Designing Entrepreneurial-friendly Communities A growing body of research, information, and practical examples from around the state and nation related to entrepreneurial development will be presented. This includes what entrepreneurial development; how it can augment, and fit within, other economic development efforts; and what you may want to consider to make your community more ‘entrepreneurial-friendly’ will   …

How Can You Make Your Comprehensive Plan Better Support Economic Development? Municipal and county land use regulations, plans and policies must accommodate the various needs of people, households and business. However, many comprehensive planning efforts, while well intentioned, often provide cursory treatment to the interests of current and prospective business investment – development, expansion, and   …

Webinar: Easement Made Easy - Applying Conservation Easements on the Landscapes and Greenways of  Pennsylvania's Communities Conservation easements are increasingly being used for a private land trust or government to limit certain uses of land for the purpose of achieving a particular conservation objective while keeping the land in the landowners control An introduction to   …

How Can Planners Work to Enhance Community Food Systems? Efforts to address community problems (e.g. health issues, environmental issues, or social concerns) result in varying degrees of success. What works in one community can fail miserably in another. The Community Readiness Model (CRM) provides an innovative approach to assessing a community’s awareness of a problem   …

Planning for Healthy Communities: Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice The United States ranks 37th amongst industrial nations with regard to a healthy population. Communities nationwide are recognizing the critical link between our built environments and public health. How well we plan land use, food systems, transportation, and natural resource protection will have dramatic   …

Engaging Your Community's Generations in Planning Communities consist of a variety of generational cohorts, with each of these groups having distinct characteristics. Understanding these characteristics is vital for effectively engaging all age groups of people in planning processes, and later encouraging their volunteerism for the implementation of planned community projects. Descriptions of considerations and options   …

Drought Planning Toolbox: State Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation  Since 1980, drought has been the fourth most common type of disaster in the U.S. and the second most costly. In 1998, more than one-third of the U.S. was affected by drought, with an event covering the West Coast to the upper Midwest. In 2007, a drought   …

Planning Webcast Series presents Water Quality and Quantity-Part 1 Water Quality Speakers:David Childs, Tom Frick, Tiffany Busby, Catherine Bray, and Eric DraperCM pending Register Now Water quantity and quality are shaping up as the prominent issues impacting planning and growth management in the coming years.  The Florida Legislature has indicated that state water policy will   …

Penn State ExtensionUsing the Official Map for Your Community’s Infrastructure An “official map” is a combined map and ordinance designed to aid in proactively planning for future growth in a municipality by helping to implement the elements of an adopted Comprehensive Plan that relate to transportation improvements, public land, open space protection, easements and other   …

Planning Webcast Series presents Water Quality and Quantity, Part 2 Water Quantity Speakers: Eric Olsen, Ryan Matthews, and Barbara MiedemaCM pending Register Now Water quantity and quality are shaping up as the prominent issues impacting planning and growth management in the coming years.  The Florida Legislature has indicated that state water policy will be the   …

Green Infrastructure and Flood Resiliency-Land Use Management as an Adaptation Strategy in the Built Environment This webinar addresses assessment, planning, and adaptation to not only better prepare for the next emergency, but to sustainably manage flooding, and stormwater to maintain human health and a vibrant local economy.  Participants will leave this webinar with knowledge about   …

Planning Webcast Series presents Communicating Design and Aesthetics in the Planning Process Speaker: Kurt Culbertson, FASLACM pending Register Now What is the extent of aesthetic realism portrayed in planning and design proposals, master plans and design guidelines?  How can project proposals for new developments, improvements, and urban design scenarios  and design guidelines, be communicated through   …

Planning Webcast Series presents Flexible, Innovative Zoning Techniques Speakers: Kristin Cisowski and Donald Elliott, FAICPCM pending Register Now Zoning feeling a bit ‘old-hat’ for you?  Tired of the same old simplistic solutions to problems that are not quite that simple?  Join us for “Teaching the old zoning dog some new tricks” – a web-cast sponsored   …

Penn State Extension:Understanding the Relationship between Municipal Budgets & Comprehensive Plans Adopted municipal budgets can be used to delve into and advance implementation of the municipal comprehensive plan through careful capital improvements budgeting for municipal infrastructure or facilities. The budget also describes de facto the roles of the governing body and planning commission members and   …

Planning Webcast Series presents Planning for Immigrant and Multi-Ethnic Communities Speakers: Stacey Chen, AICP, Melissa Kim and Jennifer RodriguezCM pending (includes ethics credit) Register Now The surge in immigration over the past two decades has engendered an unprecedented level of racial ethnic and cultural diversity in the United States. This session will present an overview   …

Penn State Extension:Planning to Protect Your Water Supply-Taking Action to Safeguard Water Supplies through Source Water Protection Communities across the country have expressed a keen interest in protecting the purity of their public/private water supplies. Many are developing forward thinking approaches to safeguard municipal water sources. This webinar will assist communities, planners, and public water   …

Penn State ExtensionAll About Open Space – Owning and Managing Natural Lands Municipal officials, developers and planners often find themselves faced with opportunities and requests to own open space, and are then faced with the question -- “how will it be cared for and maintained?”   This webinar describes practical methods for managing natural areas, whether   …

May 20 (Wednesday) – Sustainable Communities Division – Smart Growth and Resilience in Coastal Communities – Speakers: Susan Fox and Gavin Smith Coastal and waterfront communities are challenged to create environmentally and economically sustainable neighborhoods while minimizing risks from natural hazards.  How can planning for smart growth and hazard resilience provide mutual benefits?  Representatives from   …

May 29 – Transportation Planning Division – Technology Applications for Transportation Planning – Speakers: Brandon Cox, Brett Fusco, Greg Griffin Presenters will describe innovative uses of technology in the transportation sector, including integrated mobile wayfinding for the visually impaired, scenario planning, and ride-sharing platforms. (1) Wayfinding for the visually impaired: Application of ClickAndGo Wayfinding Maps   …

June 3 (Wednesday) – Private Practice Division – New Contexts for Aging and Livable Communities – Speakers: Ramona Mullahey, Jana Lynott, Lindsay Goldman, Mildred Warner America is aging. The webcast will explore this demographic change that is both unprecedented and global. A profound increase in longevity has transformed average life expectancy: Older adults over age   …

June 5 – Idaho Chapter - Big Data and Small Communities: Opportunities and Challenges – Speaker: Jaap Vos Nowadays a wide variety of data from the US Census Bureau is easily accessible for anybody to use and it is relatively easy to create impressive looking maps and flowcharts. But how reliable is this data and   …

June 19 - Michigan Chapter - An Urgent Call for Healthy Communities “Healthy” community design is often spoken about in planning and transportation circles. But do you know what it means, and are you really working to make it a reality? This thought-provoking presentation will address the urgency and the great opportunity of this idea.   …

July 10 – Urban Design & Preservation Division – EcoDistricts – Performance Based Urban Design – Speakers: Otto Condon, Elizabeth Miller, Jill Sherman, and Adam BeckAn Ecodistrict strategy is an emerging planning process which incorporates environmental performance metrics to guide neighborhood growth with a social, environmental and economic priority. This panel session will present, in   …

July 17 – County Planning Division – Tools to Visualize and Plan for Coastal Hazard Resilience – Speakers: Brandon Krumwiede, Lauren Long, and Rebecca LoveA major challenge for U.S. coastal and Great Lakes communities is planning for the impacts of current and future flood hazards. Quite a few counties continue to add residents and development   …

July 24 – Transportation Planning Division – How Can Landscape Architects Aid the Transportation Planning Process? – Speakers: John Dempsey, Stephen Luoni, William CollinsThis 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   …

July 29 (Wednesday) – Economic Development Division - The Athens, Ohio Experiment: Extracting and Implementing Local Design Essence to Increase Economic Competitiveness – Speaker: Kyle EzellAthens, 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   …

July 30 (Thursday) – County Planning Division – Reed v. Town of Gilbert:  The Supreme Court's New Rules for Temporary – and other – Signs – Speakers: James Carpentier, Alan Weinstein, and Wendy Moeller.  CM Law credit. This webcast will discuss what local governments need to do to ensure that their sign codes comply with the   …