What does the term "Negative Criteria" refer to in planning?

The term "Negative Criteria" in planning specifically refers to the requirement to demonstrate that a proposed project does not adversely affect the public interest or welfare. When planning decisions are being evaluated, particularly in the context of land use and zoning, negative criteria involve assessing whether the proposed use would produce negative impacts such as congestion, environmental degradation, or harm to community character.

In the context of planning, demonstrating compliance with negative criteria is crucial because it ensures that the interests of the community are safeguarded and that potential detriments are thoroughly evaluated before project approval. This assessment is typically part of the comprehensive planning process where planners aim to balance development with the preservation of public good and community standards.

Other options like the advertising style during elections, the cost aspects of projects, or comments from project opponents do not directly relate to the formal evaluative criteria that planners are concerned with in the context of assessing land use impacts. Instead, negative criteria are focused on weighing and mitigating potential adverse effects associated with proposed developments.