The PA Chapter of APA and the PA Local Government Training Partnership present:
Planning Matters:Demographic Change and Land Use Policies
Approved for 3.0 CM credits

Pennsylvania, as well as the U.S., is experiencing significant demographic change – whether in the greying of the population led by Baby Boomers, the steady and significant rise in its Hispanic population or the decrease in family household formation.  These trends and others have and will continue to influence market demand for housing, retail and commercial space – and not just the amount, but the types (e.g., smaller, more densely cited housing development; fewer shopping centers featuring more entertainment/dining and less retail; more medical office space; more multi-generational housing; etc.).                                               

Most land planning professionals (whether county or municipal) are only now starting to grasp these changes and are challenged in how best to communicate these trends to their elected leaders and local residents, in advance of crafting appropriate land-use policies.                   

Accordingly, this training series will provide land-use planning professionals, elected officials, and citizen planners with a background on current and forecasted demographic and market trends for the state and their region, and use this context to explore prospective land-use strategies that will not only be market receptive (e.g., accommodate private investment seeking to capture new demand) but also fiscally prudent (e.g., ensuring that land-use policies are likely to produce net positive revenue).

Utilizing PowerPoint and Prezi media as the presentation platform, the lead presenters will share material which is accessible to the lay person and professional, alike.  A combination of graphic rich slides and jargon free narrative will be used by the presenters to educate participants.  Selective case studies and examples from Pennsylvania and the region (where available) will also be used.  Further, real urban design examples (whether for small scale dense housing or new format retail centers) will be shared with participants, and feedback sought.

The presentation will be designed to be interactive, so as participants may easily contribute and feel fully engaged.