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Why Definitions?
<br />
<br />By Harvey $. MotkoWitz FAICP & Carl G. Lindbloom, MC]>
<br />
<br />The term "glossary'~' is defined as an "alphabetical list of terms:
<br />an alphabetical cbilection of specialist terms and their
<br />meanings, usually in:f, the form of an appendLx to a book."
<br />(Microsoft(r) Encarui(r) Reference Library 2003'(c) 1993-2003
<br />Microsoft Corporati4n).
<br /> A Glossary o/'7-°nikg, Development, and Planning Terms (The
<br />Glossau/) (Planning Advisory Service Report No. 491/492),
<br />edited by Michael Dividson and Fay Dolnick, is just that--a
<br />collection of terms arid words used in all aspects of planning,
<br />including land use, a~chitecture, real estate, environment, [aw,
<br />science, economics, ~overnmenr, and engineering. In fact, the
<br />editors of The Glossard/sum up the breadth of planning by
<br />stating: "'What has ar~ azed 'all of us (editors and research
<br />assisrants) is the incre, dible breadth of what planners are
<br />expected to know and have to deal with on a daily basis." [t does
<br />give validity to what Rutgers University's premiere planning
<br />professor, Edward D.! Wilkens, observed: that planning was
<br />indeed "the field for {he Renaissance Man."
<br /> The editors of 7'h~ Glossary decided ~o give the new edition,
<br />due ~br publication t~is month, a different name: A Pla~zners
<br />Dictiona~7 (Planning!Advisory Service Report No. 518/5 [ 9).
<br />The?/(elf ir was rnord in keeping with the ~'acr that a dictionary
<br />captures not just the [echnical terms used in planning, zoning,
<br />and development, bu~ also the concepts that planners, public
<br />officials, anti the public address in any consideration of
<br />communitw building,'. Bur, as Shakespeare noted, a rose by any
<br />other name is still a rose, and this PAS Report, whether called a
<br />glossary or ,.iictionar/, fills a valuable niche in any planner's
<br />re(erc,qce Iibrary.
<br />
<br />DECI~MBER 200-1
<br />
<br />AMERICAN
<br />PLANNING
<br />ASSOCIATION
<br />
<br /> .- The extensive list of terms
<br /> defined in The Dictionary were
<br /> compiled from many sources.
<br /> For some of r_he terms, several
<br /> sources are used to provide
<br /> different interpretations for
<br /> the same term. All sources are
<br /> cited, with commentary, and
<br /> cross-references where
<br /> appropriate.
<br /> As noted in the first edition
<br /> of our book, The lllusvrated
<br /> Book of Development
<br /> Definitions (Center for Urban
<br /> Policy Research, 1993), "most
<br /> zoning or land development
<br /> ordinance definitions are
<br /> 'borrowed,' 'inherited,' or
<br /> 'stolen' from other
<br /> ordinances." Jason
<br /> Wittenberg, author of the
<br /> chapter "The Dynamics of
<br /> Off-Street Parking" in Parking
<br /> &aadar& (Planning Advisory.
<br />Service Report No. 510/511), edited by' Michael Davidson and
<br />Fay Dolnick, concurs with respect to off-street parking
<br />requirements. Wittenberg states:
<br />
<br /> The most popular method for determining off-street parking
<br /> requirements may be to borrow from the ordinances of other
<br /> communities.
<br />
<br /> But he also acknowledges another caveat that is pertinent to
<br />the use of The Dictionary, as Follows:
<br />
<br /> Adoption of another jurisdiction's srandaxds, without consideration
<br /> of local socioeconomic standards, comprehensive plan, political
<br /> environment, the input of the citizens for the community, and legal
<br /> review according to state enabling legislation, among other issues,
<br /> may result in standards that just don't fit.
<br />
<br />... about this article.
<br />Join us online,t
<br />During January 19-30, 2004. go online co participate in our
<br />"Ask the Author" forum, an interactive feature of Zoning
<br />News. Harvey Moskowitz, FA£CP, will be available to answer
<br />questions about this article. Go to the APA website at
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<br />section. From there, just submit your questions about the
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<br />of Zoning News at announced times. After each online
<br />discussion is closed, the answers will be saved in an online
<br />archive available through the/WA Zoning News webpages.
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