Glossary of Planning Terms

Glossary is usually defined as an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge. This knowledge base glossary provides a collection of knowledge base documents that define many technical terms. These terms are arranged alphabetically, but you can quickly jump to a specific term by selecting its first letter from the index of the knowledge base glossary below.

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Keyword

Term
Natural Reserve Area
A delineation (usually on master plans) of physical features that exhibit natural constraints that make conditions unsuitable for development or that are important to sensitive ecological systems. The physical features that delineate the Natural Reserve Area are: the streams and their buffers, including the 100-year floodplain and nontidal wetlands. Also included are severe slopes and steep slopes associated with highly erodible soils, the Patuxent River Primary Management Area, Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffers, and Marlboro clay on steep slopes. NEIGHBORHOOD: (As defined in some master plans) The smallest unit of community structure. Neighborhood population ranges from 3,000 to 6,000, depending on the ratio of single-family to multifamily housing. (See also VILLAGE and COMMUNITY). See also:  Village , Community (as Defined in Some Master Plans)
Natural Reserve Area
A delineation (usually on master plans) of physical features that exhibit natural constraints that make conditions unsuitable for development or that are important to sensitive ecological systems. The physical features that delineate the Natural Reserve Area are: the streams and their buffers, including the 100-year floodplain and nontidal wetlands. Also included are severe slopes and steep slopes associated with highly erodible soils, the Patuxent River Primary Management Area, Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffers, and Marlboro clay on steep slopes. See also:  Village , Community (as Defined in Some Master Plans)
Neighborhood Convenience Center
(as defined in master plans): A commercial center containing 2-6 acres of commercial development on a site of 4-10 acres, serving a population of approximately 8,000 and anchored by a small grocery or drug store. It should also include a limited range of other commercial and residential uses.
Neighborhood Convenience Center(As Defined In Master Plans)
A commercial center containing 2-6 acres of commercial development on a site of 4-10 acres, serving a population of approximately 8,000 and anchored by a small grocery or drug store. It should also include a limited range of other commercial and residential uses.
Net Lot Area
The total contiguous area included within a lot, excluding public ways (i.e., streets, alleys) and land with 100-year floodplain. (See Section 27-107.01 of the Zoning Ordinance.)
Node
The beginning and ending locations of an arc.
Node
A location along a corridor at a major intersection or major transit stop (bus or rail) that consists of a concentration of high-intensity, mixed-use residential and commercial development. Nodes should be interspersed with stretches of lower intensity land uses or open space.
Nonattainment Area
A geographic area in which the level of a criteria air pollutant is higher than the level allowed by federal standards. Portions of Prince George's County are currently classified as nonattainment for carbon monoxide and all of the county is a nonattainment area for ozone.
Nonconforming Building Or Structure
Any building or structure that is not in conformance with a requirement of the zone in which it is located (as it applies to the building or structure), provided that: (a) The requirement was adopted after the building or structure was lawfully erected; or (b) The building or structure was erected after the requirement was adopted and the District Council has validated a building, use and occupancy, or sign permit issued for it in error.
Nonconforming Use
A use that is prohibited by, or does not conform to, the Zoning Ordinance. Except when construction has occurred in outright violation of the code, nonconforming uses are generally ones that were allowed under the original zoning but have not been allowed since the land was rezoned or the law changed. The use may continue to operate subject to limitations.
Nontidal Wetland
An area inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions under normal circumstances. Nontidal wetlands are also referred to as swamps, marshes and bogs.