2014 North Carolina Planning Conference Program - APA-NC

2015 North Carolina Planning Conference Growing Stronger Together

October 21-23, 2015 Raleigh Convention Center CONFERENCE PROGRAM

The AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) Credits for the conference are pending approval from AICP. The CM Credits referenced beside each session and workshop are estimates and will only be confirmed upon approval from AICP.

Wednesday, October 21 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Registration

9:00 am – 5:45 pm

Exhibit Hall Open

10:00 am – 10:15 am

Mentor Match Meet-Up

10:30 am – 11:45 am

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) Regional Approaches to Homeless Services Planning -Healthy CommunitiesTwo communities and a large multi-county area of the state are planning regionally for homeless services and will discuss the impetus, challenges, and successes of their planning processes. Presenters: Amy Cole, City of Raleigh; Andrea Kurtz, United Way of Forsyth County; Shana Overdorf, Raleigh/Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness; Corey Root, North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH) What if Highway Construction Were to Be Funded by Bake Sales, and Transit, Bike and Ped Modes Got All the Money They Needed? -MobilityIn recognition that transit users begin their trips on foot or by bike, this panel will explore challenges, lessons learned and trends in delivering integrated transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects to our communities. Communities are finding ways to be more walkable and bikeable and transit friendly. But why does it take a bake sale to get it done? There will be an opportunity to listen and learn through presentation and dialogue. Presenters: Kym Hunter, Southern Environmental Law Center; Mark E. Kirstner, AICP, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation; Lisa Riegel, BikeWalk NC; Iona L. Thomas, AICP, Stewart Inc.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Concurrent Session (1.5 CM Credits/Qualifies for Ethics Credits) Ethics of Private Practice Consulting -EthicsThe AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct describes planners’ ethical responsibilities to the public, clients, employers, profession, and colleagues. How should private practice planners implement these principles? How does the perspective differ in scenarios for private consultants from those that public sector planners are likely to American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

encounter? Engage in audience response and small group discussion utilizing key pad polling software. Presenter: Erin Burris, AICP, Benchmark Planning; Kevin Adams, Ph.D., AICP, Benchmark Planning; Amy Jo Denton, PMP, Benchmark Planning 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Concurrent Session (1.5 CM Credits/Qualifies for Legal Credits) New Rules? An Update on 160D and the NC Statutes for Development Regulation -LegalThis session will provide an overview of the proposed legislation creating Chapter 160D of the NC General Statutes, a proposed major modernization to the NC laws on planning and zoning. Participants will hear about the process of drafting the legislation, including broad stakeholder input. Participants will understand and contrast the organization of current statutes and the organization of the proposed 160D. Participants will gain an understanding of potential changes to local ordinances required pursuant to the proposed 160D. Presenters: Adam Lovelady, University of North Carolina; David Owens, University of North Carolina

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Mobile Workshop (2.0 CM Credits) Food Corridors to Catalyze Urban Food Systems Walking tour and interactive workshop designed to introduce professional planners and allied fields to concepts and strategies for developing urban food systems, using the Raleigh Food Corridor as the territory for exploration. Mobile Guide: Erin White, Community Food Lab

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Mobile Workshop (1.5 CM Credits) Downtown Raleigh Revitalization Walking Tour Downtown Raleigh has experienced an unprecedented resurgence over the last decade. Join us for a walking tour to explore key projects that acted as catalysts for renewal. From open space to historic preservation, transit to new development, regulation to partnership, Downtown Raleigh offers something for everyone, including planners. Glean transferrable strategies to make your urban areas great places that contribute to vitality, prosperity and sense of community. Mobile Guides: Elizabeth Alley, City of Raleigh; Carter Pettibone, City of Raleigh

10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Deep Dive Session (3 CM Credits) Applying Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans -Land UseThis session will provide planners with a set of best practice standards for use in evaluating and preparing or revising local comprehensive plans. It will involve presentations by the authors of the new APA PAS report: Sustaining Places Best Practices for Comprehensive Plans and planners from two North Carolina jurisdictions that have applied the standards. Participants will assess a sample plan using the standards. Pre-Registration Required Presenters: Kenneth Bowers, City of Raleigh; David R. Godschalk, University of North Carolina; Jennifer Rigby, New Hanover County; David C. Rouse, American Planning Association American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

11:45 am – 12:00 pm


12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Lunch (Attendees on their own)

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

APA-NC Legislative Committee Session -Legislative AdvocacyThis is the annual business meeting of the Legislative Committee. Session participants will discuss key planning-related legislation passed during the 2015 Long Session and the key legislation anticipated during the 2016 Short Session. Participants will also work together to frame the chapter’s 2016 legislative agenda and discuss ways to increase the chapter’s legislative efficacy.

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Mobile Workshop (3 CM Credits) Mixed Use Development in a Suburban Setting An interactive multi-jurisdictional mobile workshop intended to provide planners with an understanding of challenges and potential solutions with permitting mixed use projects in a suburban setting. The mobile tour consists of visits to four mixed use development projects with two projects located in the Town of Morrisville and two projects located in the Town of Cary. The projects are in various stages of completion. The mobile tour will be guided by local planners and include the developer of Park West Village. Mobiles Guides: Meredith Chandler, Town of Cary; Rodney Wadkins, Town of Morrisville; Tom Lowell, CASTO Southeast Realty Services

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Professional Development Session (1.25 CM Credits) Managing Conflict Inside and Out Planners facilitate conversations to build lasting agreement. Public dialogues can be contentious and technology amplifies loud opinions and strident positions. Planners can harness this energy and focus it towards developing concurrence. Learn useful personal skills and organizational techniques. Hear from the public planner, private developer, and consultant perspectives on how to best create concurrence from conflict. Presenters: Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Town of Chapel Hill; Rachel Russell, Grubb Properties, Inc.; Roger Waldon, Clarion Associates

1:30 pm -2:45 pm

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) “Opting In” to Rural Regionalism -Land UseThe Opportunity Initiative of Southwestern North Carolina (Opt-In) shows the challenges and opportunities inherent in public engagement and visioning processes in rural regions. This session details the process and strategies used to build consensus and address complex and interconnected issues. Presenters: Kristy Carter, AICP, J.M. Teague Engineering; Ben Woodrow Giles, AICP, TSW; Stacy Guffey, Stacy Guffey & Associates; Gianni Longo, Gianni Longo, Inc. Building a Robust Food System: The Intersection of Local Government, Community Engagement and Food Councils -Healthy CommunitiesBuilding on years of food policy advances in Raleigh and Wake County, municipal staff and advocates self-organized to launch a Food Policy Council. Learn what we did, and American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

about the national movement of Food Councils integrating expertise from all parts of the food system for effective decision-making at all levels of government, community, and the private sector. Presenters: Cindy Holmes, City of Raleigh; Sara Merz, Advocates for Health in Action; Carol Mitchell, PhD, RD, LDN, North Carolina Cooperative Extension; Sharon Peterson, Wake County; Erin White, Community Food Lab 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Lightning Round I (1.25 CM Credits) Using Green Infrastructure to Mitigate Flood Hazards in Your Community Planners can play a key role in advancing Green Infrastructure as communities look to be more innovative and cost-effective in how they manage their water resources. This presentation will look at the use of Green Infrastructure as a tool to improve flood hazards while providing benefits such as increased greenspace and recreational opportunities. Presenter: Scott Gentry, PE, CFM, Amec Foster Wheeler Multi-Parcel Environment Assessment Strategies This session will provide professional planners and allied fields with an understanding of the strategies used for multi-parcel environmental assessments. The session will focus on critical components to consider in preparing a Phase I/II Environmental Assessment, strategies for addressing multi-media assessments for multi-parcel projects, and the potential benefits associated with using the Brownfields Program to enhance the ultimate project outcome. Presenter: David Duncklee, PG, Duncklee & Dunham, PC GIS Models to Prioritize Transportation Projects: Case Studies from Greensboro MPO This presentation introduces how to develop a quantitative process and implement in GIS to prioritize and select non-motorized projects. Examples include prioritizing sidewalks and selecting TAP projects. Presenter: Tram Truong, Greensboro Urban Area MPO Transforming Public Spaces in Lumberton, North Carolina Understand how the innovative urban design techniques utilized for the planned conversion and transformation of public facilities and spaces in Lumberton, North Carolina into engaging parks and public gathering places are helping the City of Lumberton implement a vision to become a vibrant community with enhanced connectivity between uses and healthy living opportunities for its residents. Highlighted examples include plans to convert 5th Street Bridge into a pedestrian/gathering place, conversion of Elizabethtown Road into a linear park, the retrofit of the original red brick downtown plaza into a refreshing public green and a downtown community garden. Presenter: Amy Jo Denton, PMP, Benchmark Planning

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Mobile Workshop (2 CM Credits) Preserving Affordable Neighborhoods in a Hot Market Mobile workshop bus tour of residential development near downtown Raleigh, focusing on the challenges of a hot downtown housing market and the federal and local tools the City and its partners use to develop and preserve affordable housing in neighborhoods near downtown. Tour includes neighborhoods at different stages of urban evolution, from disinvestment to redevelopment to revitalized neighborhood. Mobile Guides: George Adler, City of Raleigh; Shawn McNamara, AICP, City of Raleigh American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Break, Pre-function Area Sponsored by Clarion

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

AICP Pre-Exam Information Session Do you plan to take the AICP exam in 2013 or are you considering becoming certified? This workshop will give you an overview of the AICP examination process. We will discuss the application, exam subject matter, NCAPA review session opportunities, testing environment, study techniques, and study resources. Planners should be advised that APA has revised the exam as of this November’s test window.

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Concurrent Sessions, (1.25 CM Credits Each) Innovation Districts: How Place Making Can Help Drive Economic Success -EconomyThe geography of innovation is changing from low-density research parks to business clusters located in mixed use centers. The resulting Innovation Districts are using place making to help attract skilled workers and spark collaboration. This session will examine several Innovation Districts in North Carolina, describe their characteristics, and discuss how to use them to catalyze economic development. Presenters: Bob Geolas, Research Triangle Foundation; Christopher Gergen, Forward Impact; Ben Hitchings, AICP, Town of Morrisville; Stephanie Monson Dahl, City of Asheville Raleigh’s New Development Code: From Plan to Map -Land UseAdopting a Unified Development Ordinance in 2013, Raleigh created a new suite of mixed-use zoning districts to replace the outmoded commercial districts of the old code, meaning about a third of Raleigh’s jurisdiction needed to be updated with these districts. We will demonstrate how Raleigh met that challenge, rezoning 40,000+ acres of property using innovative public engagement for citizen input. Presenters: Ray Aull, City of Raleigh; Ken A. Bowers, AICP, City of Raleigh; Travis Crane, City of Raleigh; Carter Pettibone, AICP, City of Raleigh; Bynum Walter, AICP, City of Raleigh

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Professional Development Session (1.25 CM Credits) Do I Still Need a Business Card? How Networking Works in 2015 How is professional networking changing, now that there are countless options for making personal connections? This panel explores how networking techniques are evolving in the digital age, with professionals across various career stages offering candid insights about good practices and contemporary etiquette. Gain useful tips to tune up your approach, and learn whether smartphone apps can replace a good handshake. Moderator: Pete Sullivan, Clarion Associates Presenters: Nathaniel Baker, University of North Carolina Student, Clarion Associates (Intern); Zack Gordon, City of Kannapolis; Benjamin Howell, Town of Morrisville; Leigh Ann King, Clarion Associates; Ashley Williams Clark, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Urban Institute

American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Lightning Round II (1.25 CM Credits) Prioritizing Housing Enforcement What can professional planners and code enforcement officials do to tackle problems related to abandoned and dilapidated housing units? This session will focus on tools that communities can use to avoid board-ups and prioritize enforcement in a way that engages the community in the process. Tools include ordinance changes, enforcement strategies, community partnerships, and prioritization methods to advance enforcement goals in the face of limited staff resources and shrinking budgets. Presenter: Jenny Wheelock, AICP, City of Lenoir Investing in a Neighborhood, But Which One? This session is intended to explore the process utilized to site a neighborhood police station in a historic Edenton, North Carolina community. During the session we will discuss the competing interests involved in the process – namely two different neighborhoods, both coveting the capital investment associated with a new police station. In addition, matters associated with site planning and property acquisition will be discussed. Presenter: Wes MacLeod, Holland Consulting Planners Putting Your Best Foot Forward We learn about a city as we see and experience the spaces that comprise the public realm. That glimpse into the community can make lasting impressions and shape the image of a city. This session will share Hickory's efforts to put its "best foot forward" by investing in its public realm to spur economic development. The plan that was the basis for a successful $40M bond referendum will be discussed. Presenter: Andrea L. Surratt, ICMA-CM, AICP, City of Hickory If You Build It, Will They Come? Investigating the Relationship between Greenways and Economic Development Through the investigation of three case studies, this session will review the relationship between trails and economic development. As quality of life becomes increasingly important to employer location decisions, the connection between trails and economic development will be more notable. The benefits of construction timing will be considered: what comes first: the trail or economic development? Presenter: Jessica Rossi, AICP, Kimley-Horn & Associates

4:15 pm – 4:30 pm

Break, Pre-function Area

4:30 pm – 5:45 pm

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) “Inclusive Prosperity”: Planning for the New Economy -EconomyThis session will present work by authors published in the 2015 Volume of the Carolina Planning Journal. This panel will highlight some of the most innovative and effective ways that academics and practitioners are planning in – and for – the new economy. Many of the approaches highlight the need for "inclusive prosperity," or the need to consider all residents in economic development planning. The panel will feature practitioners from Wilson, Conover, UNC Chapel Hill, and the Office of Community Wealth Building in Richmond, Virginia.


Facilitators: Julia Barnard and Rachel Wexler, Co-Editors of the Carolina Planning Journal Presenters: Lance Hight, AICP, City of Conover; Rodger Lentz, AICP, City of Wilson; Maryka Lier, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Professor Thad Williamson, University of Richmond; Mark Lindblad, UNC Center for Community Capital. Wake Hits a Million! Four Managers’ Prospective on Growing Stronger Together -Land UseWake hit 1 million residents during summer 2014! After reporting recent demographic changes, 4 of Wake’s county, city and town managers will provide attendees perspectives on growth’s impact on their planning agencies and jurisdictions. They will provide examples of how their governing bodies individually and collectively administer planning programs throughout the County’s 16 transforming urban, suburban and rural jurisdictions. Presenters: Ruffin L. Hall, City of Raleigh; Jim Hartmann, Wake County; Bryan Hicks, Town of Rolesville; Sharon Peterson, Wake County; Teresa Piner, Town of Wendell; Rebecca Tippett, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Next Great Thing – Equity -EconomyGet in on the ground floor and be part of the movement. Health impacts are the latest and greatest topic to be discussed in comprehensive planning documents. What’s the next topic to hit the pages of the Planning Magazine – Perhaps its EQUITY. Planners do have a role and responsibility. Turning impoverished neighborhoods into economically viable communities will take a different thought process and engagement effort. In the session you will hear from three local equity leaders where they will share work that is taking place in Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad. Presenters: Sarah McGuire, Piedmont Together; Prince John Gaither-Eli, City of Greensboro; Bay Love, International Civil Rights Museum; Mark Kirstner, AICP, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm

Lightning Round III (1.25 CM Credits) Integrated Disaster Housing Recovery Planning This session is to share the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s experiences in disaster housing recovery planning to establish procedures and activities for providing adequate interim and long-term housing solutions after a disaster. The plan facilitates a shared vision for the rebuilding sustainable and resilient communities, driven by cooperation among the Commonwealth, local communities, and the public. Presenter: Jae G. Park, PhD, CFM, AECOM Tools for Schools: Addressing the Intersection of School Siting and Pupil Transportation Land use and transportation lecture intended to provide participants with information, practitioner perspective and decision support tools related to residential development patterns, school siting and transportation system operations planning and costs. Presenter: W. Mathew Palmer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; It’s Electric! How Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure Benefit Our Communities Regional workshop intended to provide professional planners and related fields with indepth information and hands-on learning about electric vehicles (EV), charging stations, and how their community can be prepared for EV drivers. Every day new charging American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

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stations are installed across the state and more and more consumers are purchasing EVs. This workshop will teach participants what needs to be considered for charging station infrastructure such as site placement and ADA design standards which can substantially enhance a community’s ability to respond to demand while ensuring community’s priorities and standards are met. Presenter: Jessica Hill, Centralina Council of Governments Commercial Corridor Planning in Greensboro In 2008 the City of Greensboro adopted a plan for a 3 mile portion High Point Road and Lee Street. Implementing the plan has included a citizen oversight committee, applying new zoning districts, a streetscape project, and the expansion of UNCG. This overview considers the original planning process and the successes and pitfalls in bringing that vision to life. Presenter: Russ Clegg, City of Greensboro

5:45 pm – 6:00 pm


6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Opening Reception, Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh (CAM) The Conference will kick-off with an opening reception Wednesday night at the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh (409 W Martin Street). The museum is located in the Warehouse district in Downtown Raleigh, within easy walking distance of the convention center and downtown hotels. The museum will be exhibiting The Imaginary Architecture of Love by featured artist Sarah Cain. Cain will create a monumental painting directly on the walls and floor of the 4,000 square foot museum. More information on CAM can be found at www.camraleigh.org.

8:30 pm

Young Planner’s Group Social – Crank Arm Brewing, 319 W. Davie Street ALL conference attendees are invited to join the Young Planners Group for an afterparty networking social immediately following the Opening Reception. The Brewery, which is located around the corner from CAM Raleigh, offers a unique selection of craft beers.

Thursday, October 22 7:30 am – 8:30 am

Breakfast, Pre-function Area Sponsored by AT&T

7:30 am – 5:15 pm

Registration, Pre-function Area

8:00 am – 5:15 pm

Exhibit Hall Open, Pre-function Area

8:00 am – 9:30 am

Legislative and Legal Update (1.5 CM Credits/Meets Law CM Requirement) -LegalAt this session, planners from across the state will learn about recent legislative changes and judicial decisions in North Carolina. The session will emphasize how planning work will be impacted and what updates to local codes may be necessary. Attendees also will learn about the work of APA-NC's Legislative Committee and the General Assembly’s study committee for proposed changes to the state’s planning enabling legislation. Presenters: Adam Lovelady, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chad Meadows, AICP, CodeWright Planners; Dr. David Owens, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


9:30 am – 11:00 am

Opening Session (1.25 CM Credits) Opening Remarks and Announcements: John Morck, AICP, Chapter President Welcome: Ken A. Bowers, AICP, City of Raleigh; Mayor Nancy McFarlane, City of Raleigh Keynote Speaker: Carol Rhea, FAICP, APA President Opening Session Panel Discussion: Glenn E. Larson, AICP Region II Commissioner; Rodger Lentz, AICP, APA Region II Director; Carol Rhea, FAICP, APA President

11:00 am – 11:15 am

Break

11:00 am – 11:15 am

Mentor Match Meet-up

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) Going Green: How Communities Are Achieving Land Conservation and Watershed Protection in North Carolina and Around the Nation -Land UsePlanners interested in learning more about successful green infrastructure and watershed protection planning initiatives should join this panel discussion. Learn from national and state conservation experts, and planners in the trenches that are protecting our communities' treasured resources. Presenters: Will Allen, The Conservation Fund; Chris Dreps, Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association; Leigh Anne Hammerbacher, City of Raleigh; Leigh Ann King, AICP, LEED AP, Clarion Associates; Alison Schwarz Weakly, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program The Best Route – Land Use and Transit Planning -MobilityAccess to jobs is a growing topic of discussion. Just creating jobs if not enough. People need to be able to access them. The discussion centers on commute distance, cost and ease of access. An efficient street and highway network is important but less talked about solution is public transit - specifically riding the bus. This session will explore the tools and techniques that transit planners use when designing bus routes and how land use planner can assist. Presenters: Tiffany Chu, Transit Mixer; Kyle Laird, AICP, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation; Angela Wynes, City of High Point Transit System Changing the Landscape of Local and Regional Food Economies -Healthy CommunitiesThis session will focus on the various tools and methods that have been utilized to develop a sustainable regional/local food system. The presentation will use case studies and real world examples to educate participants about the pitfalls, issues, and realities of attempting to develop a local food system at any scale. Attendees should develop a clear understanding of the steps required, and the tools, time, and resources necessary to be successful. The session will include in-depth North Carolina case studies and project outcomes and lessons learned from the Local Foods, Local Places program, a collaboration of seven federal agencies led by the U.S. EPA. Presenters: Alan Steinbeck, AICP, Renaissance Planning; Jason Espie, AICP, Renaissance Planning; Landin Holland, AICP, Holland Consulting Planners; Wes Macleod, Holland Consulting Planners


11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Lightning Round IV (1.25 CM Credits) Resolving the Racket: Strategies for Dealing with Downtown Noise This session will examine solutions for addressing noise challenges in downtown Raleigh. Topics include case studies from other downtown entertainment districts, innovative design solutions, regulatory challenges, and recommendations for forming partnerships. Presenter: Rachel Eberhard, Masters Candidate, University of North Carolina Department of City & Regional Planning Accounting for Needs and Equity in Prioritizing Sidewalks using GIS We introduce a GIS-based methodology to prioritize sidewalks throughout the City of Greensboro. The methodology involves a two-step prioritization process: needs-based criteria, and geographic equity. As a result, the methodology is expected to identify the most needed projects in different districts, minimize funding conflicts between the districts, and to reduce the possibility of spotty and unconnected sidewalk developments throughout the city. Presenter: Tram Truong, Greensboro Urban Area MPO Tools for Bottom-Up, Top-Down, Silo-Busting Exchange This lecture/panel discussion will illustrate ways to engage the public and design professionals around key issues affecting the quality of life in our rapidly changing cities and towns. The focus will be on how to spark dialogue and action beyond usual public presentations by city planning departments and create a bottom-up and top-down exchange about the shaping of our cities. Presenter: Erin Sterling Lewis, AIA, In situ studio Public Health and Land Development Planning on the Blue Ridge Corridor Population health involves far more than health care, and this session is designed to highlight the need for the planning community to return to its roots with the public health community. Urban planning and public health were intertwined at birth, but veered in separate directions over the post-WWII era. By the end of this session, participants will have a better understanding of the major impact of preventable causes of disease on population health; how public policy on tobacco use can serve as a paradigm for addressing obesity; the relationship of land use to population health and the potential impact of health impact assessments in community health planning. Presenter: Stuart Levin, MD, President, Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

APA-NC Award Luncheon Sponsored by AECOM and Destination by Design The APA-NC Awards Committee will present chapter awards recognizing agencies and individuals that have completed outstanding plans, programs and projects, along with recognition of individuals who have excelled as planning students or that have made notable contributions to the planning progression. Join us for lunch as we celebrate the achievements of our award and scholarship recipients.

2:15 pm – 5:15 pm

Mobile Workshop (3 CM Credits) Reinvesting in Parks, Creeks and Cultural Heritage: An Equitable Development Approach to Neighborhood Change in Downtown Raleigh This mobile workshop will take participants on an exploration of equitable development in the context of preserving cultural landscapes while undergoing neighborhood change. American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

Participants will learn the history of downtown Raleigh’s African-American community via a bus tour of the newly-proposed South Park Heritage Walk route, and walking tours of John Chavis Memorial Park, and the Walnut Creek Wetlands Center, which are both significant community sites. These tours will also explore the present-day challenges and opportunities facing downtown Raleigh as neighborhood demographics shift from a historic African-American community to a multi-racial and multi-generational downtown neighborhood. Mobile Guides: Jen Baker, City of Raleigh; Kofi Boone, North Carolina State University; Alisa Hefner, Skeo Solutions; Vernice Miller-Travis, Skeo Solutions; Dhanya Purushothaman-Sandeep, AICP, City of Raleigh; David Shouse, City of Raleigh; F. Lonnette Williams, Chavis Public Leadership Group 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) Why Urban Design (Still) Matters -PlacemakingUrban design is one of the key pillars of a healthy and vibrant city, regardless of the community size. This session will do a deep dive into the key design features and the metrics that are behind their relative success or failures and how you can implement great urbanism as efficiently as possible. Presenters: Craig Lewis, Stantec; Grant Meacci, City of Charlotte Planning Commission; David Walters, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Water Resource Planning: Challenges and Benefits to Addressing Local Issues with a Regional Context -Land UseWater in North Carolina is an increasingly valuable and regulated resource, and one that has long demanded regional cooperation to ably manage and sustain. This session will include presentations and an interactive discussion around how long-term water resource planning issues are inherently cross-jurisdictional and best addressed by regional approaches. Participants will learn what has and hasn’t worked in other areas of North Carolina and how to ensure that their community takes a leadership role regarding this natural resource that is vital to our economic well-being and quality of life. In addition, attendees will gain an understanding of what to demand from such collaborative processes and their fellow participants as well as outcomes necessary to maximize benefits to both their community and the region at large. Presenters: Mike Schlegel, Triangle J Council of Governments; Cy Stober, Piedmont Triad Regional Council; Jason Wager, AICP CEP, Centralina Council of Governments Park Planning: The Explosive Approach for an Experience-Driven Generation -Land UseCitizens are drawn by opportunities for experiences not necessarily facilities. Following a citizen-based planning process, Raleigh is expanding on desires for experiences by exploding the prescriptive park classification model. This session provides an overview of Raleigh’s System Plan for parks and greenways which changed the Department’s practices for planning methods for land acquisition, new development and reinvestment into the existing system based on experiences. Presenters: Cassie Schumacher-Georgopoulos, City of Raleigh; Jeff Dawson, City of Raleigh; Nicholas Kuhn, AECOM


2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Professional Development Session (1.25 CM Credits) On the Hunt: Tips for Finding and Applying to Jobs in the Planning Field Finding a job can be difficult at any point in your career. Come hear from planning professionals who are both in hiring capacities and who have recently been on the job search, to hear their advice for resume writing, interview skills, and the best resources for finding planning related jobs. Presenters: Cherie Jzar, City of Concord; Ashley Williams Clark, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Niki Jones, City of Raleigh; Libby Hodges, Alamance County; Pete Sullivan, AICP, Clarion Associates

2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Lightning Round V (1.25 CM Credits) Great Places in North Carolina This is the fourth year of the APA-NC Great Places in North Carolina initiative. The goal is to identify, celebrate, and learn from great places across the state. This session will feature speakers from winning communities from the 2015 Great Places in NC statewide contest. Featured are four winning Great Main Streets and one Great Main Street "In the Making". The session will also feature one Great Greenway and one Great Historic Rehabilitation Project. Representatives from each community will summarize the highlights of each place, what makes them great, and how they got that way - including best practices that participants can apply in their own communities. Presenters: Jason Burdette, AICP, Town of Davidson; Kelly Lasky, City of Roanoke Rapids; Matthew Levi, Town of West Jefferson; Adrian Miller, City of Belmont; Trevor L. Nuttall, AICP, CZP, City of Asheboro; Jeff Ruggieri, City of New Bern; Randy Guthrie, City of Goldsboro; Adam Short, City of Kinston

2:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Mobile Workshop (3 CM Credits) Art to the Heart Bicycle Tour Tour Raleigh and ride the Art to the Heart Corridor. The 16-mile tour starts at the Raleigh Convention Center and key stops include the Person Street Business District, Seaboard Station, the NC Museum of Natural Science, Rocky Branch Greenway at NC State University, the NC Museum of Art, and the future Union Station with a final destination at the Crank Arm Brewery. The stops will feature revitalization, complete street improvements, streetscapes, planned cycle tracks, and the I-440 Pedestrian Bridge. Learn about the Art to Heart Corridor connections to sport venues and recreation sites. The tour will include discussions of Raleigh’s Greenway System, and how the corridor and streetscape projects support the bike network, transit integration, and connections to adjacent land uses along recently implemented bikeways. Bring your own bike, or we will provide a rental. You have the option of returning from the NC Museum of Art to the Convention Center by bike or by shuttle. Please be aware that this bicycle mobile route may have portions that are hilly, and may not be appropriate for novices. The mobile will only be cancelled in cases of heavy rain or severe weather, so please be ready for varying temperatures. Mobile Guides: Ken A. Bowers, AICP, City of Raleigh; Todd Delk, PE, City of Raleigh; Adam Migliore-Meyer, AECOM


2:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Deep Dive Session (3 CM Credits) Small Town & Rural Planning This session explores national, state, and regional planning resources available to small town & rural communities. The panel will also explore how to manage day-to-day operational challenges, meet transportation goals, handle code/minimum housing enforcement, protect water capacity/quality, and how to balance between economic development and development standards. Questions from the audience will also be discussed. Moderator: Kelly Stultz, AICP, City of Eden Presenters: Kristy Carter, AICP, J.M. Teague Engineering; Rawls Howard, AICP, Town of Sunset Beach; Leigh Anne King, AICP, Clarion Associates; Dr. Patricia Mitchell, North Carolina Department of Commerce; Michelle Nance, AICP, Centralina Council of Governments; J.R. Steigerwald, Town of Saint Pauls; Ben Woody, AICP, Currituck County

3:45 pm – 4:00 pm

Break Sponsored by WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff

4:00 pm – 5:15 pm

Professional Development Session (1.25 CM Credits) Diversity Summit: Building Momentum to Address Diversity and Inclusion The goal of the Diversity Summit is to bring together APA-NC members to participate in facilitated discussion about diversity in the planning profession and to share information and ideas on how APA-NC can do more to continue to promote diversity in the workplace. At the end of the session we hope to have an actionable strategy for increasing the diversity of APA-NC’s membership, opportunities, products, and services. Presenters: Cherie Jzar, AICP, APA-NC Membership & Diversity; Jennifer Song, State Demographer (NC Office of State Budget & Management)

4:00 pm – 5:15 pm

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) Civic Health: Connections at the Heart of an Innovative Community -ResilienceSeries of three presentations, panel discussion, and facilitated audience discussion on North Carolina’s civic health ratings and the importance of civic health to innovative and economically prosperous communities. Attendees will learn how to unite volunteer efforts in their communities, how to encourage “deeper” forms of civic engagement, and best practices for increasing civic engagement, especially with under-engaged groups. Presenters: Daniel Brookshire, North Carolina State University; Diane Cherry, North Carolina State University; Dr. Mitzi Downing, Assistant State 4-H and FCS Program Leader Small Towns, Big Impacts -MobilityThe panel of Alta Planning + Design consultants and municipal planners will discuss their approach and efforts towards building more bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities. The panel will focus on a toolbox of low-cost solutions for smaller towns who don't have access to the same funding streams as larger cities. Presenters: Candace Davis, Town of Wake Forest; Jennifer Baldwin, Alta Planning + Design; Matt Hayes, Alta Planning + Design American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

4:00 pm – 5:15 pm

Lightning Round VI (1.25 CM Credits) Stereotypes in Regulatory Customer Service Stereotypical behavior by profession will be examined to reveal strengths and weaknesses of such behavior in the regulatory environment. Presenter: Scott Shuford, City of Fayetteville Healthy Starts Here! Lessons Learned from Partnerships between Planning and Public Health This session is designed to share lessons learned, successes, and future goals for incorporating health considerations into comprehensive plans, non-motorized transportation plans, and recreation plans. Topics include the how health data is used to inform plan development, example of planning and public health projects, particularly in areas of high need and a discussion of next steps for this work. Presenter: Tish Singletary, North Carolina Division of Public Health No Software License? No Problem! Boost Your Productivity with Web-Based Apps Are you limited by your organization’s IT policies or budget when it comes to computer applications? Specialized software isn’t included in most standard office suites, and in an era of increasing service demands, this becomes a barrier to efficiency and professional growth. Avoid this dilemma with user-friendly web applications that will enhance your workflow without breaking the rules (or budget). Presenter: Pete Sullivan, AICP, Clarion Associates Things Planners Need to Know About Airports This presentation is geared toward planners who would like to understand the basics about airports and why it is important to include their local airport in planning efforts (and what can happen if it is not included!). Ten key topics will be discussed including airport master planning, noise basics, design criteria, funding basics, the connection to the NEPA (environmental) process, airspace requirements, compatible land use and height restriction guidelines and sample zoning ordinance language. Presenter: Mary Ashburn Pearson, AICP, Delta Airport Consultants, Inc

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

APA-NC Annual Chapter Meeting President John Morck will give a State of the Chapter report and moderate a group discussion. The meeting is open to all APA-NC members and provides an opportunity to learn about current Chapter projects and an opportunity to share your ideas. Please come if you are interested in becoming more involved in chapter affairs.

6:30 pm

APA-NC Diversity Mixer Sponsored by Renaissance Planning Join us for an exciting networking event at the Big Easy located at 222 Fayetteville St. Raleigh NC. The Diversity Mixer functions as a unique opportunity for conference attendees to meet and expand their networks while fundraising for a great cause! Heavy hors-d'oeuvre, beer, and wine will be served. The event is sponsored by Renaissance Planning Inc. All proceeds will benefit the APA-NC Summer Fellowship Program, so join us for what will be a fantastic networking event amongst peers and professionals. Fee to attend the mixer is only $35.


Friday, October 23 7:30 am – 8:30 am

Breakfast, Pre-function Area

8:00 am – 10:00 am

Registration, Pre-function Area

8:15 am – 9:30 am

Concurrent Sessions (1.25 CM Credits Each) The Great Trails State: Planning, Scoping and Promoting Greenways in North Carolina -MobilityGovernor McCrory's 25 Year Vision Plan identifies promoting North Carolina as the "Great Trails State". This presentation will explore best practices for greenway planning, identify key aspects of scoping greenway projects, and help participants create strategies for promoting extensive greenway/trail networks as destinations and economic engines. Presenters: Lauren Blackburn, AICP, North Carolina Department of Transportation; Iona Thomas, AICP, Stewart Great Places in the Making: Taking the Next Step -PlacemakingFor every great place in North Carolina, there is a great place in the making, and dozens of places with great promise. This session will examine how Gastonia and Asheboro have utilized strategic investments and community partnerships to chart a path to greatness. In so doing, the session will provide new insights on effective place making and community development strategies. Presenters: Ben Hitchings, AICP, Town of Morrisville; Trevor L. Nuttall, AICP, City of Asheboro; Jason Thompson, AICP, City of Gastonia Traffic Engineering Basics -MobilityCitizens are usually quick to offer traffic engineering solutions to the problems they perceive in their communities, such as lowering a speed limit to slow traffic or installing a mid-block crosswalk to improve pedestrian safety. The purpose of this session is to help planners understand how traffic engineers evaluate these requests. The goal of the training is to better equip planners to educate citizens and public officials since they are often the public face of their organizations. Presenters: Roger Henderson, AICP, PE, PTOE, Moffat & Nichol; Dean Ledbetter, PE, North Carolina Department of Transportation A Tale of Two Corridors: Building Community Empowerment through Planning along the New Bern Avenue Corridor and Organizing for Success with the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance -ResilienceA panel presentation hosted by local partners - community leaders and city staff intended to share the success story of a local community initiated corridor planning effort that helped foster trust between the community and local government, by building on community empowerment. Through the planning process, a community that had long lost its trust in the local government, was empowered to actively engage, own and partner resulting in the formation of a neighborhood alliance that is committed to steer the implementation of the plan for the New Bern Avenue corridor in Raleigh. The Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance is the result of seven years organizational evolution. Starting as a stakeholder advisory group in 2008 that raised funds and lobbied for the corridor study, completed in 2012, to its current formation as a 501(c)3, comprised of American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter

major stakeholders along Raleigh’s Northwest border, who work together on development, infrastructure, marketing, and advocacy issues. Presenters: Octavia Rainey, Community Leader; Dhanya Sandeep, City of Raleigh; Michael Cole, New Bern Corridor Alliance; Trisha Hasch, City of Raleigh; Stuart Levin, MD, Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance; Jeff Murison, Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance The Chavis Community Conversation: An Equitable Development Approach to Community Visioning -PlacemakingThis panel will feature an in-depth discussion about how an equitable development approach to restoring John Chavis Memorial Park transformed historically fraught relationships between diverse stakeholders into consensus around a new Master Plan. Discover effective strategies for engaging disenfranchised neighborhoods in this story about the challenges and opportunities facing downtown Raleigh as neighborhood demographics shift from an historic African-American community. Presenters: Vernice Miller-Travis, Skeo Solutions; David Shouse, City of Raleigh; Cecilia Zuvic, Chavis Public Leadership Group 9:00 am – 11:30 am

Mobile Workshop (2.5 CM Credits) Historic Overlay Districts in the New Millennium Discussion and walking tour of Raleigh’s newest historic overlay district, providing insight into the public planning process, community outreach, and political realities of designating an African American, mixed use, predominantly low-income residential district in a high-stakes redevelopment area located only two blocks from Fayetteville Street, the heart of downtown Raleigh. Mobile Guides: Fred Belledin, AIA, Clearscapes/Raleigh Historic Development Commission; Jenny Harper, Quatrefoil Consulting/Raleigh Historic Development Commission; Martha Lauer, City of Raleigh

9:30 am – 9:45 am

Break, Pre-function Area

9:45 am – 11:15 am

AICP Ethics Session (1.5 CM Credits/Qualifies for Ethics Credit) The Other Side of Ethics -EthicsThrough engaging storytelling and interactive learning (no scenarios here!) the presenters will explore the difference and interrelationship between the two sides of the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct while posing the question, “Is it possible to abide by the Rules of Conduct but neglect the Principles to Which We Aspire?” Caution! You will leave this ethics session enlightened, entertained, and realizing ethics is very different than what you've been taught in the past. Presenters: Ernie Boughman, AICP, Toole Design Group; Brian Carter, AICP, City of West Columbia

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Closing Session Join us for an exciting Closing Session in the City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh! We will be serving up Coopers BBQ, so come on out and wind down on Friday afternoon!


1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Mobile Workshop (3 CM Credits) Sponsored by Stewart Engineering Capital Area Greenway System Bike Ride - Downtown Raleigh to Neuse River Greenway The Capital Area Greenway System is a network of public open spaces and 117 miles of trails for activities such as walking, jogging, hiking, bird watching, nature study, fishing, picnicking and outdoor fun. The trails connect many of Raleigh’s parks and in many cases provide a complement to the recreational activities at the parks. Many of the city’s major ecological features can be experienced in their natural state along the Greenway. A major goal of the Greenway Program is to establish a completed network of interconnected trails throughout the city. Iona L. Thomas, AICP, Stewart Bicycle & Pedestrian Practice will host a ride on the Crabtree Creek Greenway. Stewart is very proud to have designed over 30% of the Raleigh greenway network. This ride will take you along 3.5 miles of the total 14.5 mile Crabtree Creek Greenway. Riders will see the recently-completed section that ties the Milburnie Road trailhead to the Neuse River Greenway at Anderson Point Park. See various design challenges, and hear how the Stewart design team solved them, including: • Crossing under Interstate 440/495 interchange • Installation of pedestrian bridges over Crabtree Creek • Design of boardwalk in tight area between NCDOT right-of-way and banks of Crabtree Creek. This will be an interactive tour open to questions and discussion. Please be aware that this bicycle mobile route may have portions that are hilly, and may not be appropriate for novices. The mobile will only be cancelled in cases of heavy rain or severe weather, so please be ready for varying temperatures. This mobile is and out-and-back mobile, with no option for a shuttle back to downtown Raleigh. Please prepare accordingly. Mobile Guide: Iona L. Thomas, AICP, Stewart

Scan Here for the 2015 NC Planning Conference Mobile Website (Available after October 20th)!


Photo Credit: Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau and ExploreAsheville.com

SAVE THE DATE! NC Planning Conference in Asheville September 14 – September 16, 2016
