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.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Keyword

Term
Raster
A data structure made of equally sized cells, or pixels, arranged in rows and columns, and composed of single or multiple bands. Each cell represents a location on the earth's surface and contains a numeric value representing attributes or phenomenon, such as temperature, elevation, or image brightness. Groups of cells that share the same coordinate value represent the same geographic feature. See also:  Grid
Reclamation
The action of returning to use, such as the returning of strip-mined land to a new use by recontouring and replanting.
Record Plat
An official plat of subdivision as recorded in the Land Records of Prince George's County, Maryland.
Recreation - Active
Includes activities such as swimming, skating, hiking, biking, fitness trails, frisbee or conventional golf, baseball, basketball, etc.
Recreation - Passive
Reading, sitting on a park bench, viewing scenery, picnicking and/or visiting with friends.
Reforestation
The re-establishment of a biological community of perpetual woodlands through the planting of trees on an area from which trees were recently removed. (See Section 25-118(a)(78) of the Woodland and Wildlife Habitation Conservation Ordinance; See also AFFORESTATION.) See also:  Afforestation
Regional District Act
An act of the Maryland State Legislature that sets forth the duties and responsibilities for planning, zoning and subdivision in Prince George's County (except the City of Laurel). The act (Article 28) delegates these responsibilities to the District Council and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Regional Transit District
Moderate- to high-density and intensity regional-serving centers. Destinations for regional workers and residents that contain a mix of office, retail, entertainment, public and quasi-public, flex, and medical uses; the balance of uses will vary depending on the center's predominant character and function. Walkable, bikeable, and well-connected to a regional transportation network via a range of transit options. Density and intensity are often noticeably greater within a quarter mile of Metro and light rail stations. (See Plan 2035, p. 108.) See also:  Local Transit Centers , Campus Centers (local) , Neighborhood Centers (local) , Town Centers (local)
Remand De Novo
A return of a zoning case back to the Planning Board for the purpose of processing the application over again as if it were a new one.
Residential High (Future Land Use Category)
Residential areas exceeding 20 dwelling units per acre. Mix of dwelling unit types, including apartments
Residential Low (Future Land Use Category)
Residential areas up to 3.5 dwelling units per acre. Primarily single-family detached dwellings.
Residential Medium (Future Land Use Category
Residential areas between 3.5 and 8 dwelling units per acre. Primarily single-family dwellings (detached and attached).
Residential Medium-High (Future Land Use Category)
Residential areas between eight and 20 dwelling units per acre. Mix of dwelling unit types, including apartments.
Resolution
Planning: Resolution is the accuracy at which a given map scale can depict the location and shape of geographic features. The larger the map scale, the higher the possible resolution. As map scale decreases, resolution diminishes and feature boundaries must be smoothed, simplified, or not shown at all. For example, small areas may have to be represented as points. GIS: 1. The detail with which a map depicts the location and shape of geographic features. The larger the map scale, the higher the possible resolution. As scale decreases, resolution diminishes and feature boundaries must be smoothed, simplified, or not shown at all. 2. The dimension of each cell or pixel in raster data that represents the area covered on the ground. Often used interchangeably with spatial resolution.
Right-Of-Way
(A.) A general term denoting land or an interest therein, usually in a strip, devoted to transportation or other public purposes (e.g., utilities). (B.) the legal right to pass through the grounds of another; also the public strip of land on which a highway, railroad, transit line or other public utility (power and sewer lines) are built.
Rubblefill
Fill placed in a controlled manner consisting of construction and/or building demolition rubble, including both irreducible materials (concrete, rock, brick) and those subject to decay (lumber). Such fills, in addition to rubble, may accept root material, brush, tree limbs, and stumps.
Rural And Agricultural (Future Land Use Category)
Low-density residential uses (up to 0.5 dwelling units per acre) with areas of agricultural and forestry production. Agricultural land (cropland, pasture, farm fields), forest, and very low-density residential.
Rural And Agricultural Areas
[The County's] Rural Areas are home to low-density residential communities served by well and septic, significant natural resources, and important historic scenic roads and viewsheds. Plan 2035 recommends Rural Areas remain low-density residential or support park and open space land uses and focuses new investment on maintaining existing infrastructure and stabilizing small-scale neighborhood-oriented commercial activities that support the areas’ rural lifestyle and character. Following the Priority Preservation Areas, Plan 2035 defines Agricultural Areas as areas suitable for agricultural activities and forestry preservation. Plan 2035 recommends continuing to protect these areas in order to preserve the agricultural sector and the land base on which it depends.