American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What was the primary purpose of the "A-95" clearinghouse review process initiated in 1969?

1. Massive eminent domain suits

2. The creation of regional planning agencies

3. The recession in the Midwest

4. Construction of affordable housing in the Northeast

The correct answer is: The creation of regional planning agencies

The "A-95" clearinghouse review process originated in 1969 primarily to enhance intergovernmental coordination and review of federal projects to ensure they align with regional and local planning efforts. This initiative was particularly important as it aimed to strengthen the role of regional planning agencies, which were becoming increasingly vital in managing and implementing development decisions at a regional scale. By establishing a framework for federal agencies to coordinate with state and local governments through these regional entities, the A-95 process was designed to prevent overlapping efforts and conflicts in planning processes. It emphasized the importance of comprehensive regional planning, allowing for a more holistic approach to development issues such as housing, infrastructure, and environmental management, thereby fostering collaboration between different governmental levels. Other options, such as massive eminent domain suits or specifics like the recession in the Midwest and affordable housing in the Northeast, do not capture the broader objective of regional integration and planning enhancement that the A-95 process aimed to achieve. They represent specific issues or events that may have arisen but were not central to the establishment of the A-95 clearinghouse process itself.