As municipalities throughout the country have adapted to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, elected and appointed officials have been faced with tough decisions and unique opportunities to create programs that best meet the needs of residents. The actions adopted in trying times have changed the way local government works and will leave an impact on operations for years to come. From distance work and health department strain to philanthropic efforts and emotional support for those struggling, the new normal of local government will be discussed in sessions and with exhibitors in the exhibit hall. With the 106th League Conference, we will continue a long tradition within the safest and most effective parameters.

Planners' work is done in service to the public, and often their work becomes part of the public domain. Does that mean planners can copy and paste from publicly available work done by others? When does copying and pasting become unprofessional and even unethical? Where to draw that line is difficult to determine. Get guidance from the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and from the ways in which academia views plagiarism.

The Transportation Planning Division (TPD) presents a session that will demonstrate the variation in, and breadth of the impact of, innovation in transportation.

This event, hosted by the NJTOD.org, Downtown New Jersey, and NJ TRANSIT’s Transit Friendly Planning (TFP) program, will bring together a panel of experts from public, private, and non-profit entities to discuss their experiences with available financing tools and how they are used in transit-oriented development.

For decades, regional planning promoted growth and development increasingly further away from employment centers. This has resulted in urban sprawl, displacement and gentrification, and the infringement on natural and working lands at the rural-urban interface. This “set it and forget it” approach to planning is not sustainable economically or environmentally. This is particularly true in megaregions like Northern California. This webinar explores how cities and counties adjacent to major employment centers like San Francisco and Silicon Valley have plans for retrofitting these communities to accommodate much needed housing growth and mobility expansion in a way that is equitable and sustainable, both environmentally and economically. Panelists will describe the challenges that metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) face, as well as specific opportunities and programs they are working on to make positive changes that will continue decades into the future.

NJ TRANSIT and the Transit Friendly Planning Program are excited to launch the new "Transit Friendly Planning: A Guide for New Jersey Communities". During this launch event, the authors will provide an overview of the content contained in the guide during a 1-hour presentation and Q&A session. The second hour of the event will provide attendees an opportunity to chat with NJT staff and local and state agencies about current or future transit friendly planning projects in their communities.

The Responding to Climate Change webinar will include three presentations on the topics of green infrastructure, hazard mitigation planning, and wildfire hazard mitigation strategies.

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness along with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management will be sponsoring several deliveries of a two-day training course titled, Coastal Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment Tools (PER-378). The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) at the University of Hawaii, a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), will be instructing the DHS approved training course. There is no-cost to attend this course.

What do planners need to know about climate science? From rising seas to evolving weather patterns that include more frequent storms, heat and fire events, there is much to understand about the intersection of climate and planning. This webinar will provide a concise overview of changing climate conditions and their impact on current planning practice.

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness along with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management will be sponsoring several deliveries of a two-day training course titled, Coastal Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment Tools (PER-378). The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) at the University of Hawaii, a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), will be instructing the DHS approved training course. There is no-cost to attend this course.

On November 3, 2020, New Jersey voters approved New Jersey Public Question 1, an amendment to the State constitution to legalize the recreational use of cannabis by people ages 21 and older, with 67% voting yes and 33% voting no. In 2021, 70% of municipalities voted to opt out of allowing cannabis in their city or town. Yet, most of these municipalities are expected to opt in in the near future. Why?

What are planners doing around the country to incorporate climate considerations into their practice of planning? This course will take a deep dive into the intersection of climate science and planning, with emphasis on applying effective planning tools and techniques to the challenge of changing climate conditions. Caroline Cunningham AICP CFM, Principal with Stantec, and Katrina Kelly-Pitou PhD, Systems Design Strategist with SmithGroup, will instruct participants on the best practices in this field around the country while touching on key concepts in the science of climate, measurable impacts of climate on communities today, and best forecasts for how climate will affect the form and livability of communities in the future.

In his talk, Julian Agyeman, Ph.D., professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University, will outline the concept of just sustainabilities as a response to the "equity deficit" of much sustainability thinking and practice. He will explore his contention that who can belong in our cities will ultimately determine what our cities can become. He will illustrate his ideas with examples from urban planning and design, food justice and the "Minneapolis Paradox."

This webcast features planning stories where cities have worked to make their backend (permitting, plan review) and frontend (comprehensive plans, maps) more accessible, engaging, and transparent through digitalization.

Join us for a webcast hosted by the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN), where attendees will learn how design review is handled in communities to further improve the quality of the built environment and public realm. Hear about examples from experts in the field on effective ways to direct the quality and character of development in suburban and urban communities.

As communities continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic, NPC22 is an opportunity to reconnect and re-envision post-pandemic futures. No matter your budget, comfort with gathering, or learning preferences, NPC22 has an experience for everyone.