FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS

CPD Terminologies
1. Zoning – A legal tool used to designate specific land uses (e.g., residential, commercial,
industrial) within certain areas of a city.

2. Land Use – The management and modification of natural environment into built
environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements.

3. Urban Sprawl – The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into peripheral rural land.

4. Mixed-Use Development – A development strategy that combines residential, commercial,

cultural, and/or industrial uses within a single area or building.

5. Density – The number of people or housing units in a given area of land, usually expressed
per square kilometer or hectare.

6. Smart Growth – Urban planning theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban
centers to avoid sprawl.

7. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) – A design strategy that promotes high-density,

mixed-use development near public transit.

8. Urban Heat Island (UHI) – A phenomenon where urban areas experience higher
temperatures than rural surroundings due to human activity.

9. Greenbelt – An area of open land around a city where development is restricted to preserve
nature.

10. Public Realm – Spaces that are open and accessible to all, such as streets, parks, and plazas.
1. Master Plan – A long-term planning document that provides a conceptual layout to guide future
growth and development.

2. Urban Design – The process of shaping the physical features of cities, towns, and villages.

3. Infill Development – The process of developing vacant or under-used parcels within existing urban
areas.

4. New Urbanism – An urban design movement promoting walkable neighborhoods with diverse
housing and jobs.

5. Brownfield Site – Abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities available for re-use.

6. Greenfield Development – Development on previously undeveloped land, typically on the outskirts

of cities.

7. Walkability – A measure of how friendly an area is to walking in terms of safety, accessibility, and
comfort.

8. Urban Morphology – The study of the form and structure of urban spaces and the process of their
formation.

9. Placemaking – A collaborative process of shaping public spaces to maximize shared value and
community engagement.

10. Connectivity – The degree to which different parts of an urban area are connected, typically by
streets, paths, or transit.
1. Tactical Urbanism – Low-cost, temporary changes to the built environment, intended to improve
local neighborhoods.

2. Resilience Planning – Strategies that enhance the ability of urban systems to respond and adapt to
environmental and social stresses.

3. Form-Based Code – A means of regulating land development to achieve a specific urban form,
focusing on physical form rather than land use.

4. Urban Renewal – The redevelopment of areas within a city, typically involving demolition and
reconstruction.

5. City Fabric – The physical layout and pattern of buildings and infrastructure within a city.

6. Community Engagement – The process of working collaboratively with community groups to

address issues affecting their well-being.

7. Participatory Planning – A planning process that involves all stakeholders, especially the
community, in decision-making.

8. Affordable Housing – Housing that is deemed affordable to those with a median household income
or below.

9. Social Infrastructure – Public facilities and spaces that support the quality of life, such as schools,
libraries, and healthcare.

10. Capacity Building – Developing skills, resources, and abilities of individuals and organizations to
improve community outcomes.
1. Stakeholders – Individuals or groups with an interest in the outcome of a planning project.

2. Community-Based Planning – A planning method driven by the values and needs of the
community rather than top-down governance.

3. Sustainable Development – Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising future generations.

4. Gentrification – A process of neighborhood change characterized by influx of more affluent

residents, often displacing poorer residents.

5. Civic Participation – The involvement of citizens in the political or planning process of their
communities.

6. Urban Governance – The ways in which institutions and stakeholders collaborate to manage
urban affairs.

7. Equity Planning – Planning practices aimed at addressing the needs of underrepresented or

disadvantaged communities.

8. Housing Typologies – Classification of housing units by form and function (e.g., detached
house, apartment, townhouse).

9. Community Resilience – The ability of a community to withstand and recover from adverse
situations.

10. Neighborhood Planning – A planning process at the local level, tailored to the specific needs
of a neighborhood.
1. Inclusive Design – Designing environments to be accessible and usable by all people, regardless of
age or ability.

2. Cultural Landscape – A geographic area that includes cultural and natural resources associated with
historic events or people.

3. Livability – The sum of factors that add up to a community’s quality of life.

4. Empowerment – Enabling communities to have control and decision-making power over local
development.

5. Environmental Justice – Fair treatment and involvement of all people regardless of race or income
in environmental laws and policies.

6. Community Asset Mapping – A strategy for identifying the existing resources and strengths within a
community.

7. Urban Poverty – A condition where people in urban areas live with inadequate access to basic
services and opportunities.

8. Participatory Budgeting – A democratic process where community members directly decide how to
spend part of a public budget.

9. Place Attachment – Emotional bonds between people and specific places, influencing planning and
design outcomes.

10. Urban Commons – Shared spaces or resources in cities that are collectively managed and accessible
to all.
1. Compact City – A planning concept promoting high-density development to reduce travel
and preserve rural land.

2. Urban Fringe – The transitional area where urban and rural uses mix, often a zone of rapid
change.

3. Spatial Planning – Strategic methods used to influence the distribution of people and
activities in space.

4. Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) – A regional boundary to control urban sprawl by

limiting outward expansion.

5. Megaregion – A large network of urban areas that are economically and functionally
interconnected.

6. Urban Acupuncture – A planning intervention that targets specific points in the urban
fabric to create widespread positive effects.

7. Biophilic Design – Integrating natural elements into urban spaces to improve health and
well-being.

8. Blue-Green Infrastructure – A network of natural and semi-natural systems that provide

water management and green space functions.

9. Urban Villages – A planning model focusing on self-sufficient, walkable communities

within urban areas.

10. Edge City – A concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional
downtown.
1. Polycentric Development – Urban development characterized by multiple centers of
activity rather than a single core.

2. Urban Form – The physical structure and organization of cities in terms of layout, scale,
and appearance.

3. Visual Corridor – A planned sightline or open view within an urban area to highlight
landmarks or natural features.

4. Sky View Factor – The portion of the sky visible from ground level, affecting urban
microclimates and lighting.

5. Street Hierarchy – The categorization of streets based on their function and capacity (e.g.,
arterial, collector, local).

6. Urban Footprint – The spatial extent of a city or urban area, including buildings, roads, and
infrastructure.

7. Land Readjustment – A technique for reorganizing land parcels to improve urban layout
while sharing benefits among landowners.

8. Overlay Zone – A zoning layer placed over an existing zone to modify or supplement
regulations.

9. Urban Microclimate – The localized climate conditions in urban environments, influenced

by buildings and pavement.

10. Zero Lot Line Development – A building constructed right up to the property line to
maximize usable land.
1. Street Furniture – Objects installed on streets and sidewalks (benches, bins, lamps) that
enhance urban experience.

2. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) – The ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of its parcel of
land.

3. Setback – The required distance between a building and the property line, street, or another
structure.

4. Build-to Line – A line which a building’s façade must touch, used to create consistent street
edges.

5. Visual Pollution – Unpleasant or cluttered visual elements in the urban environment, like
signage overload or billboards.

6. Social Capital – The networks and relationships among people that enable communities to
function effectively.

7. Grassroots Planning – Community-driven planning efforts initiated and led by local residents.

8. Social Cohesion – The strength of relationships and sense of solidarity among members of a
community.

9. Community Land Trust (CLT) – A nonprofit organization that holds land in trust for
affordable housing and community benefit.

10. Third Place – Social surroundings separate from home (first place) and work (second place),
such as cafés, parks, or libraries.
1. Community-Led Development – Development initiatives led by the community itself rather than
external organizations.

2. Participatory GIS (PGIS) – A tool that combines geographic data with community knowledge to
inform planning decisions.

3. Decentralization – The transfer of decision-making power from central to local governments or

communities.

4. Timebanking – A community exchange system where people trade services based on time instead of
money.

5. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) – A strategy focusing on a community’s existing

strengths rather than deficits.

6. Digital Divide – The gap between those who have access to modern information technology and those
who do not.

7. Community Scorecard – A participatory tool for assessing and improving service delivery and
accountability.

8. Social Innovation – Creative strategies that address social needs more effectively than existing
solutions.

9. Social Enterprise – Organizations that use commercial strategies to improve human and
environmental well-being.

10. Urban Agriculture – The practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban
areas.
1. Temporary Urbanism – The use of temporary installations or events to test ideas or activate
underused spaces.

2. Circular Economy – A model aimed at eliminating waste and continual use of resources
through recycling and regeneration.

3. Community Resettlement Planning – Strategic relocation and rehabilitation planning for

communities displaced by development or disasters.

4. Social Impact Assessment (SIA) – A methodology to analyze and manage the social effects
of infrastructure projects.

5. Eco-District – A neighborhood-scale approach to sustainable urban development.

6. Integrated Development Planning (IDP) – A multi-sectoral approach combining

infrastructure, housing, economic development, and environmental planning.

7. Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) – A detailed plan to manage the resettlement process and
mitigate social impacts of development.

8. Community-Based Monitoring – A system where citizens collect and use data to track local
issues and hold authorities accountable.

9. Place-Based Development – Economic and social development tailored to the specific needs
and assets of a geographic area.

10. Civic Infrastructure – The set of physical, institutional, and social structures necessary for
community engagement and governance.