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Pennsylvania Land Use Law Update: Appellate Cases from 2024-2025
December 3 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Pennsylvania appellate cases will be presented in a traditional lecture format, encouraging interaction with the audience with hypotheticals and questions and answers. Cases will cover land use cases dealing with zoning (variances, special exceptions, and conditional uses), subdivision and land development (plan approval/denial, modifications/waivers), and validity challenges to ordinances. Practice points distilled from each case will be emphasized.
Deadline to register is December 2.
APA PA Conference Recap
The American Planning Association Pennsylvania Chapter held our annual conference in Harrisburg from October 12-14, 2025. Below are two perspectives–one from a presenter and one from a conference committee volunteer. Check out the conference photos and presentations.
The Presenter Perspective
By Carrie Machuga, AICP, McCormick Taylor
2025 was my first time presenting at the state conference, and it was a great experience. My colleague, Jillian Dierks, and I presented a session called, “Public Engagement is a Whole Different Animal: How Different Personalities Engage in Planning Processes.” It was a fairly low pressure speaking event to a very friendly audience. We used a fun, interactive audience participation activity during our session, and everyone was a good sport about joining in. I look forward to presenting again, and I would encourage others to consider submitting a session for future conferences. It was a fun way to present a topic that I am very interested in and meet other planners who work in that area or want to learn more.
Conference Planning Committee Perspective
Backstage Magic: Notes from the Conference Planning Committee
By Joiann Galiano, AICP, York County Planning Commission
It’s Tuesday, the final day of the APA PA Chapter conference. There’s one last mobile workshop to launch. I check off names and collect waiver signatures and send them off. I return the paperwork to the conference headquarters. It’s quiet, and I have a minute to reflect on my experiences as a conference volunteer.
It started with an email asking for volunteers from the conference co-chairs. The conference moves around the state and is co-hosted by the Section in which it will be located. The conference committee starts looking for volunteers for subcommittees early in the year. I’ve served on several subcommittees: programs, special events, speakers, and fundraising. I’ve even helped when a national conference was held in Philadelphia.
This year I served on the fundraising subcommittee. We began our monthly Teams meetings in March and started assembling the list of sponsorship contacts from prior years. Each team member added local contacts to the list and began reaching out. The team was responsible for the event sponsors, exhibitors, program advertisers, and donated items. Kim Gusic, Chapter Administrator, managed contracts and fees.
In September, the request for helpers at the conference went out. My duties started Sunday when I joined other volunteers in conference headquarters to stuff bags donated by Dauphin County Visitors Bureau. As the filled bags stacked up, the raffle baskets are dropped off in the room. Student volunteers assemble and their “wrangler” instructs them on session room set up. More volunteers report to the registration desk, helping conference attendees and speakers. There go the filled bags! And before I know it, it’s time to meet the first mobile workshop in the lobby.
Volunteers continue to help throughout the conference, selling raffle and 50/50 tickets and collecting lunch tickets. But we could not do it without Kim Gusic and her sister, Emily, the true ring masters who coordinate this three ring circus.
Planning Webcast Series
Earn over 50 AICP CM credits each year online – at no cost to members of participating organizations that support the Planning Webcast Series. Check back often as we frequently add additional offerings.
- Webcasts take place live on Fridays from 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET and are worth 1.5 AICP CM credits (for live viewing only) unless otherwise noted
- On-demand webcasts are available for your convenience in the ‘On-Demand Webcasts‘ tab above
- Webcast recordings and slide decks are available in the ‘Past Webcasts’ tab below
- Please contact us for transcription assistance.
- More information is available online.
Opportunities for Giving
Each year the Chapter offers a scholarship to support individuals seeking funds for academic degree programs, internships, and professional development activities. If anyone would like to contribute to the Chapters Scholarship fund donations can be made online. We accept all major credit cards, and you can also send a check. Please make your check payable to “PA Chapter of APA Scholarship Fund” and mail it to P.O. Box 4680, Harrisburg, PA 17111.
Communication and Membership Committee
We are looking for volunteers to contribute articles for our monthly E-News. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact us.
Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration Presents
AICP Ethics Cases of the Year 2025 with Ethics Jeopardy!
Learn about what’s hot in the world of planning ethics from the AICP Ethics Officer and members of the AICP Ethics Committee! This session will include a refresher on key points related to the AICP Code of Ethics most recently updated in January 2022. Hear firsthand how the AICP Code of Ethics emphasizes a commitment to equity and inclusion, to protecting the public interest, and to supporting AICP planners from frivolous complaints. Understand how the Code sets certified planners apart from others by focusing on integrity, appearance of fairness, and commitment to supporting fair and just communities. This webinar is Thursday, November 13, 12-1:30 PM ET. More information is available online.
Congratulations to all of the APA PA Award Winners!
By Craig Pfeiffer, AICP, Awards Committee Chair
The following awards were presented:
- Award for a Plan
Chester County Trail Planning Series by Chester County Planning Commission - Award for a Plan
Building Community – Housing Vision Plan by First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and COLLABO Planning + Design - Award for a Project, Program or Practice
Pocket Guide to Active-Transportation-Friendly Code by Montgomery County Planning Commission - Award for a Project, Program or Practice
Transit Oriented Communities Guidelines by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) - Award for a Leader – Distinguished Service
Brian O’Leary, Executive Director (Retired) of the Chester County Planning Commission
2025 Great Places in Pennsylvania Winners
By Pam Shellenberger, AICP, York County Planning Commission
Congratulations to the 2025 Great Places in Pennsylvania winners! Great Places are unique, memorable places that display a wealth of best practices in community planning, serve as a community focal point, and strengthen the local economy. They also demonstrate the rewarding results that occur through planning, partnerships, and community engagement.
For 2025, the categories were Great Greenways/Trails or Preserves, Great Public Spaces, and Great Transformations. Five Great Places were designated; four in the Public Spaces category and one in the Greenways/Trails or Preserves category. There are now 64 designated “Great Places in PA,” located in 35 of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties. Additionally, designated Great Places can be found in each of the Chapter’s six sections. More information online.
2026 APA PA Conference: Bethlehem
By Craig Beavers, Lehigh Valley/Berks Section Chair
We hope everyone enjoyed the amazing conference hosted by the Central Section in Harrisburg this year! In the Lehigh Valley/Berks Section, we are already gearing up to host an amazing conference in Historic Bethlehem for 2026! The conference will be October 18 – 20, 2026 at Wind Creek Bethlehem; make sure to mark your calendars now for an unforgettable event!
Bethlehem, a growing and historic city located in the Lehigh Valley, is home to many incredible sites. As a look ahead of what to expect, here are a few notable attractions to visit next year:
- Moravian Church Settlements – As the newest UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States, the historic Moravian Church Settlements is a must see! Founded in 1741, this site spans over 10 acres and includes nine original properties, four ruins, and God’s Acre cemetery, and it represents the finest examples of Moravian architecture and town planning in the country.
- South Bethlehem Greenway – A 2019 Great Place award winner, the South Bethlehem Greenway is a mile-long linear park and trail developed from an abandoned rail line. Construction is underway to connect the greenway to the D&L Trail, Saucon Rail-Trail, and the Upper Bucks Rail-Trail.
- Main Street Bethlehem – Another 2019 Great Place award winner, this charming downtown corridor is rich in history. Home to the Moravian Church Settlements, this street is home to dozens of preserved architecture, thriving businesses and restaurants, and cultural attractions.
- SteelStacks – This former industrial giant once powered the nation, serving as one of the main steel producers in the United States for skyscrapers, bridges, and naval fleets. In the 2000s, this former blast furnace was preserved and reimagined into a sprawling arts campus, bringing millions of visitors each year to events such as MusikFest, Christkindlmarkt, and Oktoberfest. This 2014 Great Place award winner is also steps away from Wind Creek Bethlehem, making it a must-see during your stay!
For more updates from the Lehigh Valley/Berks Section online.