NYS Civil Service Planner Series Study Guide -
Questions with In-Depth Solutions
1. Architectural Review Board ***+ Correct Ans - Enforces
Recommendations through building permits
1. City/Community Planning Board* Correct Ans - The main function of
____________ is to advise county executive on planning issues, wields authority
to enforce laws, and can be staffed by concerned citizens about planning for
area's development
County Clerk Correct Ans - Best place to find local zoning laws or the
owner of a given parcel
Cul-de-sac dimensions Correct Ans - Max length is 500 ft. or 25 houses.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Correct Ans - Federal Agency
that sets primary drinking water quality standards.+
Site Selection Board Correct Ans - A body that is responsible for the
specific location of sites for public improvement.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Correct Ans - New York's State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) helps communities identify, evaluate,
preserve, and revitalize their historic, archeological, and cultural resources.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) **+ Correct Ans - You can secure
funding through the Federal Rural Initiative to finance water and sewer
projects. **++
Village Planning Boards **+ Correct Ans - Appointed by the mayor or chief
offices.+
Number of Zoning Board of Appeals Members Correct Ans - 3 to 5
(appointed by governing board)
Zoning Board of Appeals Functions and Powers Correct Ans - Appellate
jurisdiction is the power to hear and decide appeals from decisions of those
,officials charged with the administration and enforcement of the zoning
ordinance or local law. This is the primary function and purpose of a zoning
board of appeals.
Zoning Board of Appeals Non-Zoning Duties Correct Ans - § Concerned
with Official Map.
Police Power Device
Protects and appears on the Official Map.
o Right of ways
o Future Streets
o Drainage Systems
o Parks
· Remains in Private Ownership until the community is ready to purchase.
§ Prohibition
· Contained in the statutes against issuance of building permits unless streets
giving access to the structure exist.
§ Municipal Law 239-E
· Procedures are established for county official maps which are similar to the
local official maps described above.
§ Issuance of Building Permits
· Where a proposed structure has frontage on or access to a county road or
other site shown on a county official map. The municipality must notify the
county planning board and superintendent of highways (or commissioner of
public works) of an application for such a permit.
§ Airport Approach Regulations
Regulate how planes fly over and around communities
Zoning Board of Appeals Limitations Correct Ans - o First, bear in mind
that a board of appeals is an administrative body, not a legislative body.
o It has no power to set aside a zoning law on the ground that its terms are
arbitrary, unreasonable and unconstitutional.
o The board of appeals does not have the authority to amend the zoning
regulations or change the boundaries of the districts where they are
applicable
o ZBA Decisions are appealed to courts*****+
Variances Correct Ans - In essence, a variance is permission granted by
the zoning board of appeals so that property may be used in a manner not
allowed by the zoning.
, Use Variance Correct Ans - · Authorizes a land-use not currently
permitted by the current zone.
· Permitted by hardship.
o The land in question cannot yield a reasonable return if used only for a
purpose allowed in that zone.
o That the plight of the owner is due to unique circumstances and not to the
general conditions in the neighborhood which may reflect the
unreasonableness of the zoning ordinance itself.
o The use to be authorized by the variance will not alter the essential
character of the locality."
Area Variance Correct Ans - · Area variance' shall mean the authorization
by the zoning board of appeals for the use of land in a manner which is not
allowed by the dimensional or physical requirements of the applicable zoning
regulations.
§ Cannot create an undesirable neighborhood
§ Alternatives must be considered
§ Sustainability is considered
§ There are little to no environmental impacts
American Community Survey Correct Ans - 2.5% of nation's population is
surveyed each year for this survey. An estimate taken each year, either as a
one-year or five-year survey, based on sample of the population and Census
projections
Midrange Correct Ans - Calculated number halfway between largest and
smallest number
Mean Correct Ans - Average
Median Correct Ans - Middle number (write the list in numerical order
first)*****
Mode Correct Ans - Most repeated number
Range Correct Ans - largest number minus the smallest number
Questions with In-Depth Solutions
1. Architectural Review Board ***+ Correct Ans - Enforces
Recommendations through building permits
1. City/Community Planning Board* Correct Ans - The main function of
____________ is to advise county executive on planning issues, wields authority
to enforce laws, and can be staffed by concerned citizens about planning for
area's development
County Clerk Correct Ans - Best place to find local zoning laws or the
owner of a given parcel
Cul-de-sac dimensions Correct Ans - Max length is 500 ft. or 25 houses.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Correct Ans - Federal Agency
that sets primary drinking water quality standards.+
Site Selection Board Correct Ans - A body that is responsible for the
specific location of sites for public improvement.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Correct Ans - New York's State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) helps communities identify, evaluate,
preserve, and revitalize their historic, archeological, and cultural resources.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) **+ Correct Ans - You can secure
funding through the Federal Rural Initiative to finance water and sewer
projects. **++
Village Planning Boards **+ Correct Ans - Appointed by the mayor or chief
offices.+
Number of Zoning Board of Appeals Members Correct Ans - 3 to 5
(appointed by governing board)
Zoning Board of Appeals Functions and Powers Correct Ans - Appellate
jurisdiction is the power to hear and decide appeals from decisions of those
,officials charged with the administration and enforcement of the zoning
ordinance or local law. This is the primary function and purpose of a zoning
board of appeals.
Zoning Board of Appeals Non-Zoning Duties Correct Ans - § Concerned
with Official Map.
Police Power Device
Protects and appears on the Official Map.
o Right of ways
o Future Streets
o Drainage Systems
o Parks
· Remains in Private Ownership until the community is ready to purchase.
§ Prohibition
· Contained in the statutes against issuance of building permits unless streets
giving access to the structure exist.
§ Municipal Law 239-E
· Procedures are established for county official maps which are similar to the
local official maps described above.
§ Issuance of Building Permits
· Where a proposed structure has frontage on or access to a county road or
other site shown on a county official map. The municipality must notify the
county planning board and superintendent of highways (or commissioner of
public works) of an application for such a permit.
§ Airport Approach Regulations
Regulate how planes fly over and around communities
Zoning Board of Appeals Limitations Correct Ans - o First, bear in mind
that a board of appeals is an administrative body, not a legislative body.
o It has no power to set aside a zoning law on the ground that its terms are
arbitrary, unreasonable and unconstitutional.
o The board of appeals does not have the authority to amend the zoning
regulations or change the boundaries of the districts where they are
applicable
o ZBA Decisions are appealed to courts*****+
Variances Correct Ans - In essence, a variance is permission granted by
the zoning board of appeals so that property may be used in a manner not
allowed by the zoning.
, Use Variance Correct Ans - · Authorizes a land-use not currently
permitted by the current zone.
· Permitted by hardship.
o The land in question cannot yield a reasonable return if used only for a
purpose allowed in that zone.
o That the plight of the owner is due to unique circumstances and not to the
general conditions in the neighborhood which may reflect the
unreasonableness of the zoning ordinance itself.
o The use to be authorized by the variance will not alter the essential
character of the locality."
Area Variance Correct Ans - · Area variance' shall mean the authorization
by the zoning board of appeals for the use of land in a manner which is not
allowed by the dimensional or physical requirements of the applicable zoning
regulations.
§ Cannot create an undesirable neighborhood
§ Alternatives must be considered
§ Sustainability is considered
§ There are little to no environmental impacts
American Community Survey Correct Ans - 2.5% of nation's population is
surveyed each year for this survey. An estimate taken each year, either as a
one-year or five-year survey, based on sample of the population and Census
projections
Midrange Correct Ans - Calculated number halfway between largest and
smallest number
Mean Correct Ans - Average
Median Correct Ans - Middle number (write the list in numerical order
first)*****
Mode Correct Ans - Most repeated number
Range Correct Ans - largest number minus the smallest number
