'Define Each and Every Acronym'

A participant in some of Seattle's most consequential planning processes puts out a call for a more inclusive use of language.

2 minute read

January 14, 2017, 11:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


City Hall

Wasu Watcharadachaphong / Shutterstock

There's been a lot of talk about the effects of planning jargon already this year, but Laura Bernstein provides a new angle on the subject for The Urbanist. Bernstein is a former member of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) focus group member and former representative at the Northeast District Council, where there was constant exposure to acronyms that leave "newcomers feeling left out and overwhelmed." Bernstein wonders by urbanists seem so willing to use abbreviations like FAR, TOD, MHA, ROW, and MIZ. She asks the pointed questions: "Are they showing off? Are they in a hurry to try to convince you of something? Is it an essential part of every nerd subculture?"

Bernstein writes at greater length about the negative consequences of the esoteric language of urbanists:

I have observed people intimidated to speak up because of the jargon. It is imperative that the city fund “Land Use 101” education like the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association. I suspect that much of the mistrust of city officials is a lack of shared language to discuss land use decisions. When planning professionals–often nervously and defensively standing in front of a concerned crowd–use a secret code, it hurts the transparency of the process. We need more plain human everyday speech to demystify land use terms. 

The article concludes with definitions of the acronyms above, including a special focus on PLUZ, which stands for the city of Seattle’s Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee.

Friday, January 13, 2017 in The Urbanist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

6 hours ago - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News