BArch Bachelor of Architecture Urban Planning and Site Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'setback' in zoning regulations?
- The required distance a building must be set back from the property line (Correct answer)
- The distance between two buildings on the same lot
- The maximum allowable building height
- The minimum parking requirement per unit
Correct answer: The required distance a building must be set back from the property line
A setback is the minimum required distance between a building's façade and the property line, front, side, or rear, established by zoning to ensure light, air, and access.
Question 2: What does 'FAR' (Floor Area Ratio) measure in zoning?
- The percentage of a lot covered by the building footprint
- The ratio of total building floor area to the total lot area (Correct answer)
- The maximum building height as a multiple of street width
- The ratio of parking spaces to building square footage
Correct answer: The ratio of total building floor area to the total lot area
FAR is calculated by dividing total gross floor area of all building stories by the lot area; a FAR of 2.0 on a 10,000 sq ft lot allows 20,000 sq ft of total floor area.
Question 3: What is 'mixed-use development' in urban planning?
- A single-use commercial district with multiple building types
- A development that combines residential, commercial, and/or civic uses in proximity or in the same building (Correct answer)
- A zoning classification for industrial uses only
- Development that mixes new and historic buildings
Correct answer: A development that combines residential, commercial, and/or civic uses in proximity or in the same building
Mixed-use development integrates residential, retail, office, and civic functions within a single structure or walkable district, promoting activity, reducing car dependence, and activating streets.
Question 4: In site analysis, what does a 'topographic survey' provide?
- The legal property boundaries and easements
- Contour lines showing the elevation and grade of the existing land surface (Correct answer)
- Subsurface soil conditions and bearing capacity
- The location of underground utilities
Correct answer: Contour lines showing the elevation and grade of the existing land surface
A topographic survey maps contour lines representing equal elevations, revealing slopes, drainage patterns, and existing grade changes critical to site planning.
Question 5: What is 'stormwater management' a primary concern for in site design?
- Reducing noise from rainfall on roofs
- Controlling runoff quantity and quality to prevent flooding and pollution of waterways (Correct answer)
- Maintaining groundwater levels for landscaping irrigation
- Preventing ice formation on walkways in winter
Correct answer: Controlling runoff quantity and quality to prevent flooding and pollution of waterways
Site stormwater management uses grading, retention ponds, bioswales, and permeable paving to control the rate, volume, and quality of runoff discharged to municipal systems or receiving waters.
Question 6: What is 'Transit-Oriented Development' (TOD)?
- Development that provides free transit passes to residents
- Higher-density, mixed-use development concentrated within walking distance of transit stations (Correct answer)
- A government program subsidizing bus route expansion
- Development that avoids rail corridors to reduce vibration impacts
Correct answer: Higher-density, mixed-use development concentrated within walking distance of transit stations
TOD places higher-density housing, retail, and offices within a quarter- to half-mile walk of transit stations, encouraging ridership and creating walkable, sustainable communities.
BArch Bachelor of Architecture Urban Planning and Site Design 1
What is 'setback' in zoning regulations?