Case Study Zoning or Land Use
Term Paper (Case Study):
The student will select a significant current planning project (a significant planned unit development with a residential component), subject to the instructor’s prior approval. Students will submit a written case study to the instructor on Turnitin. Each student will
(1) acquire copies of the public documents relating to this issue or project,
(2) personally visit the site,
(3) attend at least one meeting which includes a public hearing, preferably before a Planning Commission or Hearing Officer and
(4) prepare a written case study including:
Identifying the applicant, the location and size of the subject project, and the scope and intent of the applicant’s application (comprehensive regarding all elements of the application).
Identifying the current use, current zoning, and future land use plan designation of the site under consideration
Describing the surrounding properties and the existing zoning and land use
Describing any deviations from the future land use plan requested by the applicant
Summarize staff comments on the project
Summarize any concerns expressed at public hearings or correspondence from adjacent residents, businesses and other property owners
Summarize the conclusions, comments reached from the public hearing
In a concluding section, discuss the concepts and issues of this course as they relate to this project as follows:
Why is this development being proposed?
What are the patterns of growth and development in the community which prompted this project? Discuss the factors causing this growth. (i.e. commercial development in the area, new schools or colleges being built or planned, efforts to attract retirees, manufacturing facilities being built or planned,
a migration to newer housing and less congested living conditions, etc.)
Discuss the development history of the community and whether or not this project (1) is consistent with the development trends or (2) is a new trend in community development?
What areas are prone to development? What have been the trends of past developments, both in physical location and types of development (i.e.
single-family, ownership multi-family, rental, mixed use commercial, professional, low and moderate income residential). Does this project tract trend or set another trend? If so, what is that new trend?
Discuss whether or not this project enhances the community development or enhances further deterioration of certain areas of the community.
Address whether or not there are problems in the community such as housing/building deterioration, need for redevelopment, need for different types of development, a deteriorating tax base, and similar issues. Are out-migration and declining property values occurring in the community? If so,describe. How does this project impact these community problems?
Are or were there legal issues regarding this project?
Describe court intervention, if any. Did the jurisdiction require any transfer of property to a governmental unit? If so, describe. Was there
any mitigation regarding environmental issues. If so, what are they? Did the developer object to these requirements?
Describe how well this project complies with the intent of the comprehensive plan. Or has there been a change in the comprehensive plan to accommodate
this project?
Was the use proposed by this development project consistent with the intention of the comprehensive plan? Describe.
Describe the role the governmental planner maintained regarding this project
Neutral public servant, building of community consensus, an entrepreneur, advocate, or an agent of radical change?
Describe the social issues of the project
Private community? Affordable housing? Deed covenants restricting certain uses and conduct?
Describe the development’s impact on transportation, economic impact, environmental and energy issues.
Will transportation improvement needs to be made? Increased size of roadways, additional or improved signalization, additional buses or routes? Will commercial development provide jobs and increased sales tax revenues? What the environmental and energy issues. What endangered species are located on the development site.
This assignment may be made as a team project depending upon the number of students in the class at the discretion of the instructor.
