submitted by Frederick Gardiner, AICP, District 4 Director

What is the vision of the future? For far too long, many communities have been engaged in the zoning function vested in their planning and zoning departments. We were inundated with zoning applications, site plan reviews and amendments, so much so, the function of planning took a back seat.

Today, the landscape is very much different than it was just two years ago; many planning and zoning departments are now coming under the budget cut microscope of senior management and elected officials. Rather than cutting planners, communities should be retooling their planners to conduct the planning function vested in their planning and zoning departments. First, planning departments should be evaluating their zoning codes and development regulations. Second, they should be conducting an audit of their community, identifying character areas and creating small area plans and overlay districts to forge a unique vision for each area. Last, they should focus on taking advantage of the regional, state and federal programs and grants that assist with improving the community and economic development viability of their communities.

Two communities that have redefined their operations to address the changing times are the cities of Griffin and Newnan. Over the last two years, both communities have engaged in evaluating their zoning codes, development regulations and or engaged in small area and corridor planning. Both communities have forged relationships with regional and state agencies to augment their local resources in implementing their planning initiatives; adding the following tools to their toolbox: the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, Livable Centers Initiative, and Community Development Block Grants.

Now is the time to retool your planning and Zoning department, remembering “People don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan”.

The 2009 Spring Conference brought more planners to the first ever conference held in the Northside Cherokee Conference Center in Canton, GA than expected. With 215 registered to attend, nearly 250 planners attended the event. The conference kicked off with Mr. Bruce Stiffel, Chairperson of the City and Regional Planning program at Georgia Tech reporting on the state of the planning profession and the value of the planning degree in the market place. Jason Jordan from the American Planning Association, hosted two sessions, one on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to inform planners on what the federal stimulus packages mean to our profession, and second session on how to lobby our congressional representatives on issues of importance to planning.

The conference included over 20 sessions in four tracks: Transportation, Quality Growth & Comprehensive Planning, Professional Development and Environment and Sustainability.

The conference center offered four comfortable meeting rooms and a great exhibition hall / cafe to host our wonderful sponsors complete with free wifi access. Mobile workshops offered visits to the Cities of Ball Ground to see what is happening in their downtown and another of the Historic Downtown area of Canton. At the closing luncheon the announcement was made the Fall 2009 GPA Conference will be in Athens, GA, and the Spring 2010 Conference will be in Macon, so make your plans now. Although no location has been selected yet, the 2010 Fall Conference will go South, with several potential locations under consideration.

NOTE:  almost all of the CM credits for the Spring Conference have been approved with only 2 still pending with APA right now!

We have several opportunities for anyone looking to get involved. Volunteering is a great way to network with other planners and build up connections and is a chance to make a difference in the Georgia Planning Association and Georgia planning.

Awards Committee

The 2009 Awards Committee is searching for volunteers to evaluate submissions for the 2009 awards program. Every year GPA selects a variety of outstanding projects and programs throughout Georgia for special recognition. The awards are handed out at the fall conference at the closing lunch. Make a difference by helping highlight exceptional projects in our field. If you are interested please email Jessica Gibson, GPA Executive Director.

Membership Committee

Please consider joining the GPA Membership Committee. In 2009, the Membership Committee will focus on opportunities to expand outreach to members through District events, create more opportunities for GPA members to become involved in GPA activities, create more services important to GPA members and recruit new members. Your creative ideas can help increase membership! Please email Laura Keyes, GPA VP of Chapter Services.

Programs Committee

The Programs Committee is looking for a few volunteers to assist in the planning of the 2009 fall conference. We need people to organize tracks and lend a hand in planning the receptions. We would like to broaden the array of sessions we offer and need your aid in soliciting new ideas. Your community’s problem or innovative solution could make an interesting session! If you are interested or would like additional information please email Jessica Gibson, GPA Executive Director.

The Georgia Planning Memorial Foundation is seeking to adopt a unique logo for the organization and is inviting everyone to participate in this. We’re looking for a logo that is consistent with the purpose of the Foundation – to help communities that otherwise could not afford it expand the skills and knowledge of their professional and citizen planners – without necessarily being an illustration of it.

If you have an idea for a logo, sketch it out and send it to the Foundation’s Secretary, Glenn Coyne, by fax (404-870-6590) or email (glenn.coyne@edaw.com). Finished artwork is NOT expected, but neatness counts! Color is encouraged, but it also must reproduce well in black and white. The deadline, June 1, is fast approaching so whip up those creative juices (and don’t forget to include your name and contact information separately, since judging will be done anonymously).

The winner of the competition and other notable entries will be recognized at the GPA Fall Conference, lauded with praise and showered with adulation, with full bragging rights conferred.

May 14 :: Environmental Recording - Blind & Dyslexic
May 14 - 15 :: ArcGIS Desktop I
June 02 :: Environmental Recording - Blind & Dyslexic
June 03 - 05 :: Pushing the Envelope
June 03 - 04 :: Board of Zoning Appeals
June 09 :: Planner's Lunch