Land Use Planning

Land use planning is the systematic process of regulating the use and development of land resources to achieve specific social, economic, and environmental objectives. As a cornerstone of urban and regional planning, it involves creating and enforcing policies, most notably zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans, to guide the allocation of land for various functions such as residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational use. This applied practice aims to ensure an orderly and efficient arrangement of activities, prevent land-use conflicts, protect natural resources, and promote sustainable, equitable, and healthy communities.

1. Foundations of Land Use Planning
   1. Defining Land Use Planning
      1. Core Concepts and Terminology
         1. Land Use
            1. Residential Land Use
            2. Commercial Land Use
            3. Industrial Land Use
            4. Institutional Land Use
            5. Mixed-Use Development
            6. Open Space and Recreation
         2. Zoning
            1. Zoning Districts
            2. Zoning Map
            3. Zoning Text
            4. Nonconforming Uses
         3. Comprehensive Planning
            1. Master Plans
            2. General Plans
            3. Strategic Plans
            4. Sector Plans
         4. Urban, Suburban, and Rural Contexts
            1. Urban Core Characteristics
            2. Suburban Development Patterns
            3. Rural Land Use Patterns
            4. Urban-Rural Interface
         5. Smart Growth
            1. Compact Development
            2. Mixed-Use Communities
            3. Transit-Oriented Development
            4. Infill Development
         6. Sustainability
            1. Environmental Sustainability
            2. Economic Sustainability
            3. Social Sustainability
            4. Intergenerational Equity
      2. Scope and Scale of Planning
         1. Site-specific Planning
            1. Parcel-level Analysis
               1. Site Constraints Assessment
               2. Soil and Topographic Analysis
               3. Access and Circulation
            2. Site Design Considerations
               1. Building Placement
               2. Parking and Loading
               3. Landscaping and Buffering
               4. Stormwater Management
         2. Neighborhood Planning
            1. Neighborhood Character
               1. Architectural Styles
               2. Street Patterns
               3. Density and Scale
            2. Community Needs Assessment
               1. Demographic Analysis
               2. Service Gap Analysis
               3. Infrastructure Needs
         3. Municipal Planning
            1. Citywide Policy Development
               1. Land Use Policies
               2. Transportation Policies
               3. Housing Policies
            2. Interdepartmental Coordination
               1. Planning and Public Works
               2. Planning and Economic Development
               3. Planning and Parks and Recreation
         4. Regional Planning
            1. Multi-jurisdictional Coordination
               1. Intergovernmental Agreements
               2. Regional Authorities
               3. Conflict Resolution
            2. Regional Growth Strategies
               1. Growth Management
               2. Resource Sharing
               3. Economic Development Coordination
         5. State Planning
            1. Statewide Policy Frameworks
               1. State Growth Management Acts
               2. Environmental Protection Laws
               3. Transportation Planning Requirements
            2. State Mandates and Guidelines
               1. Planning Requirements
               2. Funding Conditions
               3. Technical Assistance
   2. Goals and Objectives
      1. Promoting Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
         1. Safe Building Siting
            1. Hazard Avoidance
            2. Emergency Access
            3. Building Code Compliance
         2. Access to Services and Amenities
            1. Healthcare Facilities
            2. Educational Institutions
            3. Shopping and Services
            4. Recreation Facilities
         3. Environmental Health
            1. Air Quality Protection
            2. Water Quality Protection
            3. Noise Control
            4. Toxic Site Remediation
      2. Ensuring Orderly and Efficient Development
         1. Infrastructure Coordination
            1. Utility Extensions
            2. Transportation Networks
            3. Service Delivery
         2. Phasing of Development
            1. Growth Sequencing
            2. Infrastructure Timing
            3. Market Absorption
         3. Urban Growth Management
            1. Growth Boundaries
            2. Density Controls
            3. Sprawl Prevention
      3. Preventing Land Use Conflicts
         1. Buffering Incompatible Uses
            1. Physical Buffers
            2. Transitional Uses
            3. Performance Standards
         2. Noise and Nuisance Mitigation
            1. Sound Barriers
            2. Operating Hour Restrictions
            3. Emission Controls
      4. Protecting Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
         1. Conservation of Open Space
            1. Parks and Recreation Areas
            2. Natural Areas Preservation
            3. Greenway Systems
         2. Water Resource Protection
            1. Watershed Protection
            2. Groundwater Protection
            3. Stream Corridor Protection
         3. Air Quality Management
            1. Emission Reduction Strategies
            2. Transportation Planning
            3. Industrial Controls
      5. Fostering Economic Vitality
         1. Supporting Local Businesses
            1. Business District Planning
            2. Zoning for Commercial Uses
            3. Parking and Access
         2. Attracting Investment
            1. Development Incentives
            2. Infrastructure Improvements
            3. Regulatory Streamlining
         3. Diversifying Economic Base
            1. Industry Clusters
            2. Mixed-Use Development
            3. Innovation Districts
      6. Achieving Social Equity and Environmental Justice
         1. Equitable Access to Resources
            1. Fair Distribution of Amenities
            2. Transportation Access
            3. Housing Opportunities
         2. Addressing Disparities in Land Use Impacts
            1. Environmental Justice Analysis
            2. Cumulative Impact Assessment
            3. Mitigation Measures
         3. Community Empowerment
            1. Meaningful Participation
            2. Capacity Building
            3. Community Ownership
      7. Preserving Community Character and Historic Resources
         1. Historic Preservation
            1. Historic District Designation
            2. Landmark Protection
            3. Adaptive Reuse
         2. Cultural Resource Protection
            1. Archaeological Sites
            2. Cultural Landscapes
            3. Traditional Use Areas
         3. Maintaining Sense of Place
            1. Design Guidelines
            2. Architectural Review
            3. Community Identity
   3. Historical Evolution of Land Use Planning
      1. Early Urbanization and Industrial City Problems
         1. Overcrowding and Sanitation Issues
            1. Tenement Housing
            2. Public Health Crises
            3. Infrastructure Deficiencies
         2. Early Public Health Reforms
            1. Sanitary Movement
            2. Housing Reform
            3. Park Development
      2. The City Beautiful Movement
         1. Emphasis on Aesthetics and Civic Spaces
            1. Monumental Architecture
            2. Grand Boulevards
            3. Civic Centers
         2. Influence on Urban Parks and Boulevards
            1. Central Park Model
            2. Parkway Systems
            3. Landscape Architecture
      3. The Garden City Movement
         1. Integration of Greenbelts
            1. Agricultural Belts
            2. Open Space Networks
            3. Urban-Rural Balance
         2. Self-contained Communities
            1. Mixed-Use Development
            2. Local Employment
            3. Community Services
      4. The Rise of Comprehensive Planning and Zoning
         1. Adoption of Zoning Codes
            1. New York City Zoning Resolution
            2. Euclidean Zoning Model
            3. Legal Challenges and Validation
         2. Emergence of Master Plans
            1. City Beautiful Plans
            2. Comprehensive Planning Process
            3. Professional Planning Practice
      5. Post-War Suburbanization and its Impacts
         1. Suburban Sprawl
            1. Federal Housing Policies
            2. Highway Development
            3. Single-Use Zoning
         2. Automobile Dependency
            1. Transportation Planning
            2. Parking Requirements
            3. Public Transit Decline
         3. Decline of Urban Cores
            1. Urban Renewal Programs
            2. White Flight
            3. Disinvestment
      6. The Environmental Movement and its Influence
         1. Environmental Legislation
            1. National Environmental Policy Act
            2. Clean Air Act
            3. Clean Water Act
         2. Growth of Environmental Planning
            1. Environmental Impact Assessment
            2. Habitat Protection
            3. Pollution Control
      7. Emergence of Smart Growth and New Urbanism
         1. Compact Development
            1. Infill Development
            2. Higher Densities
            3. Mixed-Use Projects
         2. Mixed-Use Neighborhoods
            1. Live-Work-Play Environments
            2. Reduced Travel Demand
            3. Community Interaction
         3. Walkability and Connectivity
            1. Pedestrian-Friendly Design
            2. Street Networks
            3. Public Transportation
   4. Legal and Constitutional Basis
      1. Police Power as the Foundation
         1. Authority to Regulate Land Use
            1. State Police Power
            2. Delegation to Local Government
            3. Scope of Regulation
         2. Public Health, Safety, and Welfare Justification
            1. Legitimate Government Interests
            2. Rational Basis Test
            3. Burden of Proof
      2. Eminent Domain and Condemnation
         1. Public Use Requirement
            1. Traditional Public Uses
            2. Economic Development
            3. Blight Elimination
         2. Just Compensation
            1. Fair Market Value
            2. Valuation Methods
            3. Compensation Disputes
      3. The Takings Clause (Fifth Amendment)
         1. Physical Takings
            1. Direct Appropriation of Property
            2. Permanent Physical Occupation
            3. Temporary Takings
         2. Regulatory Takings
            1. Diminution of Value
               1. Penn Central Test
               2. Investment-Backed Expectations
               3. Character of Government Action
            2. Exactions and Conditions
               1. Essential Nexus Requirement
               2. Rough Proportionality Test
               3. Monetary Exactions
      4. Due Process and Equal Protection (Fourteenth Amendment)
         1. Procedural Due Process
            1. Notice Requirements
            2. Hearing Rights
            3. Appeal Procedures
         2. Substantive Due Process
            1. Arbitrary and Capricious Standard
            2. Fundamental Rights
            3. Rational Basis Review
         3. Equal Protection in Land Use Decisions
            1. Discriminatory Intent
            2. Disparate Impact
            3. Protected Classes
      5. Key Supreme Court Cases
         1. Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.
            1. Legitimacy of Zoning
            2. Comprehensive Zoning Schemes
            3. Presumption of Validity
         2. Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City
            1. Regulatory Takings Test
            2. Historic Preservation
            3. Transferable Development Rights
         3. Nollan v. California Coastal Commission
            1. Essential Nexus Test
            2. Conditional Permits
            3. Public Access Requirements
         4. Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council
            1. Total Takings Rule
            2. Categorical Takings
            3. Background Principles of Law
         5. Dolan v. City of Tigard
            1. Rough Proportionality Test
            2. Individualized Determinations
            3. Burden of Proof
      6. State Planning Enabling Legislation
         1. Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (SZEA)
            1. Model Legislation
            2. Zoning Authority
            3. Administrative Procedures
         2. Standard City Planning Enabling Act (SCPEA)
            1. Planning Commission Powers
            2. Master Plan Requirements
            3. Subdivision Control
         3. State-Specific Planning Laws
            1. Growth Management Acts
            2. Environmental Planning Requirements
            3. Regional Planning Mandates