Download NJ Planner In-Training Exam Questions and Answers and more Exams Technology in PDF only on Docsity!
Question 1. Who is considered the “Father of City Planning” in the United States? A) Daniel Burnham B) Frederick Law Olmsted C) Ebenezer Howard D) Le Corbusier Answer: B Explanation: Frederick Law Olmsted is often considered the Father of City Planning in the U.S. for his contributions to landscape architecture and urban parks, most notably Central Park. Question 2. The concept of “Garden City” was developed by which planner? A) Lewis Mumford B) Jane Jacobs C) Ebenezer Howard D) Robert Moses Answer: C Explanation: Ebenezer Howard developed the Garden City movement, advocating for self-contained communities surrounded by greenbelts. Question 3. What landmark Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of zoning? A) Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. B) Berman v. Parker C) Village of Belle Terre v. Boraas D) Penn Central v. New York City Answer: A Explanation: Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. (1926) established the constitutionality of zoning ordinances. Question 4. Which of the following best defines “Eminent Domain”? A) The right to regulate land use B) The right to take private property for public use with compensation
C) The power to tax property D) The right to deny building permits Answer: B Explanation: Eminent domain is the power of the government to take private property for public use, with just compensation. Question 5. Which act is commonly associated with the legal basis for planning in the U.S.? A) National Environmental Policy Act B) Standard State Zoning Enabling Act C) Clean Water Act D) Fair Housing Act Answer: B Explanation: The Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (1924) provided the legal foundation for local zoning ordinances. Question 6. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive plan? A) To establish building codes B) To set out a community’s long-term vision and guide development C) To regulate traffic D) To manage utility rates Answer: B Explanation: A comprehensive plan outlines a community’s goals, policies, and long-term vision for development. Question 7. Which of the following is NOT typically a part of the comprehensive planning process? A) Data collection B) Visioning C) Judicial review D) Public participation Answer: C
A) Clean Air Act B) Safe Drinking Water Act C) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) D) Endangered Species Act Answer: C Explanation: NEPA requires environmental impact assessments for major federal actions. Question 12. Who wrote “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”? A) Kevin Lynch B) Lewis Mumford C) Jane Jacobs D) Patrick Geddes Answer: C Explanation: Jane Jacobs authored this influential critique of urban planning practices. Question 13. Which of the following is a primary goal of transportation planning? A) Maximizing parking spaces B) Reducing congestion and improving mobility C) Increasing property taxes D) Maximizing land sales Answer: B Explanation: Transportation planning aims to efficiently move people and goods. Question 14. What is “smart growth”? A) Limiting development to only rural areas B) Urban development focusing on sustainability, compact design, and walkability C) Encouraging sprawl D) Building only single-family homes Answer: B
Explanation: Smart growth promotes sustainable, walkable, and compact urban development. Question 15. Which program provides federal funding for community development and affordable housing? A) CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) B) TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) C) Section 404 Permit D) NEPA Answer: A Explanation: CDBG provides grants for housing, community facilities, and economic development. Question 16. What is a “brownfield” site? A) A greenfield for new development B) Previously developed land, often contaminated, needing remediation C) A protected wetland D) Prime agricultural land Answer: B Explanation: Brownfields are former industrial or commercial sites with potential contamination. Question 17. Which of the following is NOT typically a function of regional planning agencies? A) Coordinating transportation B) Managing local police departments C) Overseeing land use across jurisdictions D) Addressing regional housing needs Answer: B Explanation: Police departments are managed locally, not by regional planning agencies. Question 18. What is “form-based code”? A) Codes focused solely on land use
Question 22. What is the “Delphi Technique” used for in planning? A) Land acquisition B) Consensus building among experts through rounds of questionnaires C) Traffic modeling D) Environmental impact assessment Answer: B Explanation: The Delphi Technique gathers expert opinions through iterative surveys. Question 23. The “triple bottom line” approach in sustainable development includes which three pillars? A) Economy, environment, equity B) Taxes, regulations, incentives C) Planning, zoning, enforcement D) Transportation, housing, energy Answer: A Explanation: The triple bottom line considers economic, environmental, and social equity. Question 24. Who is known for the “Image of the City” and the concept of urban legibility? A) Jane Jacobs B) Kevin Lynch C) Ian McHarg D) Robert Moses Answer: B Explanation: Kevin Lynch introduced the idea of urban legibility in "The Image of the City". Question 25. What is “transfer of development rights” (TDR)? A) Moving land B) Transferring the right to develop from one parcel to another C) Reducing property taxes
D) Changing zoning categories Answer: B Explanation: TDR allows landowners to sell development rights to preserve open space elsewhere. Question 26. Which planning movement advocated for wide boulevards, monumental buildings, and beautification? A) Garden City B) New Urbanism C) City Beautiful D) Smart Growth Answer: C Explanation: The City Beautiful movement emphasized grandeur and beautification in urban design. Question 27. “Nonconforming use” in zoning refers to: A) A use that doesn’t exist B) A use that existed before current zoning and doesn’t conform to new rules C) Illegal construction D) Vacant land Answer: B Explanation: Nonconforming uses are lawfully established uses that don’t comply with current zoning. Question 28. What is a “capital improvement program” (CIP)? A) Schedule for zoning meetings B) Plan for major public investments and infrastructure projects over several years C) Building code D) Environmental regulation Answer: B Explanation: CIP outlines planned expenditures for infrastructure and capital projects.
Answer: B Explanation: Robert Moses was responsible for massive infrastructure and urban renewal projects in NYC. Question 33. Which of the following is a key element of the National Historic Preservation Act? A) Zoning appeals B) Section 106 review C) Tax increment financing D) Brownfield remediation Answer: B Explanation: Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider impacts on historic properties. Question 34. What is the primary purpose of a land use map in a comprehensive plan? A) Show utility lines B) Illustrate current and future land uses C) Provide demographic data D) Display school districts Answer: B Explanation: Land use maps show existing and proposed land uses in a community. Question 35. The “carrying capacity” of land refers to: A) Land values B) The maximum population or use intensity an area can support without environmental degradation C) Availability of transit D) Legal building height limits Answer: B Explanation: Carrying capacity is the threshold for sustainable use of land and resources. Question 36. What is “spot zoning”?
A) Rezoning a small area for purposes inconsistent with surrounding uses B) City-wide zoning C) Historic preservation D) Environmental regulation Answer: A Explanation: Spot zoning is applying a different zoning designation to a specific parcel that benefits a single owner, often seen as unfair. Question 37. The “urban-rural transect” is a concept used primarily in: A) New Urbanism B) Garden City planning C) City Beautiful D) Urban renewal Answer: A Explanation: The urban-rural transect is central to New Urbanism, describing a gradient from urban core to rural areas. Question 38. Which federal law addresses discrimination in housing? A) National Environmental Policy Act B) Fair Housing Act C) Clean Air Act D) Safe Drinking Water Act Answer: B Explanation: The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on protected classes. Question 39. Which planning theorist introduced the concept of “incremental planning” or “muddling through”? A) Paul Davidoff B) Charles Lindblom C) Patrick Geddes
A) Tax rates B) Quality and efficiency of transportation infrastructure C) Housing affordability D) Access to utilities Answer: B Explanation: LOS measures the capacity and performance of transportation systems. Question 44. Which of the following is a common goal of economic development planning? A) Decreasing employment B) Attracting and retaining businesses C) Reducing housing stock D) Limiting infrastructure Answer: B Explanation: Economic development planning aims to grow and retain jobs and businesses. Question 45. What is “cluster development” in subdivision design? A) Scattered single-family lots B) Grouping buildings together to preserve open space C) Only high-rise buildings D) Industrial site planning Answer: B Explanation: Cluster development concentrates buildings on part of a site to preserve open space elsewhere. Question 46. What is a “housing element” in a comprehensive plan? A) Building codes B) Section addressing housing needs, supply, and policy C) Zoning map D) Transportation plan
Answer: B Explanation: The housing element assesses housing needs and strategies for meeting them. Question 47. A “build-out analysis” is used to: A) Predict the maximum potential development under current zoning B) Estimate road costs C) Calculate tax rates D) Measure school enrollment Answer: A Explanation: Build-out analysis estimates how much development could occur under existing regulations. Question 48. Which of the following is a principle of “universal design”? A) Design for only one group B) Design for accessibility for all people, regardless of age or ability C) Only high-rise buildings D) Excluding affordable housing Answer: B Explanation: Universal design means designing environments accessible to all. Question 49. Which U.S. law is most closely associated with wetland protection? A) Clean Water Act B) Clean Air Act C) National Historic Preservation Act D) Fair Housing Act Answer: A Explanation: The Clean Water Act regulates discharges into wetlands and waters. Question 50. What is the main purpose of a “site plan review”?
Answer: B Explanation: Performance zoning sets standards for impacts, not just land uses. Question 54. What is the goal of “historic preservation planning”? A) Increasing new construction B) Protecting and maintaining historic buildings and districts C) Only zoning for industrial use D) Encouraging sprawl Answer: B Explanation: Historic preservation planning seeks to conserve and protect historic resources. Question 55. The “urban growth boundary” (UGB) is designed to: A) Limit city budgets B) Contain urban sprawl and direct growth inward C) Increase property taxes D) Promote only highway construction Answer: B Explanation: UGBs are set to concentrate growth and prevent sprawl. Question 56. What is a “planned unit development” (PUD)? A) Only single-use zoning B) Flexible zoning allowing mixed uses and design innovation within a master plan C) Unregulated development D) Only single-family subdivisions Answer: B Explanation: PUDs allow mixed uses and flexible design beyond standard zoning. Question 57. Which agency is responsible for overseeing the National Flood Insurance Program? A) EPA
B) FEMA
C) HUD
D) DOT
Answer: B Explanation: FEMA manages the National Flood Insurance Program. Question 58. The principle of “highest and best use” is used in: A) Environmental planning B) Real estate appraisal C) Transportation planning D) Demographic analysis Answer: B Explanation: Appraisers determine the highest and best use for property valuation. Question 59. “Carrying capacity analysis” is most useful in: A) Determining tax rates B) Assessing the sustainability of development on natural resources C) Calculating parking requirements D) Reviewing historic sites Answer: B Explanation: Carrying capacity analysis evaluates how much use an environment can sustain. Question 60. What is the “right-to-farm” ordinance? A) Bans farming B) Protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits in agricultural areas C) Requires all land to be farmed D) Prohibits agricultural zoning Answer: B
B) Estimate costs and benefits of development to local government finances C) Review transportation demand D) Analyze historic sites Answer: B Explanation: Fiscal impact analysis predicts the financial impact of development on public budgets. Question 65. What is a “non-point source” of pollution? A) A single, identifiable source B) Diffuse sources, such as runoff from fields or roads C) A power plant D) A wastewater treatment plant Answer: B Explanation: Non-point sources are diffuse, unlike a pipe or smokestack. Question 66. What is the main objective of a “land suitability analysis”? A) Tax collection B) Identify the best locations for various land uses based on physical and social factors C) Approve building permits D) Assign school districts Answer: B Explanation: Land suitability analysis matches land uses with the land’s physical and social characteristics. Question 67. What is a “build-to line”? A) Minimum lot size B) A line on a site where a building must be located C) Maximum building height D) Utility easement Answer: B
Explanation: A build-to line designates where a building must be placed on a lot. Question 68. Which of the following is a “green infrastructure” technique? A) Asphalt paving B) Rain gardens and bioswales C) Concrete channels D) Storm sewers only Answer: B Explanation: Green infrastructure uses natural processes like rain gardens to manage stormwater. Question 69. What is the “purpose and need statement” in an EIS? A) Budget summary B) Explanation of why a project is proposed and what it intends to accomplish C) Traffic count D) Zoning code Answer: B Explanation: This statement defines the rationale and objectives of a project in an EIS. Question 70. The “Housing Choice Voucher Program” is commonly known as: A) Section 8 B) Section 404 C) Section 106 D) Section 4(f) Answer: A Explanation: Section 8 provides vouchers for low-income households to rent housing. Question 71. What is the role of a “redevelopment authority”? A) Manage school districts B) Oversee the revitalization of blighted or underutilized urban areas
