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
Neighborhood Centers (Local)
Primarily residential areas that are often lower in density. These areas generally have fewer transit options and offer neighborhood-serving retail and office uses. (See Plan 2035, p. 108.) See also:  Regional Transit District , Local Transit Centers , Campus Centers (local) , Town Centers (local)
Neighborhood Mixed-Use (Future Land Use Category)
Traditional retail/shopping areas that are transitioning to a mix of residential, shopping, eating and drinking, and other neighborhood-serving amenities. Neighborhood Mixed-Use areas are located outside of designated Centers, often along arterial roadways and at key intersections and interchanges. Recommended density of up to 48 dwelling units per acre.
Net Lot Area
The total contiguous area included within the lot lines of a lot, excluding: (i) Alleys, streets, and other public ways; and (ii) Land lying within a 100-year floodplain, except as follows. In the AG or AR zones, any part of the lot exceeding 40,000 contiguous square feet may be within the 100-year floodplain. In the RE Zone, any area of the lot in excess of 20,000 contiguous square feet may be within the 100-year floodplain, provided that the lot is served by a public water and sewerage system and is in water and sewer service area category one, two, or three at the time the final plat of subdivision is approved. (See Section 27-2500 of the Zoning Ordinance.)
Node
The beginning and ending locations of an arc.
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.