Land use planning involves allocating land for use that balances economic, social and environmental goals – making it an integral part of local development.
Agriculture – This category encompasses fields for growing and harvesting crops, farm buildings, and livestock. There may be regulations regarding the number and types of animals permitted on each plot of land.
Zoning
Zoning is the way local governments divide land into various zones that permit development. These zones typically fall into three categories – residential, commercial and industrial. Each category has specific rules regulating what height buildings may reach as well as the types of stores or restaurants allowed in it.
Zoning laws are crucial when investing in real estate, as they regulate where and what can be built. For instance, it wouldn’t make logistical or environmental sense to place a cement works near an educational or healthcare institution.
Residential zoning regulations typically define the architecture that can be built on individual properties, whether or not accessory dwelling units are permitted and aesthetic guidelines like which colors homeowners can paint their houses. Furthermore, certain businesses are only allowed in specific zones; heavy industries should remain outside residential neighborhoods.
Planning Permits
Planning permits deal with the “what” of development and ensure your proposed project complies with city or county land planning regulations. This could include anything from gas stations and drive-through facilities to office buildings, shopping centers, apartment complexes or industrial parks – this process applies equally well no matter the scale or scope.
The Zoning Ordinance sets forth standards (such as height, setbacks from streets and property lines) which determine if any use is permitted “as-of-right” within a particular zoning district. This enables municipal boards to examine each proposed use to ensure its compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods without creating negative impacts.
Zoning processes often include public engagement and require an environmental impact statement (Draft EIS). In New York City, this requirement forms part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), but many local laws also mandate this step in any discretionary land use application to understand any possible impacts and identify how those impacts might be avoided or reduced.
Subdivisions
Subdivision is the process of subdivide a larger piece of land into multiple parcels for various reasons, including building houses on individual lots or selling them individually. A subdivision plan acts as legal documentation of this process.
People living in subdivisions enjoy many advantages, including safety and a sense of community. Homeowner associations usually oversee these communities, managing services such as street maintenance and trash collection while making sure fees for such services are collected from residents in order to reduce costs.
Subdivisions tend to be quieter than neighborhoods because people live further from major roadways, making it easier to relax on your porch or take your kids for evening strolls. However, subdivisions may become noisy if located near an airport or large shopping center.
Development Permits
An effective land development plan ensures that there is sufficient employment and housing opportunities in a community while also safeguarding open space, farmland, cultural resources, natural areas, as well as emergency resources like firehouses and police stations.
Zoning regulations typically enumerate dimensions (such as height limits and minimum distances between buildings) for each district. Single-family homes, for instance, tend to be approved “as-of-right” in low density residential zoning districts without needing administrative permits such as building permits to proceed.
Other uses, including commercial, industrial, and recreational ones may require further evaluation. In New York City, such applications must first complete an Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS), which evaluates whether any proposed project has the potential for significant adverse impacts that might warrant more extensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analysis before moving on to public review. For any unlisted actions listed here that do not yet receive EIS approval before moving forward with public scrutiny.