Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Sustainable Development • Infill Development • Form-Based Code

Density

Term from Urban Planning industry explained for recruiters

Density is a key concept in urban planning that describes how many people, buildings, or housing units exist within a specific area. It's like measuring how "packed" or "spread out" a neighborhood or city is. Urban planners work with density to create livable communities, manage growth, and make the best use of available space. When you see this term in resumes or job descriptions, it usually relates to analyzing, calculating, or making recommendations about population density (people per acre/mile), housing density (homes per acre), or building density (how much building space exists in an area).

Examples in Resumes

Developed zoning recommendations to increase density in downtown areas while maintaining community character

Analyzed population density patterns to optimize public transit routes

Created guidelines for residential density requirements in new housing developments

Typical job title: "Urban Planners"

Also try searching for:

City Planner Urban Designer Land Use Planner Community Development Planner Zoning Administrator Planning Consultant Development Review Specialist

Where to Find Urban Planners

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you balance increasing density with community concerns about overcrowding?

Expected Answer: A senior planner should discuss community engagement strategies, design solutions that maintain neighborhood character, and examples of successful density increases that benefited communities while addressing resident concerns.

Q: How would you approach creating density guidelines for a new mixed-use development?

Expected Answer: Should explain considering factors like infrastructure capacity, transit access, market demands, and existing neighborhood context, while demonstrating knowledge of zoning regulations and community needs.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What methods do you use to calculate and analyze density in different contexts?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain different density measurements (dwelling units per acre, floor area ratio, etc.) and when to use each type for different planning scenarios.

Q: How does density impact transportation planning?

Expected Answer: Should discuss relationship between population density and transit viability, parking requirements, and how density affects transportation choices and infrastructure needs.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and how is it used in density calculations?

Expected Answer: Should explain that FAR is a basic measure of building density that compares building floor area to lot size, and demonstrate understanding of simple density calculations.

Q: What are the different types of density measurements used in planning?

Expected Answer: Should identify basic density types like population density, residential density, and employment density, and explain their basic uses in planning.