We all know that our usual public meetings aren’t attracting large portions of our populations, and that many of the people we most want to hear from are more likely to use email and web sites than to show up for a council meeting. But with all the websites and whiz-bang online tools out there, what should we be doing? We will explore several different online public participation techniques, from surveying to idea prioritizing and ongoing project management. We will give a real-time demonstration of how several methods and online tools work, and we will spend a little time with the developer of one of these tools to discuss the challenges and protections needed to foster effective online participation.

This moderated panel discussion will examine situations common to private consultants (in contexts that also often include public sector planners) from a variety of perspectives, taking into consideration several variables. Audience members will also be invited to submit their ethical questions electronically for the panel to discuss. This session will familiarize attendees with the standards of ethical behavior according to the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and the nuances of applying the Code appropriately and responsibly.

This presentation will explore the local issues related to LEED ND and how the rating system approaches and measures initiatives to reduce regional impact of these issues. A general overview of the LEED ND system including prerequisites and their impact on project site selection will be presented. The session will discuss specific issues addressed by LEED ND and how individual credits relate to the issues outlined.

Please join us for a holiday party hosted by the APA-NJ Young Planners Group and the Rutgers Association of Policy and Planning Students

Charles Brown, Senior Researcher at the Voorhees Transportation Center will lead a discussion on the need to write more people of color into the world of cycling and providing underserved communities with active transportation choices. Karyn Williams, co-founder of Velo City, and Tiffany Robinson, Chair of the APA-NJ's Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Committee, will discuss their experiences in teaching minority youth in underserved communities about the community planning process and empowering them with the skills needed to discuss urban issues.

The tour will walk around the Voorhees Town Center site, beginning at the new town hall with a brief presentation of the background and history of the site and the redevelopment initiative.  The tour will be led by representatives of the developers as well as the Mayor and Township administrator and will explore progress that has been made, the work that is currently underway, challenges that have been overcome, and where additional opportunities may be realized in the future. 

Given the nation’s economic climate and looming fiscal constraints, many of us are looking for creative solutions to our communities’ problems. This Roundtable series, designed exclusively by and for Greater Philadelphia’s community and economic development professionals, invites you to share your challenges, bring your good ideas, and brainstorm answers to your colleagues’ tough questions.

Our current selection is The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. Our December 2012 meet-up will be held at BXL Zoute from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

The purpose of the workshop is to “bridge the gap” between planners and community based organizations (CBOs). The workshop will provide a platform for CBOs to better understand the role of city and regional planners in community development, and acquire access to information that can help them become strong and sustainable entities within their target populations. It will also give planners an opportunity to learn more about CBO’s, what they do, and their needs. 

The proposed webinar will explore the connection between aviation and other travel modes, and the challenges that airports and their communities face when integrating airports into regional transportation systems and nearby communities. We will provide background that transportation planners need to know when embarking on transportation planning or site development projects that involve direct or indirect connections with airports or federally obligated airport property.

More than half of Americans own and use a smartphone. Increasingly planners and the public are accessing information and engaging via mobile devices. Walk through the research and mobile applications out there to aid planners in using their mobile devices to the maximum effectiveness. This session is sponsored by the Ohio State University.

Please join us for the annual NJ Planning Conference!  Due to Hurricane Sandy, the originally scheduled conference was moved to January 31 and February 1.  There's still time to register!

New pressure from elected officials and city managers to reduce fees, regulations and process to make it easier to attract development may or may not be consistent with the Principles espoused by the Code of Ethics, much less the Rules of Conduct. This interactive session will engage participants in dialogue about the pressures we are facing in our jobs on a day to day basis and how to align our response with the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Planning and plagiarism go hand in hand. We copy zoning codes, plans, and ideas from other towns and, in the process, we are responsible for killing any sense of identity in our own communities. This session is about gaining the self confidence to plan truly exceptional places. This session is sponsored by the Ohio State University.

Real progress will occur with a paradigm shift if generations work together and cultural imperatives are addressed. This session will highlight both research and on-the-ground experience in multi-generational planning.

APA-NJ Members use promotional code APANJ2-13 to receive a 10% discount.  A one-day intensive workshop teaching how to strengthen organizational communication & participation integrating the latest tools & innovations in social media and web applications. Designed for business district management organizations, chambers and other municipal, county and regional leaders. 

 MAPS 3 is a 10-year program designed to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma City through the construction of eight projects funded by a limited term, one-cent sales tax initiative that began in April 2010. Russell Claus, Director of Planning for the City of Oklahoma City, and Cathy O’Connor, President of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, will discuss the history of the MAPS initiatives, private investment that has occurred as a result, and ongoing planning for leveraging private investment from MAPS 3 projects.

What happens when a group of six planning consultants decides to create a new consulting firm during the latest Great Recession? Hear how this group of one-time sole proprietor planning consultants chose to join forces and start a new consulting firm as the market contracted….and they succeeded. What did it take? What lessons did they learn? What tools and strategies worked best? How did sole proprietors, used to being leaders themselves, adjust to the new normal of being part of a six-person firm? Learn how to succeed and what it takes to move forward in today’s market.