What is performance zoning?

• A. It replaces conventional zoning districts with performance criteria to guide development based on site characteristics.
• B. It imposes general environmental regulations on a municipality.
• C. It preserves fixed zoning districts and bulk standards for all uses.
• D. It is a targeted tax incentive program for developers.

Answer: (A)

Performance zoning uses outcomes-based standards rather than fixed land-use districts. Instead of prescribing exact uses and bulk rules for each zone, it sets performance criteria that development must meet based on site characteristics and context (things like traffic impact, noise, emissions, shading, runoff, and other measurable effects). Projects that satisfy these performance standards can be approved even if they don’t fit traditional district boundaries, which makes the process more flexible and outcome-oriented.

That’s why the correct choice describes replacing conventional zoning districts with performance criteria to guide development based on site characteristics. The other options describe things that aren’t about performance-based zoning: broad environmental regulations, preserving fixed zoning and bulk standards, or tax incentives for developers.