American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Transfer of development right (TDR) is an effective technique to protect?

1. Zones of contribution to the public.

2. Well fields.

3. Wetland buffer zones.

4. Surface watersheds.

The correct answer is: Surface watersheds.

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a land use management tool designed to protect certain areas while allowing for development in designated zones. This technique is particularly effective for surface watersheds, which are critical for managing water resources, ensuring water quality, and protecting aquatic ecosystems. The concept behind TDR is to avoid or limit development in sensitive areas by transferring the potential development rights from those areas to other, more suitable locations. In the context of surface watersheds, this means that development is discouraged in regions that are crucial for hydrological functions, floodwater management, and water supply protection. By shifting development away from these critical areas, communities can maintain the natural landscape that contributes to the overall health of the watershed. While protecting well fields, wetland buffer zones, and zones of contribution to the public is important, TDR is particularly aligned with the preservation of surface watersheds, which serve a broad ecological and community function. Therefore, the choice that reflects the primary advantage of TDR in protecting vital environmental resources is indeed related to surface watersheds.