Wednesday, September 30, 2009

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Social Equity through Planning Processes

This session is hosted by the MAP Social Equity Committee.  A panel of state and local experts will discuss the challenges of fostering fairness in our plans and processes.  You will learn about the value of diverse communities, and how to achieve successful integration of social equity policy into local government decision making processes.  Join the participatory element of the session to provide input and help inform the development of a MAP Social Equity in Planning Policy.  This session meets the AICP Certification Maintenance requirements for ethics.

Julie Hales Smith, Manager, Cities of Promise, Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Keith Hernandez, AICP, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development, City of Kalamazoo

Thursday, October 1, 2009

9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Opening Session: Effectively Linking Land Use Planners to Strategic Economic Development in the New Economy

Question:  What do the following speakers have in common: 1) a venture capitalist who was is also a former MSPO (now MAP) President, 2) an esteemed public policy economist and prolific New Economy researcher, and 3) the head of a regional business group just completing a regional strategic economic development plan? Answer: Solid advice for lay and professional planners on seizing the emerging opportunities to transform their communities to be competitive in the global New Economy. It is not hard to do (building quality places), but it is very important and you cannot wait any longer to link economic development to traditional land use planning.

Gregory Main, Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Dr. Soji Adelaja, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy, Director Land Policy Institute

Denyse Ferguson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lansing Area Economic Partnership

12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

How Can Planners Reclaim Their Position as Advocates for Community Transformation?

Bill Lennertz will present how the NCI Charrette System can transform the tension surrounding planning projects into a positive force for change. How do you get consistent broad community participation in planning workshops while avoiding meeting fatigue? Learn how to conduct fair and open community collaboration so that no one party dominates. Mr. Lennertz will summarize the complete three-phase Charrette System approach, from the pre-charrette education, to the mutiple-day charrette, to the implementation in the following months.

William Lennartz, AIA, CNU, Executive Director, National Charrette Institute

1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Charrettes for Form-Based Codes and Sustainability Plans

One of the most common fatal flaws to project implementation is a fumbled stakeholder involvement process. Whether it is city staff or community members, there can be trouble when the key people are not treated right. Charrettes are a proven remedy for this problem, but not all charrettes are the same. NCI director Bill Lennertz will explain how a NCI charrette is more than a one-day event; it is a multiple-day collaborative design workshop. The NCI Charrette System is more than the charrette, it is a design-based, accelerated, collaborative project management system that can be used for all types of community planning projects, including sustainable planning and form based codes.

William Lennartz, AIA, CNU, Executive Director, National Charette Institute

3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Economic Stimulus Update by MSHDA

The session will describe programs MSHDA has developed with federal stimuls funds including Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Tax Credit Assistance Program, and Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program.  Participants will describe the process used in developing the programs, program parameters, funding schedules, and expected outcomes.

Rick Ballard, Director of Community Development, Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Janet Irrer, Homeless Programs Manager, Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Steve Lathom, Development Operations and Policy Manager, Michigan State Housing Development Authority   

4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Planning and Economic Development through a Tribal Lens

Hear a national perspective on the history of Indian land and the creation of reservations (sovereignty, title, and regulatory authority); land status of Indian reservations; and current challenges and opportunities of Indian land planning and economic development. This presentation will conclude with a live song and dance exhibition presented by American Indian performers.  The dancers will lead us into the Swan Creek Room for our evening reception.

Thomas Davis, AICP, Chief Planning & Development Officer, Agua Caliente Band of Cahulla Indians

Friday, October 2, 2009

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

A Better Way to Zone

Innovative new zoning trends can transform our communities.  Don Elliot, FAICP, the author of A Better Way to Zone, will communicate 10 ways to address zoning weaknesses, explain how current zoning fails American communities, and identify five tried and true methods to get started on zoning reform to prepare you for the next wave of development pressures.

Donald Elliott, FAICP, Clarion Associates