AICP Study Questions With Answers
best for revision
The First Amendment deals with which of the following issues?
Select one:
a. Taking
b. Procedural due process
c. Freedom of speech
d. Administrative due process - Answer - Freedom of speech is associated with the First Amendment,
while takings are associated with the Fifth Amendment and due process is associated with the 14th
Amendment.
The correct answer is: C) Freedom of speech
Associated Home Builders of Greater East Bay v. City of Livermore dealt with which of the following
issues?
Select one:
a. Freedom of Speech
b. Timing of Development
c. Eminent Domain
d. Exactions - Answer - The Associated Home Builders case was related to when building permits could
be developed based on the availability of infrastructure.
The correct answer is: B) Timing of Development
, A property owner plants some very tall trees in their yard that block sunlight to a neighboring yard.
Under what circumstances could the neighbor with the blocked sunlight compel the neighbor with the
tall trees to have their trees removed?
Select one:
a.If the neighbor secures enough votes from the planning commission
b.If the neighbor is able to gain the support of the planning commission
c.If the neighbor with blocked sunlight is able to obtain a solar access easement
d.If the tree-planting neighbor did not properly notify the neighboring property about their plan to plant
tall trees - Answer - Private easements occur when a property owner sells an easement to an individual.
A property owner who has granted a solar access easement to their neighbor may not be allowed to
plant trees or construct buildings, either of which would block sunlight, next to the easement.
The correct answer is: If the neighbor with blocked sunlight is able to obtain a solar access easement
One weekend after a friend's birthday party you drove home and got into a serious accident where you
hit a pedestrian. You lied about the cause of the accident, indicating that the pedestrian jumped into the
street when, in fact, you had looked down to answer a phone call. Phone records were used by the
plaintiff to prove that you lied. You are now convicted of manslaughter. What is your responsibility to
the AICP?
Select one:
a. Report this conviction to AICP.
b. A planner must have special concern for the long range consequences of present actions.
c. You do not need to report this conviction to AICP but you do not need to report this conviction to your
employer.
d. You do not need to report this conviction because it was not related to theft. - Answer - The correct
answer is to report this conviction to AICP because your conviction in part involves false swearing. The
AICP Code requires "We shall not fail to immediately notify the Ethics Officer by both receipted Certified
and Regular First Class Mail if we are convicted of a "serious crime" as defined in Section D of the Code;
nor immediately following such conviction shall we represent ourselves as Certified Planners or
Members of AICP until our membership is reinstated by the AICP Ethics Committee pursuant to the
procedures in Section D of the Code."
The correct answer is: A) Report this conviction to AICP.
, The Zoning Ordinance was last overhauled more than 30 years ago. The ordinance has grown over time
and with all of the amendments it has become a confusing mess for developers, residents, and the
Planning Commission. The Planning Department is currently conducting an audit of the ordinance to
identify the most problematic areas. You are currently reviewing the overlay districts. You discover you
have an overlay district that is unusual and not typically found in other ordinances. Which of the
following is the unusual overlay you discovered?
Select one:
a. Flood Hazard district
b. Commercial Corridor district
c. Central business district
d. Airport overlay district - Answer - Central business districts are typically their own zoning district
rather than an overlay.
The correct answer is: C) Central business district
Saul Alinsky advocated ALL of the following methods EXCEPT:
Select one:
a. Use of protests and boycotts
b. Use of marches and rent strikes
c. Developing rural plans
d. Disruption of normal activities - Answer - Saul David Alinsky (1909-1972) was a community organizer
and activist. He founded the Industrial Areas Foundation in Chicago. He was also an influential writer.
His books Reveille for Radicals(1946) and Rules for Radicals (1972) were, and remain, important
statements of community organizing.
The correct answer is: C) Developing rural plans
The regional planning agency is trying to decide whether to petition to become a recognized
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The latest population count for the urbanized portion of the region
is 40,000. What would you advise the agency?
, Select one:
a. MSAs only require a core area with a large population nucleus, which is variously defined. They would
likely qualify.
b. An MSA requires a conglomeration of large cities, and 40,000 is unlikely to be sufficient
c. To be recognized as an MSA, there needs to be a core area with a small central population nucleus,
and 40,000 is a sufficient threshold
d. They do not have sufficient population. - Answer - An MSA is based on the concept of at least one
urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and
economic integration with the core. As of 2013, OMB defined and delineated 388 metropolitan
statistical areas (MSAs). A typical MSA is centered on a single large city that wields substantial influence
over the region (e.g., New York City or Philadelphia). However, some MSAs contain more than one large
city (e.g., Dallas-Fort Worth or Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
The correct answer is: D) They do not have sufficient population.
As a planner for a large retirement community in Florida, you have noted a substantial increase in the
population over the age of 85. As you are updating the comprehensive plan you are reconsidering the
City's land use strategy with a goal of promoting aging in place. Which of the following
recommendations would be most appropriate to include:
I. Increase areas zoned for nursing and assisted living facilities
II. Secondary housing units in single-family residential districts
III. Grow transit services, particularly services for the aging and disabled
IV. Integrate universal design standards into the zoning ordinance
Select one:
a. I and II
b. II and III
c. II, III, and IV
d. I, II, III and IV - Answer - All of these are appropriate, with the exception of areas zoned for nursing
homes. Aging in place means allowing one to stay in one's own home. See the APA Policy Guide on Aging
in Community.
best for revision
The First Amendment deals with which of the following issues?
Select one:
a. Taking
b. Procedural due process
c. Freedom of speech
d. Administrative due process - Answer - Freedom of speech is associated with the First Amendment,
while takings are associated with the Fifth Amendment and due process is associated with the 14th
Amendment.
The correct answer is: C) Freedom of speech
Associated Home Builders of Greater East Bay v. City of Livermore dealt with which of the following
issues?
Select one:
a. Freedom of Speech
b. Timing of Development
c. Eminent Domain
d. Exactions - Answer - The Associated Home Builders case was related to when building permits could
be developed based on the availability of infrastructure.
The correct answer is: B) Timing of Development
, A property owner plants some very tall trees in their yard that block sunlight to a neighboring yard.
Under what circumstances could the neighbor with the blocked sunlight compel the neighbor with the
tall trees to have their trees removed?
Select one:
a.If the neighbor secures enough votes from the planning commission
b.If the neighbor is able to gain the support of the planning commission
c.If the neighbor with blocked sunlight is able to obtain a solar access easement
d.If the tree-planting neighbor did not properly notify the neighboring property about their plan to plant
tall trees - Answer - Private easements occur when a property owner sells an easement to an individual.
A property owner who has granted a solar access easement to their neighbor may not be allowed to
plant trees or construct buildings, either of which would block sunlight, next to the easement.
The correct answer is: If the neighbor with blocked sunlight is able to obtain a solar access easement
One weekend after a friend's birthday party you drove home and got into a serious accident where you
hit a pedestrian. You lied about the cause of the accident, indicating that the pedestrian jumped into the
street when, in fact, you had looked down to answer a phone call. Phone records were used by the
plaintiff to prove that you lied. You are now convicted of manslaughter. What is your responsibility to
the AICP?
Select one:
a. Report this conviction to AICP.
b. A planner must have special concern for the long range consequences of present actions.
c. You do not need to report this conviction to AICP but you do not need to report this conviction to your
employer.
d. You do not need to report this conviction because it was not related to theft. - Answer - The correct
answer is to report this conviction to AICP because your conviction in part involves false swearing. The
AICP Code requires "We shall not fail to immediately notify the Ethics Officer by both receipted Certified
and Regular First Class Mail if we are convicted of a "serious crime" as defined in Section D of the Code;
nor immediately following such conviction shall we represent ourselves as Certified Planners or
Members of AICP until our membership is reinstated by the AICP Ethics Committee pursuant to the
procedures in Section D of the Code."
The correct answer is: A) Report this conviction to AICP.
, The Zoning Ordinance was last overhauled more than 30 years ago. The ordinance has grown over time
and with all of the amendments it has become a confusing mess for developers, residents, and the
Planning Commission. The Planning Department is currently conducting an audit of the ordinance to
identify the most problematic areas. You are currently reviewing the overlay districts. You discover you
have an overlay district that is unusual and not typically found in other ordinances. Which of the
following is the unusual overlay you discovered?
Select one:
a. Flood Hazard district
b. Commercial Corridor district
c. Central business district
d. Airport overlay district - Answer - Central business districts are typically their own zoning district
rather than an overlay.
The correct answer is: C) Central business district
Saul Alinsky advocated ALL of the following methods EXCEPT:
Select one:
a. Use of protests and boycotts
b. Use of marches and rent strikes
c. Developing rural plans
d. Disruption of normal activities - Answer - Saul David Alinsky (1909-1972) was a community organizer
and activist. He founded the Industrial Areas Foundation in Chicago. He was also an influential writer.
His books Reveille for Radicals(1946) and Rules for Radicals (1972) were, and remain, important
statements of community organizing.
The correct answer is: C) Developing rural plans
The regional planning agency is trying to decide whether to petition to become a recognized
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The latest population count for the urbanized portion of the region
is 40,000. What would you advise the agency?
, Select one:
a. MSAs only require a core area with a large population nucleus, which is variously defined. They would
likely qualify.
b. An MSA requires a conglomeration of large cities, and 40,000 is unlikely to be sufficient
c. To be recognized as an MSA, there needs to be a core area with a small central population nucleus,
and 40,000 is a sufficient threshold
d. They do not have sufficient population. - Answer - An MSA is based on the concept of at least one
urbanized area of 50,000 or more population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and
economic integration with the core. As of 2013, OMB defined and delineated 388 metropolitan
statistical areas (MSAs). A typical MSA is centered on a single large city that wields substantial influence
over the region (e.g., New York City or Philadelphia). However, some MSAs contain more than one large
city (e.g., Dallas-Fort Worth or Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
The correct answer is: D) They do not have sufficient population.
As a planner for a large retirement community in Florida, you have noted a substantial increase in the
population over the age of 85. As you are updating the comprehensive plan you are reconsidering the
City's land use strategy with a goal of promoting aging in place. Which of the following
recommendations would be most appropriate to include:
I. Increase areas zoned for nursing and assisted living facilities
II. Secondary housing units in single-family residential districts
III. Grow transit services, particularly services for the aging and disabled
IV. Integrate universal design standards into the zoning ordinance
Select one:
a. I and II
b. II and III
c. II, III, and IV
d. I, II, III and IV - Answer - All of these are appropriate, with the exception of areas zoned for nursing
homes. Aging in place means allowing one to stay in one's own home. See the APA Policy Guide on Aging
in Community.
