Susan Elks | APA - PA Southeast Section

Archive for Susan Elks

Sept. 12: Creating an Implementable Comprehensive Plan

August 24, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

Presenters Denny Puko and Jim Pashek are bringing their session “Creating an Implementable Comprehensive Plan” to the Radnor Township Building in Wayne on September 12 from 12:30 to 4:00. The session was previously held in the Pittsburgh area to glowing reviews from attendees. In the session, planners will be challenged to think differently about the content and process of a comprehensive plan with the goal that the plan springboards implementation. The workshop will show how work sessions and plan chapters can be built around a community’s priority issues – whether revitalizing downtown, fixing a problem corridor, becoming more walkable, or capitalizing on local history. Research and lessons learned from two comprehensive plans done in this manner will be shared.

Register online at www.palocalgovtraining.org or use the attached registration form. Please note that the times on the brochure are incorrect – the Wayne location is scheduled for 12:30 to 4:00.

Download: Implementable_Comprehensive_Plans_2012

2012 Irving Hand Award Supports Mediation and Its Planning Value

May 14, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

I was fortunate to be awarded the 2012 Irving Hand Award, which APA-PA awards annually. Named after Irving Hand, FAICP and funded by Delta Development, the award funds a professional development activity for a planner. My proposal was to use the funding for mediation training, and I recently completed the first portion of my training. Mediation is defined as a process where a neutral third party without decision making authority assists parties in negotiating a mutually agreeable settlement. The process attracted me because as a community planner I frequently feel like that third party, trying to get a community and its many interests to come to an agreement on an issue – should we inventory our historic resources? should we regulate our historic resources? should we change the zoning in this area? should we be providing more active recreation area? I found the training encouraging, enlightening, and also a reinforcement of good planning practice, and would recommend it to any planner. To read my full write-up on the training, check out the APA-PA Spring 2012 Newsletter.

Category: General /

Coming Soon: ‘Design Matters’ Training

April 17, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

Design Matters: Using Design Guidelines to Shape a Community

Across the nation, places of all sizes are seeking ways to create environments that attract residents and tax-paying businesses, making community design more important than ever. Planning tools and policies – such as design guidelines – have a powerful impact on how communities look and function but are often underutilized in Pennsylvania. This advanced session will show how to guide the aesthetics and functionality of the built environment to contribute to community success. The workshop is jointly sponsored by the PA Chapter of APA and the PA Local Government Training Partnership.

This workshop will be presented at six locations statewide, including Camp Hill on May 30th and DVRPC in Philadelphia on May 31st. Cost is $30 and approval of 3 CM credits for the sessions is pending. Click here for details.

Download: 420_Design_Matters

Category: Upcoming Events / Tags: certification maintenance, events, resources, urban design

APA’s Planners Training Service Workshops Coming to Philadelphia

April 12, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

APA is bringing the Planners Training Service (PTS) workshops to Philadelphia June 12 – 15. Four workshops, each focusing on a distinct aspect of sustainability, will be taking place, each over two days and carrying 14 CMs. This is a great opportunity to hear national experts in a local setting (Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown). The workshops are:

Comprehensive Planning for Sustainable Communities (cosponsored by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy)
Sustainable Transportation Planning (cosponsored by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy)
Planning for Change: Creating Resilient Communities
Sustainable Zoning and Development Controls

Early registration is through May 14. Rates for the workshops include an early registration discount, APA member discount, and AICP member discount. There is also a very reasonable APA student rate for the workshops. For more information and to register: http://www.planning.org/pts/2012/spr/

Category: Education / Tags: certification maintenance, environment and sustainability, events, resources, transportation, zoning

May 2: Livable Communities for Older Adults

April 7, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

Temple University’s Community and Regional Planning Department presents:

Livable Communities for Older Adults: Opportunities for the Delaware Valley

Wednesday, May 2nd

Temple University Ambler Campus Learning Center

The Community and Regional Planning Department at Temple University is celebrating its 10th anniversary by hosting a program on Livable Communities for Older Adults. Building on the award-winning efforts of the Philadelphia Corporation on Aging, the program will explore the range of land use, zoning and service alternatives for ensuring that all Delaware Valley communities are aging-supportive.

Speakers include:

Allen Glicksman, Philadelphia Corporation on Aging

Kate Clark, Philadelphia Corporation on Aging

Barry Seymour, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

Louis Colbert, Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging

Brian O’Leary, Montgomery County Planning Commission

Clint Randall, Philadelphia City Planning Commission

Schedule:

2:00-4:00 pm: Livable Communities Program

4:00-5:30 pm: Anniversary Celebration Reception

To RSVP for program and/or reception, call 267-468-8300 or e-mail CRPlanning@temple.edu .

Download: Livable_Communities_for_Older_Adults_Program

Category: Upcoming Events / Tags: environment and sustainability

Professional Development Workshop Announced

March 19, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

Design Matters: Using Design Guidelines to Shape a Community

Download: Design_Matters

Category: Upcoming Events / Tags: certification maintenance, events, resources, urban design

CM Grace Period Coming to a Close

March 14, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

If you are one of the AICP planners who is still working on fulfilling their 2010/2011 reporting cycle CM credits, the grace period for that ends April 30th. If your CM requirement of 32 credits (including a minimum of 1.5 law and 1.5 ethics) is not met by April 30th, your AICP membership lapses, retroactive to January 1st of this year. There are quite a few options, many free or low-cost, to gain CM credits prior to the deadline, including:

3/29: Making Energy Planning Work, 3 CM credits pending, PDI session at DVRPC
NJ events, including a 3/23 event on redevelopment in Trenton
Upcoming webcasts as part of the Chapters, Divisions, and Universities Webcast Series, including a March 22nd session on ethics
A limited number of prior webcasts (specifically law and ethics) registered for distance education credits

Please see the PA Chapter Calendar of Events for a detailed listing of upcoming training sessions, both in-person and web-based.

Additionally, the PA Chapter has a CD lending library of CM training and APA has an extensive list of available CM training (which includes more than 32 free distance education CM credits).

Category: Upcoming Events / Tags: certification maintenance, events, resources

May 9: Training on Official Maps

February 28, 2012 / Susan Elks / Comments Off

The PA Chapter of APA and PennDOT have once again teamed to bring planners a valuable workshop on transportation planning, this time focusing on official maps. There are four sessions statewide, including one at DVRPC on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Three CM credits are pending for the session, which will help planners understand how official maps may be effectively used to preserve open space, develop bicycle/pedestrian trails, and facilitate a wide range of transportation system improvements. The session is free for PA Chapter members and only $25 for non-members.

Register online at www.planningpa.org or by returning the registration form below, which includes additional information on the sessions.

Download: Official_Map_Training_Brochure

Category: Upcoming Events / Tags: certification maintenance, events, resources, transportation