answers 100% correct 2025/2026
Discuss how interconnectedness and complexity of urban issues provide justification for planning -
correct answer ✔the interconnectedness of issues justifies planning and the complexity of these issues
justifies planning as a profession
Explain the reasons why many urban problems addressed by planners are considered to be "wicked"
problems - correct answer ✔unclear cause or root, no obvious solution, and linked to other problems
Explain how the South Mountain freeway highlight the wicked nature of planning problems - correct
answer ✔controversy between stakeholders
Differentiate the geographic, economic, use-value, and philosophically opposed South Mountain
freeway stakeholders - correct answer ✔Ahwatukee community (geographic)
Nearby casino (economic)
Hikers (use-value)
The Sierra club (philosophically-opposed)
Describe where urban planners are typically employed, and examples of public and private sector
planning careers - correct answer ✔Mostly local government but also private architecture/engineering
firms and state government and a few federal gov or consulting jobs
Differentiate between urban planning generalists vs. specialists, and where they are typically located -
correct answer ✔-Generalists work in the private sector as land developers, non-profit, or consultants.
-Specialists work in the public sector planning a specific area of a small city.
Differentiate the objectives of engineering vs. urban planning, and the role of value choices - correct
answer ✔Engineers think "can we build it" while planners think "should we build it"
, Differentiate the motivation of architecture vs. urban planning, and the role of the public interest -
correct answer ✔Architects build for private interests while planners build for public interest
Discuss the traits of a political savvy urban planner vs. those unlikey to be content in an urban planning
career - correct answer ✔Planners are persuasive, content with a lack of power, and are comfortable
with public speaking and writing. They cannot be impatient, stubborn, or easily frustrated.
Differentiate between organic growth of ancient cities vs. Greco-Roman planned towns, and the
resulting urban form - correct answer ✔Organic growth in ancient cities was unplanned versus Greco-
Roman planned grid-style
Discuss the factors influencing medieval, renaissance, and colonial town planning, and the resulting
urban form - correct answer ✔-Medieval towns: surrounding defense wall restricting growth + town
square/marketplace and narrow, deep buildings to maximize the number of storefronts
-Renaissance: re-emergence of Greco-Roman and aesthetic values.
-Colonial: Spanish plaza and grid-system.
Describe industrial city conditions, and the response of the Parks,
Sanitary Reform and Housing Reform movements - correct answer ✔Industrial city conditions:
congestion, safety, and pollution issues. Poor lived in inner-city small, low-quality homes.
-Parks movement: Greenswald plan to improve health and aesthetics.
-Sanitary Reform: water-carriage sewers, sanitary surveys for urban-restructuring.
-Housing reform movement: "European model" subsidized housing (opposed by wealthy tax-payers) &
regulation of private development
Discuss the focus of European Grand Manner vs. US aesthetic movements, and the significance of the
"White City" - correct answer ✔-European grand manner planning: illusion of infinity & symmetry.
-US aesthetic movements were smaller scale; municipal art, civic improvement, and outdoor art. "The
White City" was presented at the Chicago World's Fair and pushed for grander-scale planning.