ABSTRACT. This session will update the APA VA membership on the actions of the General Assembly during the 2016 session. It will focus on bills impacting the planning profession. Additionally, any recent State or Federal Supreme Court rulings will also be discussed.

The panel will include Eldon James & Sue Rowland with Eldon James & Associates the Chapter's Legislative Team, Joe Lerch with VACO, and Michelle Gowdy with VML  (invited).

ABSTRACT. Site plan review is an entry-level skill desired by planning department hiring managers across the planet, but many students will graduate from a planning program without ever having done one (the horror!). This skill-building session will expose students, young professionals, and other interested practitioners to the basics – what is a site plan and why are we reviewing it?

This session is for those who have never looked at a site plan before, those who want a refresher course, and those who get a nerdy kick out of everything related to planning! (But in all seriousness, if you have had experience with site plan reviews before and are willing to help others learn, come join us!)

We will begin by introducing participants to the quick and dirty basics of site plans, who creates and reviews them, and how they can lead to better planning outcomes. Participants will then do some roleplaying to learn about the typical site plan review process…with a few twists and turns added in! The session will wrap up with a “no judgment” Q&A with more seasoned planners who will share their tips, tricks, and stories based on their experiences.

Come prepared to learn and have fun!

ABSTRACT. Non-traditional agricultural activities create land use issues like parking, increased traffic, and increased noise. In addition, these activities often do not neatly fit into existing zoning classifications, nor do the activities always fit existing types of regulation. To exacerbate the difficulties the Virginia legislature has passed several state laws that limit the ability of local governments to regulate non-traditional agricultural activities.. At the same time, local governments often want to promote local foods and invigorate the local farm economy. This session looks at possible approaches to regulating agriculture, agritourism, wineries and other non-traditional agricultural activities.

First, one must define "local food", "agriculture" and "agritourism". In some states, paintball is "agritourism". In others, "rodeos" qualify. How should local governments define these terms in zoning ordinances in Virginia? What limitations do Virginia law place on local zoning ordinances in this respect? How can local governments enourage local food without opening Pandora's box?

This interactive session will seek solutions to some of the most vexing issues of modern time, including urban chickens, wine tastings, festivals, corn mazes, and hay rides. The presenters will offer some possibilities, but will also give ample opportunity for participants to discuss issues, challenges and opportunities.

ABSTRACT. Urban forests are the trees and associated vegetation found across a diversity of land uses and land ownerships in a municipal setting. While traditionally viewed as merely an amenity, urban forests are increasingly recognized as a critical component of a community's livability and viability. Abundance and quality of the urban forest is increasingly tied to key outcomes such as public health, real estate value, tourism, economic development, and quality of life. And tree canopy cover conservation is being implemented by numerous localities as a best practice for offsetting impervious surface buildup, stormwater runoff, and urban climate change. Having urban forests is not without costs and consequences. There are clearly direct costs of planting and maintaining trees. But there are also indirect costs such as infrastructure damage from wayward tree roots and branches and disruptions of utilities and traffic when storms topple trees. As such, localities should proceed purposefully when implementing urban forests by first understanding the nature of this resource and then utilizing best best practices of urban forest planning and management to ensure that the resource will be a long-term asset that poses minimal costs and risks. In this workshop, we will lay out basic facts and concepts about urban forests and the role that they can play in community viability and then discuss the best practices of urban forestry that are relevant to urban and community planners.

ABSTRACT. The counties of Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski recently partnered with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the New River Valley Regional Commission to: 1) identify existing agriculture assets and resources in the region; 2) create a regional plan for Agribusiness and Agritourism; and 3) develop a unique brand/identity.

Session attendees will learn about collaborating with and involving local agribusiness and agritourism owners/operators in a multi-county project. In addition, review key project deliverables including: a regional assessment, local foods guide, 3-year plan of work, market brief, and branding - techniques that could be utilized in their communities.

ABSTRACT. Christina Devine received her bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech in December 2014. She began working with Dr. Marc Edwards and his research group in the Spring of 2015 as a graduate research assistant in the Civil Engineering department at Virginia Tech. Her main research project is autogenous repair of potable water pipelines through smart precipitation of calcium carbonate. The goal of this project is to find an innovative and in-situ solution to repair the leaks in the pipelines. She has been a member of Virginia Tech’s Flint Water Study team since its start in August 2015.

ABSTRACT. The concept is for a panel discussion with the originator of the bill language (HB770/SB549), Mike Toalson from the Homebuilders Association of Virginia. The panel will consist of members who are both proponents of what was adopted and opponents of the changes. Julie Herlands, a representative from TischlerBise (leading experts on proffers and impact fees) will be part of the panel, as well as Jesse Richardson, longtime opponent of proffers but acknowledges that local governments should have tools to accommodate development proposals.

The panel setup will give each speaker time to "make their case" but also include time for questions. Some will be provided ahead of time and some will be spontaneous from the audience. A strong moderator will be provided to track time and questions.

.

ABSTRACT. Beginning planners and rising stars alike will benefit from this resume clinic, staffed by experienced professionals. Information will be available to those planners considering pursuing the AICP designation. The benefits and programmatic details of AICP will be outlined.

ABSTRACT. Teaching planners how to create and maintain innovative planning tools help communities be more structurally sound and resilient. The importance of linking an up-to-date Comprehensive Plan to the zoning and subdivision ordinances, along with other land use tools such as the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), a proffer policy, historic or entrance overlays, form-based codes, among others, cannot be overstated. The process for how you draft each tool is as important as having them up-to-date and linked to one another. An inclusive, robust process is the difference between a good and great process and subsequent product. Concepts such as fiscally constrained plans, writing ordinances in plain English, having plans and regulations be user friendly, and focusing on implementation, accountability and transparency are critical components to having an effective land use toolbox.

The panel of four land use experts will highlight some of their knowledge from over 100 years of combined professional experience – educational, legal, practical, appointed, elected, public and private. As valuable as expert knowledge of the subject matter is (and it is essential), knowing what not to do is every bit as important as having neat techniques to facilitate a project. The panel will limit their comments to maximize time for participation.

Interaction with attendees is an essential component of this session. As with all good planning processes, there should be an element of fun as a central component. So, this session will expect attendees to participate and prepare to be entertained! There is more information to convey than time (and space is limited too) so the session will begin on time…

ABSTRACT. Community leaders are challenged to engage citizens in productive dialogue on current issues and are sometimes baffled on the most promising practices of facilitating these conversations.  Building the foundation for an inclusive discussion is essential for reaching the best decisions for any community.  This session will outline the key strategies for bringing people together and transitioning those individuals into a partnership with shared expectations and a clear vision of what a collaborative group is and its benefits to each stakeholder. During our time together, we will examine the role of the facilitator, the facilitation process, the questioning process for decision-making, the logistical management of groups, and the process for building needed partnerships.

ABSTRACT. Planners who work with under-resourced, under-invested, environmentally overburdened, or marginalized communities may be challenged to build trust and working relationships across real and perceived divides. An Equitable Development approach can help rebuild relationships, address environmental and infrastructure challenges, and ensure that everyone can participate in and benefit from decisions impacting their community.

Through interactive exercises, participants will explore the concept of Equitable Development and tools that can help planners bring residents, other local government staff, and implementation partners together to break down silos and work towards equitable revitalization outcomes. Case studies from Freeport, IL, Birmingham, AL, and Raleigh, NC, will highlight communities facing environmental justice, race-based disparities and historic preservation challenges. Participants will explore how the following innovative tools could be applied to their local context:

1. Building Cultural Competence: A tool that examines the role of culture in our lives as individuals and as members of groups and organizations. Participants explore different cultural perspectives and common sources of conflict and build the trust needed to work together on long-range planning and development efforts.

2. Collaborative Problem Solving: A tool that helps diverse planning teams learn to identify positions and interests, understand conflict types, and develop a common language for furthering their conversations around other seemingly intractable conversations.

3. Integrated Planning and Coalition Building: A community-based planning process that results in (1) an action plan to address interconnected quality of life issues and(2) a Coalition of diverse stakeholders committed to implementation.

Participants will leave the session with a clear understanding of equity tools and how planners can build trust, a shared vision, and effective partnerships to improve quality of life in marginalized communities. This session is intended to be paired with "Part 2: Building Equity Together: Walkable Watersheds Are A Framework for Community and Watershed Health" as a 3-hour workshop.

ABSTRACT. Agriculture is Virginia's No. 1 industry. But, ironically, for a state that produces an abundance of food, the commonwealth has its share of food deserts — areas where residents have limited access to fresh, healthy foods.

According to a report commissioned by the Virginia General Assembly, more than 1.4 million Virginians — 17.8 percent of the population — live in food deserts. In Lynchburg, the rate is 26.4 percent. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food deserts as areas where people cannot access affordable and nutritious foods. They are usually found in impoverished areas lacking grocery stores, farmers markets, and healthy food providers. Food deserts contribute to food insecurity, which means people aren’t sure where their food will come from.

This session will highlight report findings, identify some efforts in Virginia being implemented to increase food acccess, and facilitate a dialogue about food access and food systems planning.

ABSTRACT. Abstract: Foursquare ITP proposes a presentation and discussion to generate meaningful public engagement through the use of effective outreach collateral, diverse approaches to encouraging feedback, and technology-driven data collection. Presenters will discuss the implementation of comprehensive public outreach programs as deployed for two bus transit planning projects: Arlington County’s Transit Development Plan and the BaltimoreLink Project, a complete bus network redesign in Baltimore, Maryland and neighboring municipalities. This presentation will focus on how to: - Develop an inclusive public engagement program - Evaluate the reach and effectiveness of your public engagement program - Quantify qualitative feedback - Organize information for meaningful analysis - Incorporate that analysis into final plans

Economy & Society: Promote cohesive and engaged communities

Presenters will discuss the challenges faced in obtaining meaningful engagement from hard-to-reach populations, such as those with limited English-proficiency, minorities, and low-income groups. The tools and techniques for solving the challenge include geographical data analysis to identify optimal locations and times for events, outreach material and survey content design, and the use of surveying to measure the success of inclusive participation.

Leadership & Strategy: Empower a broad range of stakeholders

Presenters will also discuss, through the Arlington County TDP and the BaltimoreLink project, how disparate stakeholders were identified and targeted for engagement, as well as how that feedback was incorporated and analyzed along with the feedback from the general public to inform final planning recommendations. Presenters will demonstrate how qualitative feedback was quantified, organized, and analyzed to effectively and efficiently incorporate stakeholder and transit user knowledge into the decision-making process.

ABSTRACT. Cell towers are becoming an intricate part of broadband wireless networks and more infrastructure will be needed. Infrastructure once used primarily for wireless telephone services will soon be used to saturate geographic areas with wireless broadband services.

There are two main connectivity aspects of broadband and in this session CityScape will address common misconceptions about what is broadband, what the future holds for broadband, how localities will be impacted by the infrastructure needs of broadband connectivity and how to plan for this infrastructure now.

CityScape will discuss the impacts of the Spectrum Act and regulations all localities should consider, types of infrastructure needed and address mis-information that CityScape has observed in localities across the country.

ABSTRACT. This session will provide an in-depth discussion on the Capital Improvement process to include the political issues encountered, debt capacity constraints, citizen engagement in the process and best practices in developing the Capital improvement plan. The discussion will also cover the role of the stakeholders in the cip process including the planning office, general services, utilities, transportation, fire and police. Discussion about financing methods and the importance of the adopted financial policies will be discussed.

ABSTRACT. Preserving farmland and linking retiring farmers with new farmers keeps land open and available for continued production in order to feed us all. Programs that support rural economic resiliency in turn support urban populations by providing places to grow local food, recreate and conserve water quality and availability for everyone. This session will highlight some of the programs available in Virginia that help support rural economic resiliency, including: Virginia AFID Planning Grant Program, Virginia Agricultural Development Board Guide, and Virginia’s Farmland Preservation Program.

ABSTRACT. The Virginia Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Virginia Planning District Commissions host a joint conversation about regionalism and the ongoing activities to coordinate a strategic partnership between the organizations. Attendees will benefit from a deeper understanding of regional planning organizations in Virginia and see how these groups are providing thought-leadership in a dynamic planning arena.