Plain Language Thesaurus

Below are common words and phrases used in Planning Department documents

Instead of	Use
activity	(name activity or remove)
buffer	area, strip, separation
commercial establishments/amenities	stores, shops, businesses
commercial land use	store, shop, business
conceptualize	draft, design, suggest, write
corridor (road)	area
dwelling (unit)	house, apartment, townhouse
effect (noise, odor, or traffic)	noise, odor, traffic
empirical	first-hand, observational (or remove)
impact (noun) (noise, odor, or traffic)	noise, odor, traffic
impact (verb)	damage, destroy, change
implement (verb)	build, enforce, apply, carry out, start
improvement (road)	road, road construction, road widening
incremental	gradual, step-by-step
infrastructure (public)	(specify) water, sewer, storm drainage, streets, sidewalks, etc.
mitigate	reduce, avoid, prevent
negative traffic impacts	traffic congestion, traffic jam
paradigm	model, rule, idea (or remove)
parameter	limit, boundary, rule, guideline
pedestrian infrastructure	(specify) crosswalks, sidewalks, pedestrian bridge, benches, etc.
plant material	plants
prioritize	rank, set priorities
prototypical	model, sample, example, original
residence	house, apartment, townhouse
roadway	road
transportation facilities	roads, buses
urban fabric	character, appearance

Source: Natalie Macris, Planning in Plain English (Chicago: Planners Press, 2000), 48-49.