Updating the Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan

The Glossary

Glossary

Affordable Housing and housing affordability

Affordable housing is rental housing with rent and income restrictions (typically 60% of Area Median Income or below) or housing for homeownership with income restrictions (typically less than 80 percent of Area Median Income) as governed by local, state and federal housing assistance programs.

Housing affordability is access to homeownership or rental options based on housing price relative to household income.

Capital infrastructure

Streets, sidewalks, bridges, traffic control & street lighting, bikeway & pedestrian walkways, sewers & water infrastructure, and more.

Climate Action Plan

Climate action plans are comprehensive road maps that outline the specific activities that an agency will undertake to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate action plans build upon the information gathered by greenhouse gas inventories and generally focus on those activities that can achieve the relatively greatest emission reductions in the most cost effective manner.

Creative Placemaking

Creative placemaking leverages the power of the arts, culture and creativity; while planning, designing and organizing public spaces (see placemaking).

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

The purpose of conducting a local government operations GHG emissions inventory is to gain an understanding of the emissions sources, establish a baseline, and identify opportunities to reduce energy use and GHG emissions.

Housing Choice

Refers to the ability to find housing that meets a variety of needs in a variety of locations. This includes but is not limited to varied building types, in varied locations, and at varied income levels

Housing Density

The ratio of a housing units to residential land area.

Housing Diversity  

Refers to the range of housing types in a development or neighborhood. A neighborhood with housing diversity has various different dwelling types and sizes, usually achieved by promoting a variety of building forms.

Pedestrian

Persons traveling on foot or wheelchair users.                                                                      

Placemaking

Placemaking is an approach to planning, design and organization of public spaces that capitalizes on an area’s assets. The goal is to create quality public spaces with strong character that encourages health and equity. (See creative placemaking)

Private Sector

Part of the economy which is managed and run by private parties.

Public Realm

Open spaces (public and semi-public) such as streets, sidewalks, bike paths, parks, and plazas where building interface with public/semi-public open space.

Public Sector Organizations

Usually owned and operated by the government with a mission to provide services for its residents.

Resiliency

The capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a community to survive, adapt, and thrive no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.