Shape of the Future Glossary

This is the long promised “Draft GLOSSARY” to help readers understand Bacon’s Rebellion columns. This GLOSSARY will become Section IV. of HANDBOOK. HANDBOOK is one of the two Volumes that make up ACTION PROGRAMS. ACTION PROGRAMS is the Omega Book of TRILO-G. This GLOSSARY is in draft form. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Creating and using a robust, consistent, intelligent Vocabulary is critical to understanding human settlement patterns. Such a Vocabulary is essential for any attempt to create Balanced Communities in Sustainable New Urban Regions. The GLOSSARY is an integral part of The Three-Step Process. It is also a resource for use in all three volumes of TRILO-G.

The importance of an intelligent Vocabulary is introduced in The Shape of the Future. There is discussion of Vocabulary in Chapter 3 of The Shape of the Future and consideration of what comes first: A Comprehensive Conceptual Framework for human settlement patterns (the New Urban Region Conceptual Framework) or; a Vocabulary with which to discuss the Framework. The conclusion? Both come first.

There are references to the critical role of Vocabulary throughout both volumes of The Shape of the Future. In addition, the book includes two Appendices devoted to Vocabulary: APPENDIX ONE: LEXICON and APPENDIX TWO: CORE CONFUSING WORDS. This material provides a starting point for considering Vocabulary. The fourth edition of The Shape of the Future, the Alpha Book of TRILO-G, includes The Shape of the Future - Fourth Edition Vocabulary Supplement which outlines the evolution of the Vocabulary introduced in 2000 up to the publication of TRILO-G forthcoming June 2008.

BRIDGES is the second Sigma book of TRILO-G. Chapter 7 of BRIDGES, “Gibberish: The Vocabulary of Babel” provides a link between the strategic perspective on words and phrases found in The Shape of the Future and their application in the tools found in ACTION PROGRAMS. Chapter 7 of BRIDGES demonstrates the need for a robust and consistent Vocabulary. The chapter summarizes several Bacon’s Rebellion columns that link misuse of common words like “city,” “suburban” and “rural” to misunderstandings of the nature and function of human settlement patterns.

This Section of HANDBOOK provides refinements to the definitions of key words and phrases outlined in The Shape of the Future and adds additional words and phrases and cross referencing that will be useful in carrying out The Three-Step Process.

As readers of Bacon’s Rebellion know, the use of capital letters, typeface, and in some cases the unique spelling of words, is important. There is a vast difference between “community” and “Community.” GLOSSARY is prepared with, and must be used with, attention to capitalization, typeface and spelling. Bold face of individual words indicates they are defined in GLOSSARY.

The HANDBOOK outlines a process to create Balanced Communities within Sustainable New Urban Regions and Urban Support Regions in three steps. Section IV. is a companion to Sections V. through VIII. The current section reflects the importance of Vocabulary which, along with the New Urban Region Conceptual Framework, are essential to understanding human settlement patterns.

Section IV. is intended to make citizens aware of words and phrases that can facilitate an understanding of human settlement pattern issues. These words and phrases are critical in creating common ground and clarity throughout the process. This section identifies words and phrases that can be misunderstood and provides a basis for recognizing specific words which may be used in ways that are intentionally or unintentionally misleading and should be avoided.

HANDBOOK readers may also wish to refer to Chapters 2 and 3 as well as APPENDIX ONE - LEXICON and APPENDIX TWO - CORE CONFUSING WORDS of The Shape of the Future. The material in these sources supplements those found in this and following sections of HANDBOOK.

Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the definitions of key words and phrases. Definitions are often followed by a discussion of key words used throughout the HANDBOOK. GLOSSARY includes words to avoid when discussing human settlement patterns. There is also a summary listing of the CORE CONFUSING WORDS at the end of this section.

Many words and phrases can be confusing. During the goal-setting process in every application of the Three-Step Process, it will be desirable to set down key definitions and emphasize words and phrases that should be avoided in the context of that process. If these words and phrases are not avoided, they must be defined and, if applicable, quantified so that there is no question as to their meaning.

Additional words may be added to those listed in GLOSSARY during any Three-Step Process. The overarching goal is that the definitions of all key words and phrases be broadly agreed-to and consistent. During any Three Step Process, if a question is raised about the meaning of any word or phrase it needs to be defined. Often, rather than arguing over the use of specific words and phrases, it is better to agree on a new word or phrase that describes exactly what everyone can agree on. The process of agreeing on alternative words and phrases itself will often expose the complexity of a proposed goal, objective or concept that is obscured by overused or misused words or phrases.

The Core Confusing Words found in APPENDIX TWO of The Shape of the Future include: City, Community, Ex-urban, Local, Neighborhood, Organic, Rural, Sprawl, Suburb/Suburban and Urban. In addition, the word Family has been added since The Shape of the Future was first published in 2000.

Why these words are confusing is spelled out in The Shape of the Future APPENDIX TWO - CORE CONFUSING WORDS and LIST OF CORE CONFUSING WORDS BEST AVOIDED IN DISCUSSIONS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT PATTERNS at the end of this GLOSSARY. The words that are underlined (Community, Neighborhood, Organic and Urban) have no useful substitutes so are used in TRILO-G frequently with a modifier and as in the case of Community and Neighborhood, capitalization is very important.

The best way to avoid confusion is to not use the words City, Ex-Urban, Family, Local, Rural, Sprawl and Suburb/Suburban.

Countryside

The Countryside is made up of land areas devoted to nonurban land uses - agriculture, forestry or large natural areas.

Countryside outside the Clear Edge and Open Space inside the Clear Edge make up Open Land.

Within large areas of Countryside there are urban enclaves that are components of the Communities that support the economic and social activities of the Countryside. There are also individual dwelling Units dispersed in the Countryside. Some of these Units are accessory uses that support agriculture, forestry and other extensive (nonurban) land uses. Because of past development practice, many of the widely disbursed (a.k.a., scattered) Units are urban dwellings. As noted in STARK CONTRAST Section II Part 3, “Focused Tactics to Support Immediate Action Inside and Outside the Clear Edge,” any new urban use should be within 1/4 mile of daily Services and Jobs. This means new urban Units will almost always fall within the Clear Edge around urban enclaves of the Dooryard, Cluster and Neighborhood scale.

Critical Mass

To achieve Alpha status, any component of human settlement patterns, from the Dooryard to the New Urban Region scale, a Critical Mass of economic, social and physical activity must exist.

While achieving Critical Mass is a critical factor in reaching a Balance of J / H / S / R / A, there is no single measure of Critical Mass. The Critical Mass varies by the scale of the organic component and by the specific location and context of the component.

In general usage, the necessity of achieving "critical mass" is required before an event, reaction or conversion can take place and is most often associated with nuclear reactions. However, there are countless applications of the concept of "critical mass" and Critical Mass in the Economic, Social and Physical Spheres. For this reason it is clear why Critical Mass is a key concept in consideration of human settlement patterns.

There are 15 references to critical mass in The Shape of the Future that are consistent with the general definition. The phrase was not defined in APPENDIX ONE - LEXICON. Critical Mass and critical mass are used in TRILO-G.

‘D’

Density

Density is a measure of the intensity of human use and activity.

Disaggregated but Balanced Community

Disaggregated but Balanced Community is an Alpha Community that exists outside the Clear Edge around the Core of a New Urban Region where the components (Villages, Neighborhoods and Clusters) are separated by Countryside.

Disaggregated but Balanced Communities can also be found in Urban Support Regions (USR) outside the Clear Edges of the Community or Multi-Community scale Urban Enclaves in the USR.

Domains of Human Experience

The lives and activities of citizens, Households and their Enterprises, Institutions and Agencies, is a rich mosaic of events, relationships and resources. Taken together, they are the “human experience.” How satisfying this experience is for citizens is summarized by reference to “quality of life.”

To help analyze the human experience, scholars recognize activities into categories. One useful set of categories is:

Economic

Social

Physical

These three overlapping domains of human experience are reflected in, and have impact on, human settlement patterns. For further information on the “domains of human experience,” refer to Chapter 4 of The Shape of the Future and to Chapter 4, Box 2 .

Dooryard

Dooryard is an organic component of human settlement pattern. An Alpha Dooryard is a functional grouping of Units. The Dooryard has historic roots as housing for an extended family or an intentional grouping of Households. The Dooryard is the next larger scale of physical (spacial) orientation and proximity beyond the Unit.

In contemporary settlement patterns the Dooryard’s identity and functionality has atrophied while the need for social cohesiveness at this scale has grown. Much of what is attributed to “a great neighborhood” actually happens at the Dooryard scale. One way to think of a Dooryard is to consider the front doors a person can see from his or her front steps. Another perspective is that a Dooryard is comprised of the Units one could easily get to in an emergency. Another image of the Dooryard is the group of Units that one would first consider going to “borrow a cup of sugar.”

Alpha Clusters are composed of Alpha Dooryards. Beta Dooryards may evolve into Alpha Dooryards.

Also see Alpha and Beta as well as Unit and Cluster.

Dysfunction and Dysfunctional

The terms dysfunction and dysfunctional are used extensively in TRILO-G. The use is consistent with the primary dictionary definition:

"Abnormal (disordered) or impaired functioning, especially of a bodily system or organ.”

These terms are used often because no other synonym conveys an appropriate meaning for most applications.

‘E’

Enterprise

Enterprise is one of three forms of Organization beyond the scale of the Household. Enterprise is an Organization created to generate profit, a monetary return on investment of time, effort and resources. The use of the phrase “ Enterprise , Institution and Agency” is intended to encompass all Organizations beyond the scale of the Household.

See Agency, Institution and Household.

Enterprise Capacity

Enterprise capacity is the ability of an Enterprise to carry out its intended function and show a profit. Enterprises that lack enterprise capacity are subsidized or declare bankruptcy. See Institutional Capacity and Agency Capacity.

Expanding the Tax Base

See Tax-Base Expansion.

Ex-urban

This word is used in a broad range of confusing ways and is avoided in TRILO-G and The Three Step Process.

See APPENDIX TWO - CORE CONFUSING WORDS and LIST OF CORE CONFUSING WORDS BEST AVOIDED IN DISCUSSIONS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT PATTERN at the end of this GLOSSARY.

‘F’

Family

Since publication of The Shape of the Future, the use of the word “family” has been recognized as a source of misconceptions concerning human settlement patterns and thus becomes a Core Confusing Word. In TRILO-G and the Three-Step Process of HANDBOOK, “family” has been replaced by “Household.” Avoiding the use of the word family, unless it is further described or put in context, is suggested.

There have always been a number of uses of the word “family.” The word family has been overused and caused confusion when discussing human settlement patterns but recent data indicates that it is time the recognize the problem in a formal way. The reason to drop the use of the word “family” at this time is the confusion caused by referring to the occupants of a single dwelling Unit as a family because of the assumptions that citizens draw from what they assume “family” to mean.

The general assumption is that a family is a husband, a wife and their children unless the description includes a modifier such as “extended” as in “extended family.” Consideration of a typical Dooryard suggests that “family” is an inappropriate way to describe the occupants of the majority of the dwelling Units.

The sample Dooryard profiled below is made up of Single Household Detached (SHD) dwellings with a 2006 assessed value ranging from $525,000 to $625,000. The demographic profile of the occupants is somewhat older but otherwise mirrors the New Urban Region profile. If the following data applies to what municipal comprehensive plans typically call “a stable single family neighborhood,” consider the occupant profile of Units in other contexts.

Here is the data for one 10-Unit Dooryard. In this Dooryard there are Units with the following occupants:

1. A mother, a father and their young children

2. A mother and father with one minor child plus minor children of the mother from a previous marriage

3. A mother, father and a grandchild

4. A mother, father, an adult child and her daughter (a grandchild)

5. A mother and father and two adult children

6. A father with minor children and a new companion

7. A mother with adult children but none living in the Unit

8. A mother and father with an adult child but not living in the Unit

9. Two empty nest couples where both husband and wife have children but no children in common and none living in the Unit

Out of the 10 Units how many are occupied by a “family”? One, two, three, seven? All the Units are occupied by Households and thus the use of the term in discussing human settlement patterns.

Beyond the complexity of relationships in the Units within a specific Dooryard, it is well documented that a mother, father and minor children - blended families or not - make up less than 25% of the Households in the United States. In spite of this, most houses are designed as if they are going to be occupied by a “traditional family.”

There is nothing “wrong” with any of these living arrangements, the majority are just not what comes to mind when the word “family” is used and, as suggested below, skew the discussion of functional human settlement patterns.

Even more important, the categories into which the 10 Units in this Dooryard can be classified have changed significantly over a short period of time. Over the last five years, of the 10 Households, four have completely changed with a new set of occupants. One Unit has been home to three separate Households in five years. In five of the other Units, persons within the Household have changed, thus shifting the Unit from one of the nine categories listed above to another. The occupants of one Unit have changed categories seven times in nine years. Over a 5 year period, only one Household has stayed the same with the same individuals and the same status. Ninety percent turn over in 5 years is a huge rate of change and is far more flux than is usually thought of as “turnover.” Most “turnover” calculations are based on “sale-of-Unit” data. That metric, and most other perceptions of the family, are archaic.

Yes, there are Dooryards, especially ones with Units that were built recently, where a majority of the Units are occupied by a mother, a father and their children. That will change in time. When the Units in the profiled Dooryard were sold about 10 years ago, five Units were occupied by a mother, a father and minor children and one Unit by a mother and minor children.

See LIST OF CORE CONFUSING WORDS BEST AVOIDED IN DISCUSSIONS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT PATTERNS at the end of this GLOSSARY.

Five Natural Laws, The

See Natural Laws, The Five.

Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

The ratio between the land area and the building area on a given site or in a given area - i.e., Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 2.5 within a half mile of transit station platform. FARs are abstract numbers unless related to a specific geographical area or organic component. For instance the Alpha Village that forms the Core of a minimum density Alpha Community (10 persons per acre) will range from .25 to .50.

‘G’

Goals - First Tier and Second Tier

First-Tier Goals are simple, general goals upon which almost everyone can agree. They are sometimes called “principles.”

Second-Tier Goals are equally important, but far more complex, and therefore need to be established by a consensus and within a framework of well-articulated First-Tier Goals and with an agreed to Vocabulary.