Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

Explore how incentives are created for sustainability. Who creates them? Who gets them? At what level do they work best, and what has been most effective over time? Experts discuss both the tools and the underlying policy objectives. Hear about incentives, such as surcharges, fees, and tax reductions, and learn how they have been implemented. Speakers assess how they have fared in different locations. Learn what can be applied to your circumstances.

Many historic neighborhoods have experienced teardowns and the rebuilding of monster homes or other buildings that undermine sound planning. For historic and conservation districts this is a pressing issue. Learn how communities have developed codes, guidelines, and community visioning programs that respond to these incompatible developments. As communities grow and change, explore how historic preservation can be successfully linked to new development.

Cities and smaller communities are facing more severe hazards and sea-level rise. In this program, planners explore the issues of infrastructure and land changes, as well as environmental and economic changes. How do we know what the effects of climate change will be and how do we adapt? Explore both research and planning preparation.

Keep abreast of the latest developments in case law and legislation. Whether it is the Supreme Court considering First Amendment issues or states focusing on property rights, a panel of attorneys will highlight new trends, important precedents, unsettled issues, and pending decisions. Hear an update on federal legislation and what it will mean for your community, as well as where amicus briefs were filed and why.