During the last fifteen years, thousands of communities across the United States have sought to attract or develop advanced communications networks, recognizing that such networks can provide them and the nation multiple strategic advantages in the increasingly competitive global economy. In virtually every case, fostering robust economic development has ranked at or near the top of the list of considerations motivating these communities.

Creative Placemaking Planning for Real Estate Professionals is a one-day workshop which will include a broad overview of what Creative Placemaking is and why this approach is so effective for sustainable development towards increasing community vibrancy, social equity and economic growth.

The referendum for a stable source of open space funding barely made it onto the November ballot. Tom Gilbert, Keep It Green will describe what the referendum means and what needs to be done to ensure its passage. Other speakers will discuss the importance of open space for healthy communities.

Registration is now open for the premier planning conference in Pennsylvania.

Join APAPASE for an evening of food, fun, and (planning-themed) Quizzo!

The NJAFM Annual Conference is a statewide conference related to floodplain management and planning. The conference draws a multi-disciplinary audience including planners, engineers, scientists and local officials.

Given the quagmire of this recent history of COAH proposals and litigation in NJ, maybe it’s time to review how other states are facilitating affordable housing production and to consider how their experiences could reshape New Jersey’s approach. Leading the discussion is Rachel Bratt, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University, and author or co-author of many articles, reports, and chapters in books on housing policy.

Please join us for the largest GIS conference in the mid-Atlantic region. MAC URISA 2014 will be held October 22nd through the 24th at the Resorts Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. We are proud to host a comprehensive, multi-day conference to showcase the outstanding projects and technologies used by our members.

The 59th NJDRMI for Fall 2014 is your opportunity to get up-to-speed on making the most out of key digital tools for your marketing and is aimed to help you be more effective and strategic at promoting your downtown, business and events. This action-packed day is designed for business districts, management organizations, chambers and other municipal, county and regional leaders (CM | 2.5 Pending)

Join Brick City Conversations for a presentation on the Regional Plan Association’s Fourth Plan.

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning's 54th Annual Conference offers nearly 300 AICP CM credits over a four-day conference. The preliminary program can be found at www.acsp.org and lists the sessions that qualify for credit. A conference app will be available this week and attendees can create their own schedule for session attendance.

With the two-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy on the horizon, what have we learned about rebuilding? This program, featuring Anthony Flint, fellow and director of public affairs at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, will focus on concrete steps that are being taken to plan, pay for and implement resiliency measures on the ground.

Using a class room case study and tour approach, participants will learn the fundamentals of comprehensive real estate development using actual development projects as “backdrops” to the concepts, applications and discussions about redevelopment.

Equity and ethics are not identical, but they do intersect. Listen as AICP planners and allied health professionals probe this important topic. How is health equity being addressed, and how does it relate to planning? What ethical codes do public health professionals follow, and where's the intersection with planning ethics? Examine the role equity plays in various ethical frameworks and find out how communities and planners are taking on health equity.

In a time when funding resources are scarce, it is imperative to understand and demonstrate the positive impacts of planning and implementation of transportation investments on our communities. A number of efforts including RTD’s Quality of Life Study, RTD’s TOD Program Metrics and the City of Denver’s TOD Strategic Plan have separate goals but similar methodologies. This session will discuss these programs and their applicability to projects from large scale to small scale.

When EPA created the Office of Environmental Justice, it required developing new tools for the purpose of engaging and working with the public, including segments of the public that are underserved. Community planners and other allied professionals may be less familiar with the tools the Office of Environmental Justice has developed overtime to strengthen public involvement; encourage community action for a renewed environment; or advance collaborative environmental problem solving.

Join New Jersey Future, Regional Plan Association and Together North Jersey for an important discussion with thought leaders to bring forward the next generation of “big ideas” to enhance prosperity, livability, and environmental sustainability in the tri-state region.

Learn how Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Santa Monica used different, yet equally practical, applications of “tactical urbanism” to transform their streets in months, not years. One pilot project involved a transformative streetscape master plan; the other uses “pop-up” demonstrations of a potential “Neighborhood Greenway” design to get residents involved. Hosted by the Urban Design and Preservation Division.

Drought is becoming an increasingly important issue for planners at the local, regional and state levels. Drought impacts vary by region, but it affects everything from the most obvious -- water supply -- to ecosystems, the built environment, regional economies and human health. Mitigation and adaptation to drought requires attention and collaboration among planners, water engineers and natural resource experts.

“Complete street” is a transportation term that refers to a corridor designed for all modes of transportation. Washington, DC has made national news for its emphasis on the fundamental modes of transportation – walking and biking. It’s also home to one of the most recognizable mass transit systems. So why would the District Department of Transportation propose a scenario that eliminates complete streets?

This webinar is designed to help you make the case for implementing the most effective smart growth policies for ensuring that your community has an adequate supply of housing for the continuum of need: from workforce housing to seniors who need help to age in place. We will specifically address inclusionary zoning, community land trusts, accessory dwelling units, and tools for avoiding and overcoming NIMBYism.

This presentation will review some of these changes and outline steps that planners can take to mitigate present and future impacts of the new law. Planners are best trained to synthesize the multi-disciplinary nature of hazard mitigation planning and can be at the forefront of achieving reductions in losses to life and property as well as creating safer communities.

Join representatives from the 21 New Jersey municipalities that have combined sewer overflows and utility authorities to discuss:    SPEAKERS: Mayor Ras Baraka, City of Newark Mayor Dana Redd, City of Camden Daniel M. Kennedy, Assistant Commissioner,Water Resources Management, NJDEP George Hawkins, CEO and General Manager of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority   Registration […]

Agenda 3:30 - 3:45 PM: Registration 3:45 - 4:00 PM: DVRPC Presentation 4:00 - 5:30 PM: Live viewing of APA Audio/Webconference Growing numbers of people are commuting and getting around town by bicycle. Keeping everyone safe on streets and sidewalks is a moving target. Explore the safety issues that go with more robust transportation options. […]

The APA International Division will be hosting a regional meetup for planners interested in international planning. All planners with an interest in international issues are welcome to attend. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Happy hour drink specials will be available for purchase until 7pm.

Sustainability and comprehensive planning can run on two separate tracks within local government. To create sustaining places, the programs have to come together — but how? APA has worked with 13 communities to develop standards for integrating sustainability into comprehensive plans. Hear about the standards and the goals behind them.

One of the great challenges of communities living on the New Jersey coast or along its some 18,126 miles of rivers and streams is how to prepare for inevitable flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that buildings be elevated, moved out of a floodplain, or acquired and demolished to comply with the new flood maps. The hope is that elevating will keep buildings out of the water, but what do wholesale elevations do to a community?

New Jersey Future’s annual Redevelopment Forum attracts nearly 500 local and state officials, citizen activists, development professionals, architects, attorneys, planners, business leaders and students. Redevelopment allows us to re-use infrastructure, take advantage of historically strategic locations, maintain and improve our communities and preserve our remaining open spaces.

The FCC adopted new rules at its Oct. 17 meeting that are likely to require changes in the way local governments respond to applications for siting wireless towers, and for adding antennas to, and modifying, existing structures. The rules could necessitate an immediate review and revision of wireless siting ordinances in many communities, and have important implications for the way states and localities deal with siting of wireless facilities in historic districts and environmentally sensitive areas.

This presentation will discuss significant changes in housing for people with disabilities over the last several years. Enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. – which requires public entities to offer their services to people with disabilities in “the integrated setting” – has led to statewide system reform of housing systems, moving away from congregate disability-specific housing to expanding access to scattered-site supportive housing.

NY/NJ Baykeeper in conjunction with Newark DIG (Doing Infrastructure Green) is hosting a free workshop on the economic benefits of green infrastructure. Geared towards private property owners, redevelopers, and engineers, guests will learn how implementing stormwater management strategies can affect your bottom line and much more.

Reshoring is a very popular idea among businesses, their customers and governments where jobs growth will have the most impact. But it’s not that simple. Reshoring requires a carefully crafted journey through innovation, automation, localization of products and site/community selection.

Register now for the world's premier educational event for planners and planning officials. With hundreds of sessions, workshops, mobile workshops, and networking events, you can build a conference that's just right for you.

Each year, RPA brings together more than 1,000 civic and business leaders from around the New York metropolitan area to discuss major issues affecting the prosperity and quality of life in the region.

Please join the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders on April 28, 2015 for a workshop exploring the resources and assistance programs available to strengthen your municipality’s capacity for resilience. Learn of practical measures and strategies to adapt to and withstand the severe weather and natural hazards of our changing future.

The 61st NJ Downtown Institute for Spring 2015 is your opportunity to get up-to-speed on making the most out of your number one asset that you control - your customer experience - to build your business, organization or district. This action-packed half-day is designed mainly for business owners and operators, however business district management organizations, chambers and other municipal, county and regional leaders can gain great insights for themselves and their clients and stakeholders.

Register Now (APA-NJ Members receive a 10% Discount) Featuring nationally-acclaimed customer acquisition & retention expert Pamela Herrman  Hosted at the beautiful Montclair Library just steps away from the heart of award winning Montclair Center, a Main Street New Jersey community since 2007. The 61st NJ Downtown Institute for Spring 2015 is your opportunity to get up-to-speed […]

The New Jersey Health Impact Collaborative (NJHIC), a collaboration of Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), is hosting a statewide conference on Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on May 7, 2015 at the Cook Campus Center at Rutgers University.

Join the Morris County Economic Development Corporation for a transportation panel and luncheon!

Learn how to build financial models for the acquisition and development of commercial and mixed-use real estate development projects using Excel.

New technologies. Evolving expectations. A variety of forces are changing the way planners work, the skills they need, even the issues they address. An APA task force recently spent a year looking into the planning office of the future. Learn about the findings and hear what practitioners have to say about recent changes, current conditions, and the shape of things to come.

On March 10, 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court returned jurisdiction over low- and moderate-income housing to the trial courts, effectively ending COAH’s oversight. The ruling is the most significant court action impacting affordable housing since the court held that municipalities must provide their “fair share”. What does the court’s ruling mean for your municipality? […]

PlanSmart NJ's 4th Annual Regional Planning Summit, Stranded Suburban Real Estate Assets: Changing Economy, Changing Land Use will bring together experts in planning, redevelopment, and infrastructure to reveal the magnitude of the problem and explore methods to break through common barriers to transform New Jersey's suburbs into resilient and livable communities where people can live, work, and play.

Planning feels the impact of decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, federal district courts, and state courts. How will their rulings affect you? Get a briefing on the year's legal developments, from First Amendment issues to environmental actions, housing, and equal access. Presenters also will discuss major legislative initiatives and APA's amicus filings. Join in a lively, informative program you and your staff, colleagues, and officials won't want to miss. This program is also suitable for planning commissioners.

Learn about the Coalition’s eorts to create model mixed-use communities at ve commuter rail stations in Newark, East Orange and Orange

This webinar will examine the linkages between landscape architecture and transportation planning, looking at how addressing design issues as early as possible in the planning process can result in transportation solutions more likely to win public support and produce the best transportation outcomes.

Athens, Ohio recently adopted The Essence of Athens: A Strategic Design Plan for Economic Enhancement and Community Competitiveness. This community collaboration 'extracted' the spirit and personality of the community and encourages architects, landscape architects, and planners to color outside the lines of ordinary design and create things that make people say, "That's so Athens."

This webcast will discuss what local governments need to do to ensure that their sign codes comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2015 decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert. That decision established that any sign regulation that "on its face" requires a consideration of a sign's content to determine how that sign will be regulated is "content-based" and subject to "strict scrutiny."

REGISTER Parking is a critical piece of a community’s infrastructure. It plays an important role in developing “mixed-use projects” and sustainable transportation. Parking also has a direct impact on the ability to create compact, healthy communities. Overly restrictive parking requirements can thwart efforts to build walkable communities that require less parking. Too little parking can […]

In this webinar you will learn what your community can do to prepare for, and land your next economic development prospect. It will cover the following items: (1) Current trends in Economic Development & Site Selection; (2) Understanding your target audience - What Prospects, Site Selection Consultants and other key players are looking for; (3) Understanding your product & target markets; (4) Before the prospect shows up – what can make your community competitive; and (5) The site visit and afterwards - practical pointers for closing the deal.

The National Center for Transit Research, Urban and Regional Information Systems Association and the Transportation Research Board are jointly presenting the 9th National GIS in Transit Conference, on September 1-3, 2015, in Washington, DC.

Join the RPA/NJIT Mayors’ Academy on Resilient Design for a public keynote presented by David Waggonner, president of Waggonner & Ball Architects and producer of the award-winning Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan. Mr. Waggonner will offer lessons of resilience and living with water for our region’s urban cities and towns. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served

The Stormwater Committee of the NJ-AWRA is sponsoring a new seminar series that will allow for education and discussion of different stormwater related topics. Jeromie Lange, PE from Maser Consulting will present on a recent study of the performance of Basins across the State. Glen Carleton of USGS will follow with a presentation on New Groundwater Mounding Analysis Software. Please join us in this exciting new initiative and opportunity for professional development and continuing education.

This two-day course on the redevelopment planning law process will provide a broader understanding of the crucial issues, steps and challenges associated with the New Jersey’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL). The workshop features a faculty with many of the top planners, attorneys, government officials and consultants from the New Jersey redevelopment arena who will share their real world redevelopment experiences.