Planning July 2018
Intersections
Association and APA Member News
Fun and Games — and Planning
Meredith Hildreth, AICP, zoning administrator for Roswell, New Mexico, helps students construct pinwheels and learn about wind farms and wind-generated energy. Photo by Ryan Scherzinger, AICP.
That's what you get when 20 volunteer planners, two partner organizations, and more than 100 K–8 students get together for a one-of-a-kind, interactive workshop called "Youth: Empowering Leaders of Today." The goal of the event was twofold: to teach students about urban planning and meaningful civic engagement, and for participating planners to learn the value of, and the skills necessary for, planning alongside young people.
The event, held May 20 in conjunction with NPC18 in New Orleans, was created through a strong partnership between APA's Community Planning Assistance Teams program, nonprofit organization YEP! Youth Engagement Planning, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana.
The workshop was organized around 10 hands-on activity stations for youth to move between, each of which emphasized a different aspect of community involvement in the planning process — from learning planning vocabulary to transportation routing to cooperative decision making to zoning.
The event gave planners an exciting opportunity to learn the subject matter, practice it with the guidance of facilitators, and then immediately perform what they had just learned. Not to mention, everyone had a great time. Good work (and play), y'all.
For more on this event and the organizations involved, check out this APA blog post by written by YEP! Founder, Corrin Wendell, AICP, and vice president, Monica Tibbits-Nutt, AICP, LEED AP BD+C.
Members on the Move
A.J. Fawver, AICP, is the new director of planning in Lubbock, Texas.
Ellen Hill was named director of Monroe, Louisiana's department of planning and urban development.
Susan Anderson was named planning and community development director in Safford, Arizona.
Thomas Lynch was named transportation director of Madison, Wisconsin.
Andrew Pompei, AICP, was promoted to planning director of Powhatan County, Virginia.
Roxanne Salerno was named economic development program manager of Powhatan County, Virginia.
Kevin Credit, PhD, AICP, joined the University of Chicago as a lecturer in GIS and as assistant director for Urban Informatics at the Center for Spatial Data Science.
Tracy Adamski, AICP, was promoted from principal planner to vice president of Tighe & Bond.
Erin Zwirko, AICP, was hired as the assistant director of the Arlington, Massachusetts, Department of Planning and Community Development.
Kudos
Marilyn Hett, AICP, received the first Regional Impact Excellence Award from Commercial Real Estate Women Tampa Bay, which honors a member dedicated to promoting regional economic development and fostering a unified and prosperous Tampa Bay, Florida, region. She also received the James Felt Creative Counseling Award from the Counselors of Real Estate, which celebrates outstanding achievement and ingenuity in real estate counseling by a member of the organization.
APA members are a busy bunch. For additional kudos, comings, and goings, see the APA News blog: www.planning.org/apanews.
Community Builder
APA KENTUCKY: Lindsay Walker, AICP, and Soumi Basu, AICP, conference co-committee chairs of this year's APA Kentucky spring conference, tour host city Berea's artisan community during a mobile workshop. Photo courtesy Lindsay Walker.
APA ARKANSAS: Casey Covington, AICP, deputy director of Metroplan, interacts with some public art during a tour of Little Rock's Creative Corridor at the Arkansas Chapter's spring conference. Photo courtesy APA Arkansas.
APA NEBRASKA: Zhenghong Tang, PhD, poses with research colleagues Ted LaGrange and Dana Varner after presenting a session on wetland conservation during the 2018 Nebraska Annual Planning Conference this past March in Kearney. Photo courtesy APA Nebraska.
Partner Spotlight
Reforming local codes, such as restrictions on accessory dwelling units, is a critical first step to removing barriers to housing affordability in the U.S. Photo by Hammer & Hand/Jeff Amram Photography.
APA, AARP Begin Joint Work on Housing Legislation
APA and AARP are working together on model accessory dwelling unit legislation. Slated for completion in late 2018, the groups aim to provide planners and their communities with a new tool for removing barriers to housing affordability. Reforming local codes is a core component of Planning Home — APA's multiyear housing initiative.
This project represents just one of APA and AARP's joint efforts to promote affordable, accessible housing options for people of all ages. Learn more about this ongoing work at www.planninghome.org.
Association News
Teens Show Off Their Urban Design Skills to APA Staff
APA's Chicago office recently hosted an event with Territory, a local nonprofit that works with youth to strengthen communities through after-school and summer programs. Their Urban Design Team model uses design as a platform for civic engagement, helping teens find their voices and become community leaders.
At the May event, the Spring 2018 Design Teams presented "Walk in Our Shoes," a self-guided walking tour project that allows anyone to see the city through the lens of its youth with the help of unique youth zoning categories and wayfinding symbols to show how they use and navigate their neighborhoods.
APA staffers Sabih Ahmed and Kelly Wilson interact with three Chicago teens as they explain their urban design project. Photo by Mary Hammon.
APA staff and local partners provided feedback on their work, introduced the teens to APA's resources and the urban planning profession, and applauded their efforts. The inclusive, creative approach to design that Territory offers serves as an example of successful engagement and advocacy, one that APA is proud to support and hopes to see replicated across its membership.
New APA Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
The APA Board of Directors in April adopted a set of diversity and inclusion strategies into the APA Development Plan. The multitiered strategy is part of APA's efforts to promote more inclusive, just, and equitable communities, as well as a planning profession and association as diverse as the communities we serve.
The new strategy defines diversity as an inclusive concept that encompasses, but is not limited to, ethnicity, class, gender, age, sexuality, ability, educational attainment, spiritual beliefs, creed, culture, tribal affiliation, nationality, immigration status, political beliefs, and veteran status. It also states that with greater diversity, we can be more creative, effective, and just, and bring more varied perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, talents, and interests to the practice of planning and our communities. For more information go to www.planning.org/diversity.
The board thanks the APA Diversity Committee for developing this strategy, as well as the past leaders and volunteers who contributed their time, expertise, and voices to pave the way for this organizational transformation and foster the roots of meaningful change. This strategy's adoption is an important first step and will require an ongoing commitment on behalf of APA and its members.
Dates to Remember
July
Registration for APA's Water and Policy and Advocacy Conferences continues this month.
12 Catch a live webinar, Land Use Case Law Update — Summer 2018, from MRSC for legal CM credit. Register at regonline.com/landusesummer2018.
17 The National Consortium for Creative Placemaking is hosting a live webinar on connecting placemaking and resiliency today. Register at planning.org/events/eventsingle/9148185.
22 The APA Virginia conference kicks off today in Wintergreen.
30 Nominations for APA Arizona outstanding efforts in planning and planning leadership are due.
Tools of the Trade
APA has compiled a collection of assets on smart, equitable growth.
"Connecting the Dots," Planning magazine, April 2017
"Zoning to Improve Health and Promote Equity," Zoning Practice, March 2017
"Planning and Fair Housing," PAS QuickNotes, February 2017
"Planning and Governing for Racial Equity," APA on-demand education
"Pursuing Inclusive Growth: Place-Based Strategies for Economic Growth, Social Mobility, and Housing Affordability," Daniel Burnham Forum, 2015
For these resources and more, go to www.planning.org/resources/equity/.
We Ask, You Answer
This Month's Question
What is the biggest water challenge in your community?
Last Month's Question
What factor most contributes to affordable housing challenges in your community?
Here's what you said:
Intersections is compiled and edited by Planning editors. Got something you'd like to share? Send info and photographs to intersections@planning.org.