American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What would be considered a disadvantage of a slope of 3-5% for development?

1. It is ideal for residential housing.

2. It poses major problems for commercial and industrial projects.

3. No significant issues for residential development.

4. Ideal for all types of development.

The correct answer is: It poses major problems for commercial and industrial projects.

A slope of 3-5% is generally considered to be within a manageable range for many types of development, but it can create challenges, especially for commercial and industrial projects. In these cases, the slope can affect drainage, accessibility, and the overall feasibility of construction. For commercial and industrial developments, such as factories or warehouses, additional considerations like heavy vehicle access and parking can become problematic on a slope of this gradient. Proper engineering solutions may be required to manage runoff and stormwater drainage effectively, which could increase costs and complexity. Furthermore, the slope could hinder the site layout, resulting in less usable land for industrial operations compared to flatter sites. In contrast, residential developments might find a slope of 3-5% to be less problematic, as they often require less impervious surface area and can accommodate sloped designs better. Therefore, the assessment that this gradient poses major problems for commercial and industrial projects aligns well with the challenges these types of developments typically face on such slopes.