Unit 3: public land use controls and zoning (exam questions)

Jeffersontown has a zoning ordinance that requires all properties in its designated historic district to have either brick or wood plank facades. What type of zoning is this?

A. Aesthetic zoning

B. Downzoning

C. Incentive zoning

D. Spot zoning

A. Aesthetic Zoning

If downzoning occurs in one area, reducing property values in adjacent areas, what can the homeowners in those adjacent areas do?

A. File a claim for inverse condemnation.

B. Require a zoning change to their own property.

C. Sell at a loss and file a claim.

D. Sue their neighbors.

A. File a claim for inverse condemnation

A town has just assigned a lower-density use zone to an area that previously allowed higher density. What's one reason the town may have done this?

A. To improve property values

B. To increase density in surrounding areas

C. To increase taxes

D. To limit overgrowth

D. To limit overgrowth

Which zoning classification would be used solely for the development of a home?

A. Industrial

B. Mixed use

C. Planned use

D. Residential

D. Residential

FAR, or floor area ratio, includes ______.

A. All of the habitable structures on a lot

B. All structures, including habitable structures and parking structures, but not parking lots

C. None of the habitable structures on a lot

D. The area within parking lots or parking structures

A. All of the habitable structures on a lot

A town passes a zoning ordinance preserving the architectural style of an area and requiring plantings in the parking strips. This is an example of ______.

A. Aesthetic zoning

B. Architectural zoning

C. Bulk zoning

D. Variance zoning

A. Aesthetic zoning

Which of the following statements is true about zoning classifications?

A. A property that's zoned residential may be either single-family or multi-family.

B. A residential property may only have one use.

C. Condos are always commercial property.

D. Multi-family housing is zoned commercial.

A. A property that’s zoned residential may be either single-family or multi-family

Which of the following most closely describes a use variance?

A. It impacts neighboring properties.

B. It requires a show of economic hardship.

C. It’s detrimental to the area as a whole.

D. It’s required for physical deviations.

B. It requires a show of economic hardship

Blake is allowed to use his property in a way that's prohibited under current zoning ordinances, because those ordinances would cause undue hardship for him. What gives him this permission?

A. Area variance

B. Moratorium

 C. Special use permit

D. Use variance

D. Use variance

Which of the following situations may result in inverse condemnation?

A. Property taxes rise because of an increase in property value.

B. Property values decrease because adjacent property was rezoned.

C. Property values decrease because the property was rezoned.

D. The government takes private property for public use and compensates the owner.

B. Property values decrease because adjacent property was rezoned

You’re on a planning board that's discussing how to keep the city more livable by reducing building density. The subject of bulk zoning comes up. What is your response?

A. “That applies to commercial areas only.”

B. “That’s a great way to meet our objectives.”

C. “That’s crazy. We’re trying to reduce density, not increase it.”

D. “That will work for residential areas, but what about commercial?”

B. “That’s a great way to meet our objectives.”

What is a buffer zone?

A. A reduction in density

B. Rezoning of various spots in a city, town, or village that have similar architectural styles

C. Strips of land that are used to separate property dedicated to one use from property of another use

D. Zoning targeted to a specific demographic make-up

C. Strips of land that are used to separate property dedicated to one use from property of another use

What purpose does bulk zoning serve?

A. It homogenizes the look of the area.

B. It keeps similar races together.

C. It provides increased density.

D. It restricts building density.

D. It restricts building density

Which of the following terms is most closely associated with legal nonconforming use?

A. Grandfathering

B. Setback requirement

C. Special use permit

D. Variance

A. Grandfathering

Clancy has a grocery store in an area that was zoned residential after he opened for business. When you stop by for a bag of corn nuts, he complains, "I'll have to move!" What do you tell him?

A. “I’ll be happy to list your store for you, because you'll have to sell within six months.”

B. "You don't have to sell if you continue to use the property in the same manner without expansion or upgrades."

C. “You’ll be an illegal nonconforming use.”

D. “You need a special variance permit.”

B. "You don't have to sell if you continue to use the property in the same manner without expansion or upgrades."

Jonas wants to build a home on a property that's zoned for 10,000 square foot lots, but the lot is only 9,785 square feet. What should Jonas apply for?

A. Area variance

B. Conditional use permit

C. Special use permit

D. Use variance

A. Area variance

Your clients live in Area B that's adjacent to Area C; Area C was recently downzoned. If your clients believe the rezoning has harmed their property values, what can they do?

A. File a claim of inverse condemnation.

B. Move to Area C and file a claim.

C. Nothing, because they don't live in the rezoned area.

D. They must sell to prove a loss of value.

A. File a claim of inverse condemnation

The Arbor Heights community passed a zoning ordinance that requires group homes designated for disabled citizens to be situated outside of city limits. This is a violation of the ______.

A. City Charter Act

B. Fair Housing Act

C. Municipality Zoning Act

D. Zoning Disability Act

B. Fair Housing Act

A developer wants to turn a 20-acre parcel of land in a residential zoning area into condominiums. The town is considering rezoning that parcel to allow the development because the developer plans to include a public park and walking trail. What kind of zoning is this?

A. Aesthetic zoning

B. Downzoning

C. Incentive zoning

D. Spot zoning

C. Incentive zoning

Zoning that preserves the architectural style and cohesive appearance of an area is termed ______.

A. Aesthetic zoning

B. Architectural zoning

C. Bulk zoning

D. Density zoning

A. Aesthetic zoning

Which type of zoning classification is used for areas that are undeveloped or are used to raise animals or plants?

A. Agricultural

B. Commercial

C. Industrial

D. Residential

A. Agricultural

One area of town has maximum building height requirements and setbacks for the front, side, and rear yards. These requirements are all indicative of ______.

A. Bulk zoning

B. Commercial zoning

C. Density zoning

D. Residential zoning

A. Bulk zoning

Damien and Sandy bought a lot with a condemned house. They want to tear it down and build a duplex, so that they can live on one side and rent out the other. Unfortunately, the property is zoned single-family residential. If they can make a case for economic hardship, what may they apply for and be granted?

A. Area variance

B. Moratorium

C. Special use permit

D. Use variance

D. Use variance

What's the definition of a group home?

A. A facility where unrelated adults live

B. A home that's grouped closely to other dwellings

C. An institution, such as a prison or mental health facility

D. Any multi-family dwelling

A. A facility where unrelated adults live

What’s the biggest difference between an area variance and a use variance?

A. An area variance applies to an entire community. A use variance applies to a single property.

B. An area variance involves grandfathering. A use variance does not.

C. An area variance is an allowed use that was previously prohibited. A use variance is a prohibited use that is now allowed.

 D. A use variance prevents economic loss of the property. An area variance need not show potential economic loss.

 D. A use variance prevents economic loss of the property. An area variance need not show potential economic loss.

What's one of the ways that bulk zoning achieves its objectives?

A. Through minimum height requirements

B. Through minimum parking space requirements

C. Through monitoring architectural style

D. Through setbacks

D. Through setbacks

Residents complained that the village-like character of their town is being affected by the condos that are being built on the edge of town. In response, the local government officials rezoned the areas on the edges of town as parklands. What type of zoning is this?

A. Aesthetic zoning

B. Downzoning

C. Incentive zoning

D. Spot zoning

B. Downzoning

Which of the following is the Sunshine Law based on?

A. The First Amendment

B. The Freedom of Information Act

C. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act

D. The SPEECH Act

B. The Freedom of Information Act

The Town of Petersville has just decided to restrict density in one area of town that previously allowed a higher density. This is known as ______.

A. Aesthetic zoning

B. Density zoning

C. Downzoning

D. Reduction zoning

C. Downzoning