Ballast practice question 370
I'm wondering if anyone can provide some clarity on a PPD practice exam question from Ballast. I understand these books have a not insignificant number of errors/typos, but I'd like to be clear on this concept because I can see it showing up on PPD.
When a zoning ordinance requires a setback past a certain height, is it from the property line, or is that in addition to the building set back?
This question shows a required setback of 5', and the footnotes say "An upper story setback of 15' is required above 30'." I consider that to still be from the property line. The answer considers that 15' to be in addition to the 5' setback.
It's worth it to point out that the answer also shows that footnote 'C' allowing a height increase applies to this site, but the footnote doesn't show up on the table for this zoning district. So I'm sort of ready to throw the question out altogether, but I'd like to understand the setback issue. (my answer in green)
Answer:
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Honestly, I find the Ballast study material to be way too subjective. They give answers to questions that I just know are false from years of practicing. I found so many mistakes in the study material I stopped trusting it was helping.
Switch to Hyperfine and Black Spectacles practice exams. Black Spectacles has four exams and loads of questions in the same format as the actual exams. I am not as big a fan of the BS videos, but the practice exams are very helpful. I would go through them and google the answers as I went, pinning key information to a pinterest board I came back to for studying topics later. Even with googling answers I would still Fail the practice exams every time. It's about getting to the information I needed that was helpful. Hyperfine is probably the best study material, and is also the most affordable. The way he gives you problems and explains them in videos is the most helpful. Also DK Ching's books. He makes everything so clear.
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Thanks for the response, Rachel. I completely agree, and Ballast is far from my primary study material. For this test, I've not even read the study guide, just using the practice exam and questions. I'm no stranger to all the other third party material out there, and I also rely heaviest on the sources listed in the ARE Handbook, Ching included.
Quality of Ballast aside, the definition of a setback does not seem subjective to me, so I wanted to bump this back to the top of the recent discussions list to see if anyone can comment on the question at hand. Setbacks will vary since they are set by the zoning code, however the question is: Is an upper story setback requirement typically from the property line, or in addition to the building setback?
I feel pretty strongly that my answer is correct (upper story setback is still from the property line), but this topic is very much fair game on the exam (I could also see this on a PA exam) and I want to be clear.
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Hey Kellie,
I took to the internet after coming across this questions as well. My understanding is that step backs, are always taken from the property line (as you did), and any not added to the regular setback. Footnote C is also only on R-1's so it wouldn't apply to the UE-2 district. I got the same answer as you and I know for a fact that the answer in the Ballast book is not correct.
Also... yes... So many errors found. They are pretty obvious so it would have taken one proof reading session to catch them but it seems it was never done. Anyway, hope your exams went well!
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