[Type here]
LARE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 Define 4 setback requirements for
buildings. Property line: 15' Street Right-of-way: 25' Edge of
stream or water body: 50' Edge of wetland:
100'
2
Define 3 setback requirements for Property line: 10' Street Right of way: 15' Edge of
paved circulation ways. wetland: 100'
3 Define buffers between different land
uses. Within one property: Between commercial and
industrial uses and residential uses: a 50' buffer in
between Between neighboring properties:
Split 25' on each parcel between the uses.
4 What land uses are forbidden and
permitted in a flood plain? Structures are forbidden, landscape areas that do not
impede water flow are permitted, such as play fields.
5 How can a soil profile inform land use
Identify the depth of bedrock for constructing a
planning?
building's foundation and the water table to avoid
disturbing it.
6 Strom's Site Engineering for Landscape Architects
Standards for Parking Lot Design: \- Size
suggests 1-5% as a desirable slope range. (LARE
of spaces \- Size of ADA spaces \-
Quantity of ADA spaces Standard is 5% maximum)
\- location of islands \- Slope
Standards
7
Standards for Traffic A driver must have 45' of clear visibility across all
Intersections: \- Sight triangles points of an intersection.
8 36" clear
What is the minimum width for
accessible routes?
, 9 50% of access points (or at least 1) must be fully
What are the standards for the number accessible, not including service and loading entrances.
of access points to a building that must
be fully accessible? AND Are there
exceptions to this for service and
loading entrances?
10
Baseball/Softball, starting from home plate orient NNE
What is the appropriate solar
Other Field Sports, orient longest dimension North-
orientation and slope for sports fields?
South 2% slope for drainage!
# Term Definition
11
How should cut and fill site grading be
Minimize fill in a flood plain. Proposed fill in a floodplain
designed when the site has a
as indicated by contours should be avoided.
floodplain?
12 Buffer zones are also known as Incompatible Use
What is another name for a buffer Setbacks (IUS). Leave a small gap between uses, and
zone and how should it be used in a
where necessary (ex. residential and commercial
bubble diagram/large scale site plan
design? (ex. adjacent land) add an IUS symbol.
1"=400')?
13 2% MINIMUM, drainage is especially important with
Circulation Design: What is the
cyclists/circulation.
minimum cross slope for a bike path
and what is its significance?
14 Irrigation deisgn: When are microspray-
style and rotor-style irrigation used? Microsprays are used in small planting areas while rotor-
style sprinklers are used for sports fields even in semi-
arid or arid environments (they can be most efficient
watering at night when players are off the field and the
evapotranspiration rate is lowest).
15 Source, type, duration, and intensity.
Noise mitigation: What characteristics
of sound should be studied when
developing a sound barrier?
, 16 They are difficult to see and can not be detected easily
Pedestrian Safety: Why are by white canes used by sight-impaired users.
chain/cable barriers thought to be the
most dangerous type of barrier?
17 Planting Design: \- Sight visibility \-
-Avoid adding "generally speaking" plant material within
Circulation considerations
the driver's sight line (IF it said low GC that could be
okay) \- Generally speaking remove plants from sight
distance triangle (for sure if they are above 18" or thick
evergreens).
18
\- Lower construction costs \- Convenience for site users
Site selection: What are four main
\- Enhanced aesthetics \- Reduced environmental
outcomes of successful site selection?
impacts
# Term Definition
19 Site layout: What should the
The bedrock should be lower than the bottom of the
relationship be between a basement
building foundation. According to the test if it is at the
and bedrock?
same level as the bottom of the structure that is
acceptable. If multiple options present itself, look for
other differences, such as the building's proximity to
the road.
20 Mixed use zoning: what are the
benefits? Mixed use zoning encourages active use of a
neighborhood / street at different times of day which
helps keep a street safe. There is an argument that this
would increase revenue for businesses and government.
21 Transit oriented development: What
are the principles? -introducing mixed-use development -developments
should be located 1/8 mile of transit hubs in downtown
areas (1/4 OUTSIDE of downtown areas) -density is
emphasized -increase FAR
22 Cut into the landscape and hold it back with a retaining
Circulation design: What is the best wall. A path made on fill will never be as stable.
way to construct a stable, durable
path on an existing slope?
LARE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 Define 4 setback requirements for
buildings. Property line: 15' Street Right-of-way: 25' Edge of
stream or water body: 50' Edge of wetland:
100'
2
Define 3 setback requirements for Property line: 10' Street Right of way: 15' Edge of
paved circulation ways. wetland: 100'
3 Define buffers between different land
uses. Within one property: Between commercial and
industrial uses and residential uses: a 50' buffer in
between Between neighboring properties:
Split 25' on each parcel between the uses.
4 What land uses are forbidden and
permitted in a flood plain? Structures are forbidden, landscape areas that do not
impede water flow are permitted, such as play fields.
5 How can a soil profile inform land use
Identify the depth of bedrock for constructing a
planning?
building's foundation and the water table to avoid
disturbing it.
6 Strom's Site Engineering for Landscape Architects
Standards for Parking Lot Design: \- Size
suggests 1-5% as a desirable slope range. (LARE
of spaces \- Size of ADA spaces \-
Quantity of ADA spaces Standard is 5% maximum)
\- location of islands \- Slope
Standards
7
Standards for Traffic A driver must have 45' of clear visibility across all
Intersections: \- Sight triangles points of an intersection.
8 36" clear
What is the minimum width for
accessible routes?
, 9 50% of access points (or at least 1) must be fully
What are the standards for the number accessible, not including service and loading entrances.
of access points to a building that must
be fully accessible? AND Are there
exceptions to this for service and
loading entrances?
10
Baseball/Softball, starting from home plate orient NNE
What is the appropriate solar
Other Field Sports, orient longest dimension North-
orientation and slope for sports fields?
South 2% slope for drainage!
# Term Definition
11
How should cut and fill site grading be
Minimize fill in a flood plain. Proposed fill in a floodplain
designed when the site has a
as indicated by contours should be avoided.
floodplain?
12 Buffer zones are also known as Incompatible Use
What is another name for a buffer Setbacks (IUS). Leave a small gap between uses, and
zone and how should it be used in a
where necessary (ex. residential and commercial
bubble diagram/large scale site plan
design? (ex. adjacent land) add an IUS symbol.
1"=400')?
13 2% MINIMUM, drainage is especially important with
Circulation Design: What is the
cyclists/circulation.
minimum cross slope for a bike path
and what is its significance?
14 Irrigation deisgn: When are microspray-
style and rotor-style irrigation used? Microsprays are used in small planting areas while rotor-
style sprinklers are used for sports fields even in semi-
arid or arid environments (they can be most efficient
watering at night when players are off the field and the
evapotranspiration rate is lowest).
15 Source, type, duration, and intensity.
Noise mitigation: What characteristics
of sound should be studied when
developing a sound barrier?
, 16 They are difficult to see and can not be detected easily
Pedestrian Safety: Why are by white canes used by sight-impaired users.
chain/cable barriers thought to be the
most dangerous type of barrier?
17 Planting Design: \- Sight visibility \-
-Avoid adding "generally speaking" plant material within
Circulation considerations
the driver's sight line (IF it said low GC that could be
okay) \- Generally speaking remove plants from sight
distance triangle (for sure if they are above 18" or thick
evergreens).
18
\- Lower construction costs \- Convenience for site users
Site selection: What are four main
\- Enhanced aesthetics \- Reduced environmental
outcomes of successful site selection?
impacts
# Term Definition
19 Site layout: What should the
The bedrock should be lower than the bottom of the
relationship be between a basement
building foundation. According to the test if it is at the
and bedrock?
same level as the bottom of the structure that is
acceptable. If multiple options present itself, look for
other differences, such as the building's proximity to
the road.
20 Mixed use zoning: what are the
benefits? Mixed use zoning encourages active use of a
neighborhood / street at different times of day which
helps keep a street safe. There is an argument that this
would increase revenue for businesses and government.
21 Transit oriented development: What
are the principles? -introducing mixed-use development -developments
should be located 1/8 mile of transit hubs in downtown
areas (1/4 OUTSIDE of downtown areas) -density is
emphasized -increase FAR
22 Cut into the landscape and hold it back with a retaining
Circulation design: What is the best wall. A path made on fill will never be as stable.
way to construct a stable, durable
path on an existing slope?
