American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Performance standards in zoning might describe which of the following?

1. Allowable uses with respect to smoke, odor, noise, heat, glare, traffic, visual impact, etc.

2. Light and heavy uses.

3. Traditional Euclidean standards.

4. Specific parking and loading requirements.

The correct answer is: Allowable uses with respect to smoke, odor, noise, heat, glare, traffic, visual impact, etc.

Performance standards in zoning are designed to control the impact of land use on surrounding areas by setting criteria related to the effects that a given use may have on its environment. These standards typically encompass a variety of factors, such as smoke, odor, noise, heat, glare, traffic, and visual impact. By specifying limits on these aspects, performance standards aim to mitigate negative externalities and promote compatibility among different land uses, ensuring that development occurs in a manner that respects the surrounding community's quality of life. Allowing specific parameters for these characteristics enables planners and developers to understand how a proposed use will interact with its surroundings and aids in making informed decisions. This approach supports the idea of performance-based zoning, which emphasizes the impact of land uses rather than merely the type of uses permitted on a property. Other choices describe aspects of zoning but do not specifically focus on the broader impacts and operational characteristics that performance standards specifically address. For instance, categorizing land uses as light or heavy provides a classification but does not quantify their potential effects. Similarly, traditional Euclidean standards primarily relate to land use separation and density rather than operational impacts. Finally, specific parking and loading requirements, while important, are more about the logistical aspects of development rather than the broader environmental and community impact