American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

Which entitlement would most likely waive frontage requirements for a lot on an isolated hillside?

1. Variance

2. Special permit

3. Cluster zoning

4. Rezoning

The correct answer is: Variance

A variance is designed to provide relief from zoning regulations when strict application of the code would cause undue hardship to a property owner. In the context of an isolated hillside lot, the unique geographic and topographic conditions may prevent the lot from conforming to standard frontage requirements. By granting a variance, the zoning board acknowledges that strict adherence to these regulations would be unreasonable because of the specific characteristics of the lot, such as its location or slope. On the other hand, a special permit typically allows a land use that is not permissible under current zoning rules but is acceptable within a certain context or under specific conditions. However, it does not generally address individual property hardships in the same way a variance does. Cluster zoning involves grouping housing closer together while preserving open space, focusing on land use rather than individual lot entitlements. Rezoning entails changing the zoning classification of a property to allow for different uses or densities, which does not specifically address the unique needs related to frontage on a particular lot. Each of these alternatives serves different purposes and does not specifically provide the relief from frontage requirements that a variance does.