies

Question 4

Comprehensive Plans are used to:

OCPPE

Answer 4

-Organize large-scale processes
-Coordinate decision-making at the local level
-Provide general guidance to landowners, developers, stakeholders
-Promote informed decision-making
-Establish direction/consensus related to future development

Question 5

What subjects do Comprehensive Plans typically address?

LENHTUCC

Answer 5

-Land Use
-Economic Development
-Natural/Cultural Resources (including hazards)
-Housing
-Transportation
-Utilities
-Community Demographics
-Community Facilities (including parks)

Question 6

What are Land Use Plans?

Answer 6

-They describe future possibilities for development within defined planning area (neighborhood, district, city, etc)
-Typically part of larger comprehensive plan document
-Primary purpose of land use planning is regulations of land uses, with goal of preventing conflicts between competing uses (daycare next to oil refinary)
-Land use is typically controlled via zoning.

Question 7

What are Regional Plans

Answer 7

-Similar in intent to comprehensive plans
-Distinct in that they cover geographic areas (“regions”) that cross jurisdiction of more than one governmental unit

Question 8

What do Regional Plans contain?

Answer 8

-Regions designed according to numerous criteria (watershed boundaries, transportation network, metropolitan reion) with caveat that Region is defined by a unifying/coherent framework
-Thus, precise contents of regional plans vary according to how a region is defines (watershed vs regional sewer district)
-All regional plans will contain maps & implementation program

Question 9

What is an Implementation Program composed of?

IDMCP

Answer 9

-Implementation schedule
-Development criteria
-Monitoring and evaluation
-Coordination between governmental units
-Proposed legislature changes

Question 10

How are Urban Plans similar to Comprehensive Plans?

Answer 10

-They are a holistic tool used to plan for future development and community needs

Question 11

How are Urban Plans different from Comprehensive Plans?

Answer 11

-They typically use 3D design drawings to explore ideas and describe potential design concepts, whereas comprehensive plans rely on 2D plans
-3D drawings are better suited because they address smaller geographical area and can address higher level of detail, they are also better because urban plans are more concerned with issues not suitably addressed by 2D such as building massing and shadow studies (greater degree of spatial complexity)

Question 12

What type of collaboration is required for Urban Plans?

Answer 12

-Interdisiplinary collaboration between urban designers, architects ,landscape architects, urban planners, civil and environmental engineers, and economic analysts.

Question 13

What type of projects are Urban Plans typically prepared for?

Answer 13

-Downtown areas
-Waterfronts
-Campuses
-Neighborhoods,
-Large mixed-use developments
-Other special districts

Question 14

What are the goals of an Urban Plan?

CDIMF

Answer 14

-Create holistic vision for future
-Develop implementation stategies for proposed development (short and long range initiatitves)
-Improve design quality across special district
-Market a specific district to development interests
-Facilitate compromise between competing interests

Question 15

Urban Plans typically contain the following elements:

EDASDUSODI

Answer 15

-Executive summary
-Description of existing conditions
-Analysis drawings
-Summary of strengths and weaknesses
-Development program (including market studies)
-Urban design plan and perspective renderings
-Street framework plan (including section drawings)
-Open space framework plan
-Design guidelines (including massing, height, building setbacks, architectural styles, parking, streetscapes, signage, and materials)
-Implementation Plan

Question 16

What are Neighborhood plans?

Answer 16

-Similar to urban plans in that they translate concerns of comprehensive plan to a smaller scale
-Unlike urban plans they are less concerned w/ urban design elements and more so used to address detailed goals, policies, and guidelines related to land uses in special neighborhood.
-Address issues across 1-2 year timeframe
-Subject to frequent updates

Question 17

What is key for Neighborhood plans?

Answer 17

-Defining the boundaries of a neighborhood is critical aspect

Question 18

What are some elements of a Neighborhood Plan?

Answer 18

-Suggested amendments to existing zoning and design guidelines for specific streets
-Code enforcement
-Public maintenance

Question 19

What are Site Master Plans?

Answer 19

-A document (with accompanying concept-level plans) that address much of the content of a comprehensive plan but at the scale of a site

Question 20

What are the primary goals of a Site Master Plan?

Answer 20

-Outlining phased growth plan for future site development
-Identifying max development potential of site
-Highlighting critical cultural and environmental resources on site to ensure future development preserves assets
-Considering how sustainable site design measures can be incorporated
-Incorporate public feedback into site development