CIP RPP Professional Exam cheat sheet

Rational comprehensive model: define goals, identify alternatives, predict consequences, evaluate options, and select a plan; it assumes comprehensive information and a neutral analyst.

Incrementalism (Lindblom): successive limited comparisons and small policy adjustments; decision rule: choose marginal change when information, time, or agreement is constrained.

Mixed scanning (Etzioni): combines broad fundamental review with incremental detail; allocate intensive analysis to key decisions and general scanning to others.

Advocacy planning (Davidoff): planners represent disadvantaged groups and prepare competing plans; technical analysis serves political pluralism rather than one public interest.

Communicative/collaborative planning: legitimacy comes from inclusive dialogue and consensus; apply when stakeholders are interdependent and technical certainty is low.

Equity planning (Krumholz): prioritize redistributive outcomes for low-income and marginalized residents; decision test: who bears costs and who receives benefits.

Transactive planning (Friedmann): face-to-face dialogue between planner and client; use when local knowledge, trust, and ongoing learning are central.

Radical planning: critiques structural power and institutional control of land; use as an analytical lens for who gains and who loses from planning decisions.

1909 Plan of Chicago by Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett proposed regional civic improvements, parks, and transportation infrastructure.

1916 New York City zoning ordinance was the first comprehensive municipal zoning ordinance in the United States.

1926 Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty upheld municipal zoning under the police power as a rational health, safety, and welfare measure.

1928 Standard City Planning Enabling Act was a model state law authorizing planning commissions and master plans.

1934 National Housing Act created the Federal Housing Administration; 1949 Housing Act Title I expanded urban renewal.

1954 Berman v. Parker upheld eminent domain for blight removal and redevelopment as a public purpose.

1969 National Environmental Policy Act required environmental review for major federal actions.

1978 merger of the American Institute of Planners and American Society of Planning Officials formed APA; AICP is APA's professional institute.

AICP Code of Ethics contains aspirational principles and enforceable rules of conduct covering conflicts of interest, competence, public welfare, and fair dealing.

Euclidean zoning separates uses into districts and regulates height, bulk, and density; it is justified under the police power.

Comprehensive plan is a long-range policy guide; where state law requires consistency, zoning decisions must conform to the plan.

Variance test: unique hardship, not self-created, no special privilege, and no change in use when the variance is dimensional.

Special or conditional use permit: discretionary approval for a listed use with conditions; decision must rest on adopted standards and compatibility findings.

Nonconforming use: lawful use existing before a zoning change; it may generally continue, but expansion and amortization rules vary by state.

Overlay district adds standards on top of base zoning; common uses include historic areas, corridors, transit stations, and environmental buffers.

Planned unit development: negotiated unified development with flexible standards and public benefits; approved through rezoning or conditional process.

Floor area ratio = gross floor area divided by lot area; density = dwelling units divided by gross residential acreage.

Police power authorizes regulation of health, safety, and welfare; zoning is valid when rationally related to a legitimate public purpose.

Penn Central regulatory taking factors: economic impact, interference with investment-backed expectations, and character of the government action.

Nollan essential nexus: an exaction must be connected to a legitimate state interest before it is imposed on a permit applicant.

Dolan rough proportionality: an exaction's burden must be roughly proportional to the impacts created by the proposed development.

Vested rights protect a developer from later regulatory changes after substantial reliance on approvals; the test and timing are set by state law.

Procedural due process requires adequate notice and a fair hearing; substantive due process requires a rational basis unless a fundamental right is involved.

RLUIPA: a substantial burden on religious exercise in land use requires a compelling government interest and least restrictive means.

Preemption: federal or state law displaces conflicting local ordinances; express, implied, field, and conflict preemption are the common forms.

Transect zoning (T1-T6) organizes from natural and rural areas to the urban core; it regulates building form and intensity by settlement context.

Complete streets design accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists of all ages and abilities rather than prioritizing vehicles alone.

LEED certification awards points for sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality; it is a rating system, not a zoning code.

NEPA decision path: categorical exclusion, environmental assessment with finding of no significant impact, or environmental impact statement with record of decision.

EIA screening determines whether an assessment is required; scoping defines the issues, alternatives, and boundaries before analysis begins.

Impervious cover increases stormwater runoff; green infrastructure reduces peak flow and pollutant loads through infiltration, detention, and filtration.

Urban heat island mitigation includes tree canopy, cool roofs, shade structures, and reduced dark impervious surfaces.

CPTED principles: natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance reduce opportunities for crime.

Capital improvement program: multiyear schedule of public facility projects linked to the comprehensive plan and capital budget; it lists costs, funding, and timing.

Concurrency: development approval requires public facilities to meet adopted level-of-service standards or be scheduled concurrently with development.

Subdivision plat: legal map dividing land into lots and streets; review addresses streets, utilities, drainage, easements, and dedication.

Impact fees: one-time charges on new development for off-site capital costs; they must be rationally linked to impacts and proportionate to demand.

Tax increment financing: captures incremental property tax growth in a district to finance redevelopment; requires a baseline and project plan.

Development agreement: contract between a local government and developer specifying obligations, phasing, public benefits, and vesting.

Zoning enforcement tools include permit inspection, stop-work orders, fines, injunctions, and abatement of violations.

Operating budget funds recurring services; capital budget funds long-lived assets; the capital improvement program links planning to both.

Fund accounting uses separate self-balancing accounts for restricted revenues; enterprise funds cover utility and business-like services.

Property tax formula: assessed value x assessment ratio x millage rate; one mill equals $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value.

Special assessment: charge on benefited properties for a local improvement; the charge must be proportionate to the benefit received.

General obligation bonds are backed by full faith and credit and taxing power; revenue bonds are repaid from project revenues.

Debt limits cap bonded debt, often as a percentage of assessed valuation or a fixed dollar amount.

Performance-based budgeting allocates funds to measurable outcomes and requires indicators, targets, and evaluation.

Arnstein ladder ranks participation from manipulation and therapy through informing, consultation, and placation to partnership, delegated power, and citizen control.

IAP2 spectrum: inform, consult, involve, collaborate, and empower; the level chosen should match decision impact and the promise made to stakeholders.

Charrette: intensive collaborative design workshop that produces draft concepts with stakeholders in a short, focused period.

Stakeholder mapping identifies affected parties, influence, interest, and underrepresented groups before selecting engagement methods.

Deliberative engagement uses balanced information and facilitated discussion; it is suited to contentious value tradeoffs.

Legal notice and hearing are minimum requirements for many land use decisions; notice must be timely, accurate, and accessible.

Feedback loop: report how public input changed the decision; this builds trust and accountability.

Dillon's rule: local governments have only powers expressly granted by the state, implied by those grants, or essential to stated purposes.

Home rule: state constitutional or statutory authority for local self-government; the scope and limits vary by state.

Preemption forms: express, implied, field, and conflict; higher-level law limits or displaces local authority.

Metropolitan planning organization: regional transportation planning body required in urbanized areas to approve projects for federal funding.

Council of governments: voluntary regional organization that coordinates planning and shared services among local governments.

Interlocal agreement: contract among governments to share services, exercise powers jointly, or resolve regional issues.

Mandates are state or federal requirements on local governments; unfunded mandates impose costs without accompanying funding.