Glossary terms and definitions.
Adaptive reuse is the process of repurposing existing buildings for new functions while retaining their historic, cultural, or architectural value. It balances sustainability, economic efficiency, and community revitalisation, turning obsolete structures into vibrant assets for modern use.
Design‑Based Zoning is a planning approach that regulates development primarily through detailed physical‑design standards rather than traditional land‑use categories, aiming to create predictable, high‑quality urban environments while preserving flexibility for mixed uses.
Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD) is a planning approach that clusters housing, jobs, and services around high‑frequency public‑transport stations, encouraging walking, cycling, and reduced car dependence while fostering compact, mixed‑use neighborhoods.
A data catalog is a centralized inventory that registers, describes, and organizes an organization’s data assets, making them searchable and accessible for analytics, governance, and compliance. It combines metadata, lineage, and usage statistics to help users discover trustworthy data quickly.
An Open Data Portal is a web‑based platform that aggregates, catalogs, and provides free access to publicly funded datasets, enabling citizens, researchers, and businesses to discover, download, and reuse information across domains such as transportation, health, and finance.
Participatory budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to allocate a portion of public funds. It encourages transparency, civic engagement, and empowers citizens to prioritize projects that reflect local needs and values.
The council-manager government is a municipal governance structure where an elected council sets policy and an appointed professional manager runs day-to-day operations. This system separates political decision‑making from administrative expertise, aiming for efficient, non-partisan management of city services.
An innovation cluster is a geographically concentrated network of companies, research institutions, startups, and support services that collaborate to develop and commercialise new technologies. By fostering knowledge spill‑overs, shared talent pools, and joint R&D, clusters accelerate economic growth and increase regional competitiveness.
Land‑Use Stewardship is a voluntary, often contract‑based approach where landowners manage their property to meet ecological, social, and economic objectives beyond regulatory minimums. It blends incentives, technical guidance, and measurable plans to protect biodiversity, improve soil health, and support community benefits.
Town‑gown relations describe the dynamic interaction between a university and the surrounding municipality, encompassing economic, cultural, and social exchanges that shape both campus life and local community development. These relationships can range from collaborative research projects and student housing initiatives to shared public spaces and joint policy advocacy, influencing regional prosperity and civic identity.