Fall 2019 | Celebrating Our Members

FLORIDA PLANNING A publication of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association

Fall 2019

florida.planning.org

2019 GREAT PLACES IN FLORIDA PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER

Downtown

Winter Haven Spanning more than five blocks in all directions, downtown Winter Haven has experienced a renaissance reestablishing itself as a unique and distinctive destination with a significant spirit of community. continued on page 4

OTHER FEATURES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

6

Let’s Celebrate Our Members Doing Awesome Things

10

2019 Conference Recap

11

2019 Leadership Award Recipients

14

2019 Project Awards Recipients

18

Travel With a Planners Eye

22

Hurricane Michael Task Force Update

President’s Message - p. 3 Planner Q&A p. 23 Planners on the Move p. 24 APA Working for You - p. 25 Consultants Directory - p. 27 Events - back page

The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide leadership in the development of sustainable communities by advocating excellence in planning, providing professional development for its members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built environments.

[APA FLORIDA] KEY CONTACTS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Name

Phone E-mail

APA Florida Executive Committee President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA

813-327-5450

president@floridaplanning.org

Immediate Past President

Andre Anderson, AICP

407-957-8428

pastpresident@floridaplanning.org fx

President-Elect

Wiatt Bowers, AICP

904-363-8488

presidentelect@floridaplanning.org

Heart of Florida Section

Marisa Barmby, AICP

863-534-7130

heartoffl@floridaplanning.org

Secretary

Lara Bouck, AICP, PE

407-514-2782

secretary@floridaplanning.org

San Felasco Section

Terry Clark, AICP, PMP

561-346-6392

sanfelasco@floridaplanning.org

First Coast Section

Ennis Davis, AICP

904-396-5727

firstcoast@floridaplanning.org

Atlantic Coast Section

Mike Disher, AICP

727-547-4575

atlanticcoast@floridaplanning.org

Capital Area Section

Macy Fricke, AICP

850-380-2812

capitalarea@floridaplanning.org

Treasurer

Kathyrn Gademer, AICP, CFM

727-547-4575

treasurer@floridaplanning.org

Promised Lands Section

Jason Green, AICP

941-505-1700

promisedlands@floridaplanning.org

University Liaison

Christopher Hawkins

407-823-2604

university@floridaplanning.org

VP Communications

Michelle Heinrich, AICP

813-276-2167

communications@floridaplanning.org

YPG Representative

Brandon Henry

813-272-5940

ypg@floridaplanning.org

VP Section Affairs

Doug Kelly, AICP, CSI

321-319-3213

sectionaffairs@floridaplanning.org

Emerald Coast Section

Catherine McCloy, AICP

850-769-6476

emeraldcoast@floridaplanning.org

Sun Coast Section

Stephanie McQueen, AICP

813-282-2300

suncoast@floridaplanning.org

VP-Professional Development

Allison Megrath, AICP

352-438-3046

profdevelopment@floridaplanning.org

Orlando Metro Section

Luis Nieves-Ruiz, AICP

407-245-0300 x 308 orlandometro@floridaplanning.org

Gold Coast Section

Edward Ng, AICP, MPP, MPI

305-594-0735

goldcoast@floridaplanning.org

Broward Section

Kristen Nowicki, AICP

954-776-1616

broward@floridaplanning.org

Treasure Coast Section

Alessandria Palmer

561-366-1100

treasurecoast@floridaplanning.orgf

VP Certification Maintenance

Jill Quigley, AICP

954-641-5680

certmaintenance@floridaplanning.org

VP Member Services

Yexsy Schomberg

561-299-0508

membership@floridaplanning.org

VP Conference Services

Thuy Turner, AICP, LEED AP BD+C

conferencesvcs@floridaplanning.org

Student Representative

Tyler Woolsey

954-527-6209

students@floridaplanning.org taf

Executive Director

Julia “Alex“ Magee

850-201-3272

fapa@floridaplanning.org

Ad. Assistant/Bookkeeper

Denise Johns-Smith

850-201-3272

adminbk@floridaplanning.org

Communications Coordinator Patti Shea

850-201-3272

staff@floridaplanning.org

Legislative Representative

Lester Abberger

850-524-2779

lesterabberger@nettally.com

Webmaster (Consultant)

Summer Taylor

888-949-5487 x706 summer@exaktmarketing.com

All other inquiries, contact APA Florida at 850-201-3272 or e-mail fapa@floridaplanning.org.

2 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE This issue of Florida Planning focuses on Celebrating our Members and I couldn’t be happier as it is one of my favorite things to do.

If my day could have a soundtrack, I’d love to make it the sound of champagne bottles popping. This issue includes our Great Places in Florida award announcement as well as a recap of the leadership and project award winners that were announced at the conference. Be sure to check out (and congratulate) all of the winners highlighted in this issue.

As for me, I’d like to thank the 2019 Conference Committee, chaired by Kristen Shell and co-chaired by Catherine McCloy! It was a fabulous event and I think everyone enjoyed exploring the Upside of Paradise. To keep the celebration going, our water bottle supplier planted a tree in Senegal in honor of APA Florida. (And thanks to the conference committee planning for Orlando in 2020 as they are already hard at work.)

In case you didn’t realize it, the APA Florida Executive Committee is made up of some of our most dedicated volunteers.

Thank you to Wiatt Bowers, Whit Blanton, Tia Keitt, and David Capelli for volunteering their time on behalf of APA Florida to speak with members of the legislature in Washington, DC. I urge each of you to consider joining us next year for Planners Day on the Hill. It is a very rewarding experience.

In case you didn’t realize it, the APA Florida Executive Committee is made up of some of our most dedicated volunteers. They give hours of their time to activities like putting this publication together, assisting FAICP nominees develop their application packets, researching and coordinating future conference locations, hosting events like AICP trivia, growth management planning official trainings, and the list goes on and on. Each Board meeting, we recognize a member of the Executive Committee who has significantly contributed to the organization. We call it the Heavy Lift award.

Heavy Lift Award Winners: • Michelle Heinrich, Vice President Communications • Catherine McCloy, Emerald Coast Section Chair • Devan Leavins, Capital Area Section Chair • Ali Palmer, Treasure Coast Section Chair • Eddie Ng, Gold Coast Section Chair And last, but not least, APA Florida is celebrating the return of the National Planning Conference to Florida. We’ll be hosting NPC26 in Miami.

Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA APA Florida President

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 3

[2019 GREAT PLACES FLORIDA] DOWNTOWN WINTER HAVEN

continued from cover

Nestled among 50 lakes in the center of Polk County between Tampa and Orlando, Winter Haven serves more than 45,000 residents, and an undefined number of visitors. Inspiring public enhancements, vibrant private investments and innovatively repurposed restorations blend together creating a cool-vibe community culture respectful of the small town feel of yester-year.

Remaining true to its roots, downtown serves as a gathering space built on commerce, southern hospitality and community activity. Private and public investments complement one another to create community gathering and business collaboration spaces.

Downtown Winter Haven plays host to multiple award-winning facilities. What was once the railroad is now a series of redeveloped parks, including the renovated South Central Park, which was recognized

Winter Haven is “Authenticity Re-imagined” as quality development enhances the character and history of downtown, while accelerating economic vitality and growth. and awarded by professional recreation, planning, and engineering organizations. It has a “place-to-be” ambiance with unique amenities that create a feeling of authentic Winter Haven. The park corridor is the preferred gathering space for community activities hosting more than 175 events annually.

Once a 1960s teen music club, the refurbished Derry Down honors its founder and original musician, Gram Parsons, as a venue attracting artists and listeners from all over the country. It was recognized with the Secretary of State Award by the State of Florida.

The high-tech public library serves as a popular destination offering media, technology and engagement resources.

The award-winning Parking Garage is functional and aesthetically pleasing with a façade reminiscent of Winter Haven’s historic structures.

The historic Ritz Theatre partners with the multi-award-winning Theatre Winter Haven to offer an eclectic entertainment menu regularly attracting people from all over the region.

The Lodge offers community-centric workspace for entrepreneurial collaboration in a refurbished arcade building.

Quaint shops, delicious restaurants, unique sipping establishments, professional offices and affordable living spaces occupy restored buildings that mingle with a myriad of award-wining enhancements.

Combined, these diverse and localized award-winning amenities create an overall community “backyard” destination. Downtown Winter Haven is “Authenticity Re-imagined” as quality development enhances the character and history of downtown, while accelerating economic vitality and growth. With lively charm, respect for the past, and a partnered visionary focus, downtown Winter Haven has limitless possibilities. People who visit downtown call it a great place; those who truly know Winter Haven call it home.

Images courtesy of the City of Winter Haven

4 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 5

ALI ANKUDOWICH, AICP

(nominated by Stephanie McQueen, AICP, Sun Coast Section)

LET’S CELEBRATE Our members who are doing some amazing things... check it out!

Ali Ankudowich is a Tampa native who earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA and currently is a planner in the Community Planning and Design group at Tindale Oliver. Her current projects span redevelopment, parks, affordable housing, transportation, comprehensive planning, and public finance. She specializes in qualitative research, including case study and policy/regulatory research, and is particularly interested in integrating social equity and sustainability considerations into her work, focusing on affordability and inclusive community engagement.

Ali volunteers with local professional planning organizations, including the Congress for the New Urbanism in Florida and APA Florida Sun Coast Section. She helps coordinate a bi-monthly book club, started and encouraged by fellow Sun Coast section members Amber Dickerson and Laura Everitt, to allow local planners to explore pressing topics that they might not have the opportunity to learn about in their regular planning work. Ali appreciates the book club discussions for stretching her to think critically about the frontiers and possibilities of social planning. Book club meeting topics have included the effects of historic and systematic racial discrimination, mass incarceration, drug use epidemics in communities, and widespread eviction practices, among others. She is optimistic about progress and improvements that can start with the simple act of reading a book.

ENNIS DAVIS, AICP

(Nominated by Wiatt Bowers, AICP, First Coast Section)

Ennis Davis is a certified senior planner employed by Alfred Benesch & Company, currently working as an in-house transportation planning consultant at FDOT District 5. A Florida A&M University graduate, he is the author of the award-winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.”

A mayoral appointee to the former Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission, Ennis has served with various organizations committed to improving communities, including serving as the current chair of APA Florida’s First Coast Section and as a Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Board Trustee.

Also, a 2013 Next City Vanguard and former citizen member of the Florida Times-Union Editorial Board, in his spare time Ennis operates the ModernCities.com planning website and TheJaxsonMag.com, a multimedia project in association with WJCT Public Broadcasting that is dedicated to hyperlocal level urbanism and culture on Florida’s First Coast. continued on page 7

6 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

[LET’S CELEBRATE] OUR MEMBERS

continued from page 6

MARIO DURON, AICP CANDIDATE

(Nominated by Eddie Ng, AICP, MPP, Gold Coast Section)

Mario Duron’s first experience with planning occurred while volunteering in the AmeriCorps program, where he helped to transform underserved areas of Miami-Dade County through grassroots community activism. During that time, Mario actively engaged with local government agencies and community members to link opportunities, and became motivated by the change that occurs when communities invest in people and places. It was then he decided to pursue planning as a profession. Mario currently serves as an associate planner for the City of North Miami Beach.

Finishing his third year as a planner, Mario says “while I certainly feel more knowledgeable from my first year, there is always something new to learn in this profession.” A great resource is APA Florida, he says, which affords him the opportunities to network with local planners and get access to a variety of resources.

Recently, Mario became an AICP Candidate and is looking forward to becoming a certified member. As an AICP certified planner, he aspires to have a positive impact on the quality of life for the people he serves, and ultimately bring his experience and knowledge to a global stage thought international development.

Mario studied anthropology and urban and regional planning at the University of Florida. On his off time, he enjoys kayaking, running, and the outdoors.

TRINA GILLIAM

(Nominated by Mike Disher, AICP, Atlantic Coast Section)

Trina Gilliam is a self-confessed “late bloomer.” She graduated with a bachelor’s in sociology with a focus on social inequality in 2015 from UCF. While in the process for applying for the master’s program, Trina discovered the field of planning. Being that sociology is closely related planning and a field where she could have a positive impact, Trina chose planning. continued on page 8

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 7

[LET’S CELEBRATE] OUR MEMBERS

continued from page 7

She graduated with a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning in May 2018.

Trina’s journey with the Atlantic Coast Section began during the planning of the state conference in Daytona Beach in 201617. Since then she has served as section Vice Chair and attended several chapter Executive Committee meetings. Currently, she is the City Planner for the City of Rockledge and sits on the Planning and Zoning Board for the City of Cocoa.

Trina notes that “one of the best things about my career is the planning culture. Although I was a newbie and still consider myself to be a newbie in planning world, colleagues have been receptive to sharing their knowledge with me. I would say the best lesson I have learned from others, is the phase ‘muddling through’ and ‘clear as mud.’ To me this means, there are things we struggle with, but just keep going until it becomes clear.”

Trina sees her role as a City Planner and a Planning and Zoning Board member as one in the same: the main function of both roles is to serve the community. And in both roles, she advocates for the community, help to guide development while considering the impacts to the public and the environment.

8 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

MATTHEW LAMBERT

(Nominated by Catherine McCloy, AICP, Emerald Coast Section)

Matthew Lambert has served in the public sector planning field for approximately 17 years. He is currently serving as a Senior Planner for Walton County, where he recently led the efforts for the new county transit program that expects to see three commuter buses operating by January 2020. Matthew also serves as the vice-chair to the TCC for the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization and enjoys watching the labors come to life in the built environment.

He holds a Master in Urban and Regional Planning as well as a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Tennessee.

Originally from Biloxi, Miss., Matthew is a recent Florida resident.

He relocated to Panama City Beach three weeks prior to Hurricane Michael and got to know his new community through many of his volunteer efforts in the aftermath of the storm and during the continued on page 27

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 9

2019 APA FLORIDA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

CONFERENCE RECAP

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN ORLANDO! 10 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

Congratulations to the 2019 LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS!

Each year APA Florida, through its Chapter Leadership Awards, recognizes individuals or organizations for their leadership on planning issues. These awards are APA Florida’s highest honors.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Mary Kay Delk, FAICP Mary Kay Delk’s career as a professional planner and founding principal of MKPeck Associates, in conjunction with her long-term involvement in APA at both the chapter and national level, exemplify the sustained contributions to the planning profession at the local, regional, state, and national levels that this award is intended to recognize.

Over her career, Mary Kay has developed and managed awardwinning zoning and planning projects, put into action strategic plans and measurement systems, implemented organization wide sustainability plans and co-designed one of the top three development services centers in the country.

Mary Kay has also shared her knowledge and experience with others. She has given numerous presentations at APA and ULI national, regional and local conferences and has delivered keynote speeches and commencement addresses.

She has presented internationally to the Chinese Association of Planners (Wuhan, China), the Royal Town Planning Institute (Cardiff, Wales), Planning Summer School (Edinburgh, Scotland and Exeter, England) and the Planning Institute of Australia (Melbourne, Australia).

Mary Kay served as President of APA and during her tenure, she laid the groundwork for its first communication plan and led the organization’s first membership growth strategy, which resulted in a 23 percent increase in members. In addition to all of the ways Mary Kay has served APA and the Florida chapter over the years, she recently took on the role of Chair of the APA Foundation. In this role, she has catapulted the level of APA member awareness of the Foundation. At NPC19, the Foundation hosted an event to thank its sponsors. She also led a campaign to spur donations at that conference, which raised over $27,000.

Leading by example as a donor, she has really built the Foundation into a force, which will last long beyond her tenure as chair.

OUTSTANDING LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL Commissioner Jenna Haligas Jenna Haligas, a newcomer to politics, was elected as Ward 1 Commissioner in the City of Panama City in 2017. As a sixth-generation resident of Panama City, she has deep roots in the area that intrinsically tie her to her constituents and

drive her to go above and beyond the status quo. In her short time as an elected official she has brought a spotlight to sound planning practices and highlighted the importance of citizen participation and open communication. She has played a lead role in encouraging the community and city leaders to create a plan for the downtown, the heart of the community.

Additionally, she has emphasized the need for public input through open lines of communication including town hall meetings, social media, and face-to-face interactions. She understands the need for and viability of the tools of participatory planning in a revitalizing community and is an active and respective leader of the efforts to re-vision Panama City after Hurricane Michael.

Commissioner Haligas is an exemplary role model that demonstrates outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to her community.

OUTSTANDING LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIAL Courtney Barker, AICP As a Certified Planner since 2006, Courtney served as the Executive Director of the Planning & Growth Management for the City of Titusville, and since 2014, she has practiced her leadership skills as City Manager of Satellite Beach. She excels at working with the community to find realistic solutions to achieve their vision and implement sound policies through strong leadership, strategic planning, and dedication and commitment to sustainable public and private development patterns.

After becoming the City Manager of Satellite Beach, she brought together professionals from various technical backgrounds to understand the effects of climate change on the city. This data and analysis led to changes in the local Comprehensive Plan. She has consistently shown progressive and courageous leadership in her efforts to develop the county’s first Sustainability Action Plan, to develop a Sustainability Board, engage citizens through the Climate Ambassador Committee, and adopt more than 80 Green Achievement Targets. This plan has been used as a prototype and serves as the source of other Brevard cities’ resiliency initiatives.

Courtney excels at balancing the needs of her community with different stakeholders and she’s fearless in the face of negative participants, often changing their minds before the meeting is over by simply using the facts in a teachable manner. She is relentless in pursuit of good planning and demands those around her bring creativity and up-to-date techniques to make the community better than she found it. continued on page 12

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 11

[2019] LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

continued from page 11

Equally important is her attraction to share her passion, beliefs and knowledge through speaking, workshops, webinars for all types of organizations. She forges partnerships to share knowledge and creates public policy based on sound data and analysis.

Courtney truly leads by example and through her actions has furthered the cause of planning in her community and in APA.

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC INTEREST GROUP All for Transportation All for Transportation is the community-led effort that put a referendum on the November ballot asking voters to fund a wide range of solutions to our Hillsborough county’s traffic congestion and lack of transit options.

The citizen-led group raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and secured tens of thousands of signatures to get a transportation referendum on the ballot after the County Commissioners failed to do so. After securing the ballot initiative, they promoted the initiative and successfully passed the referendum with 57 percent of the vote. The initiative increases the sales tax rate in Hillsborough County by 1 percent to fund transportation projects. The group took their knowledge of the needs in Hillsborough County and pushed a solution forward.

DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHAPTER Susan Coughanour, FAICP Susan Coughanour, FAICP, had a successful 36-year career at the South Florida Water Management District where she was managed several major projects and coordinated multiple local, regional, state and federal agencies and stakeholders on environmental restoration and land use planning projects.

She has been active in the chapter at least as far back as 2001, working on three statewide conferences, and serving on the Treasure Coast Section board for several years and in several capacities, including her current role as Vice-chair.

Over the years, Susan has established instrumental programs in the Treasure Coast area including the Annual Ethics Seminar, the Annual Legislative Breakfast and the Public Officials Training Workshops. She is also a founding member of the Palm Beach County Planning Congress, an inter-disciplinary professional organization of public and private sector planners, engineers, landscape architects, attorneys, environmentalists, and related professionals, created to promote good planning in Palm Beach County and provide opportunities for professional interaction.

12 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

But perhaps Susan is best known statewide for her work as coorganizer of the Treasure Coast AICP Exam Study Group that has assisted more than 360 planners successfully prepare and pass the AICP exam. These sessions run 12-15 weeks, twice a year, and now include webinar live broadcasts which allow anyone in any location to participate.

Susan has also focused on the next generation of planners, by becoming an outspoken advocate for FAU’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. Among other things, she has gone out of her way to help the student organization organize various career-related events, including panels of professional planners speaking about careers in planning, AICP information sessions, and resume-writing and interviewing workshops. She has also been instrumental in motivating and organizing an effort to raise a substantial endowment for the school that is intended to support student scholarships.

Susan’s professional and volunteer efforts have increased the understanding of planning principles and the planning practice, as well as furthered the cause of planning and the chapter by her contribution of time, experience, skill and knowledge. There is no doubt that she has demonstrated the kind of community service qualities that are the mark of a truly outstanding professional in the field of planning.

STUDENT PLANNERS OF THE YEAR Tyler Woolsey, FAU Tyler is currently in his final year of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program with an expected graduation date of December 2019. Tyler has consistently demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence in his time at FAU and maintains a nearly perfect grade point average.

Tyler served as the student representative to the APA Florida Executive Committee for 2018-19. Tyler also serves as an at-large member of the Broward Section Board. In this role he has helped to organize events and coordinate connections among planners in Broward County and the surrounding area. Similarly, Tyler is an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Southeast Florida/ Caribbean Section Young Leaders Group (YLG) and works to organize events that connect the next generation of land use and real estate development industry leaders.

Beyond his academic progress and involvement in professional organizations, Tyler has worked full time since July 2017 as a planner with the land use and zoning law practice group at Greenspoon Marder under head land use attorney, Dennis Mele. It should be noted that he was hired for this responsible position well before he completed his bachelor’s degree. In this role, Tyler has continued on page 13

[2019] LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

continued from page 12

been involved in the full range of land use entitlement processes and a wide variety of urban planning challenges. He has worked closely with planners and allied professionals at private sector firms and various levels of government across the South Florida region.

As stated in a nomination letter, “His impressive performance in research, academic coursework, and leadership makes him highly qualified for this award. He fully understands planning principles and the planning process, and he distinctively shows excellence in planning … he is a rising star in the planning profession.”

Amanda Sapala, FSU A recent graduate, Amanda excelled in academics while a student in the master’s program at FSU and received the Edward McClure Award at graduation in recognition of her academic performance.

She was recognized as an exceptional student, an active contributor to class discussions, and an excellent writer, analyst, and presenter, throughout her course of study.

Amanda has also excelled in her professional activities while a student in our program. When she entered the master’s program, she was selected for a highly competitive professional internship placement with the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency in Leon County. Not only did her supervisor, Autumn Calder (the agency director), sing her praises as an exemplary employee, but Amanda was also an integral part of a Blueprint project team that won an APA Florida project award (Smokey Hollow Barber Shop and Capital Cascades Trail Segment 3 project) at last year’s conference in West Palm Beach.

Amanda has a strong interest in urban revitalization projects, with a focus on downtown economic development. As stated in her letter of recommendation, “Our faculty know that whatever project she gets involved with will be a success because of her hard work, dedication and creativity.”

Amanda recently began working at Gresham Smith & Partners in Tallahassee.

Rosemarie Fusco, UF Rosemarie is a recent graduate of the UF Program. She currently holds the position of Urban Planner for EnSite Inc., in Fort Myers where her responsibilities include public and private site planning; comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning, annexations, administrative actions, variances and special exceptions.

Rosemarie had one of the highest GPAs of all the students in the program. She achieved this while working as a GIS Analyst at the GeoPlan Center and also serving as a Teaching Assistant.

Additionally she served as secretary of the UF Student Planning Association and assisted with coordinating a recent site visit for reaccreditation.

In the spring of 2018, Rosemarie was chosen as one of three planning students to participate in a spring break field course coordinated by the Florida Climate Institute. The course explored sea level rise adaptation options for the historic City of St. Augustine. The course included students from urban planning, historic preservation, law, coastal engineering, and journalism and organized them into multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions for three study areas in the city. The class met for 8 weeks on campus and then in St. Augustine for one week of field studies and presentation of findings to city officials and the public. Rosemarie excelled in this fast-paced, collaborative environment, was able to communicate across all disciplines, and bring cohesion to the team.

After participating in disaster clean-up in Southwest Florida from the effects of Hurricane Irma, Rosemarie decided to pursue the FEMA first responder certification and is trained in the National Incident Management Software (NIMS).

As stated in a letter of recommendation, “Rosemarie is a personable and charismatic leader, who is not afraid to dive deep, ask questions, and dream big. She has demonstrated leadership and passion for planning…”

Advocates and strategic problem solvers for smart, sustainable communities.

www.carltonfields.com

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 13

Congratulations to the 2019 PROJECT AWARDS RECIPIENTS! The 2019 APA Florida Project Awards were celebrated at the annual conference. These awards recognize the development, conservation, government, or environmental projects where planning has had a positive impact on the outcome. This year there were three Awards of Excellence and nine Awards of Merit. Let’s meet this year’s winners!

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Neighborhoods as Community Assets: The Porters Community Category: Neighborhood Planning Since the 1960’s, planners have wrestled with how to meaningfully engage neighborhoods in planning processes. To meaningfully engage, neighborhoods must possess informational, social, and political capacities. The project, Neighborhoods as Community Assets, pilot tested a new “participatory neighborhood narrative” process for neighborhood capacity building and planning. The process was Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Dr. Laura Dedenbach AICP, Commissioner tested over 15 months in Porters, an historically African American neighborhood in GiGi Simmons, Dr. Kristen Larsen, AICP Gainesville, Florida, which is facing gentrification. The transferrable process directly strengthened the neighborhood by building all three capacities, which in turn led to more meaningful participation and tangible impacts, within the neighborhood and in relation to local planning.

Little Havana Me Importa Revitalization Plan Category: Grassroots Initiative The Little Havana “Me Importa” master plan is the result of unprecedented, grassroots, bilingual public outreach that engaged nearly 3,000 stakeholders. The collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation supports affordable housing, job creation, open space, recreational opportunities, sustainability and preserving unique architecture and heritage. The largely pro-bono effort Left to right: Andrew Georgiadis, Cristina Parrilla, Manuel De Lemos, Juan Mullerat. aims to uplift a low-income community with an urgent need to improve its built environment, supporting healthier living options and paying careful attention to historical assets. The plan for the 1,800+-acre neighborhood addresses dozens of major issues in Miami’s challenged, but historic and culturally-rich Little Havana.

Regional Affordable Housing Initiative Category: Best Practices The City of Orlando, Orange County, Seminole County and Osceola County worked in partnership to produce the Regional Affordable Housing Initiative, a regional plan addressing affordable housing concerns beyond the municipal or county level. The document includes detailed quantitative analysis and identifies a series of financial, regulatory and educational tools intended to be Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, a consistent and uniform framework for mitigating a housing problem existing Esq., LEED GA, Owen Beitsch, FAICP, Ph.D., Susan Caswell, AICP, Jessica Frye, AICP across jurisdictional boundaries. The partnering jurisdictions have all either formally adopted this plan as a policy statement or taken very specific steps to assure critical tools within it are advanced and adopted as necessary. continued on page 15 14 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

[2019] PROJECT AWARDS

continued from page 14

AWARDS OF MERIT Southwest Florida Community Foundation Collaboratory: Rails to Renaissance Category: Planning Project

Left to right: Tony Palermo, AICP, APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Laura Tefft

A century ago the Atlantic Coast Line Railway depot in Fort Myers first delivered passengers and cargo to Southwest Florida. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the City of Fort Myers’ public-private partnership repurposed and reinvented the historic depot to transform the old site into the new “Collaboratory.”

The 2.4-acre campus features vibrant spaces for work, gatherings, special events and regional collaboration. By establishing its regional offices at the Collaboratory through a long-term lease with the City, the Foundation is providing both stewardship of a valuable community asset and leadership in gathering and galvanizing people, ideas and philanthropy.

Coconut Grove Village Core Master Plan Category: Neighborhood Planning

Left to right: Andrew Georgiadis, Cristina Parrilla, Manuel De Lemos, Juan Mullerat.

The Coconut Grove Village Core Master Plan is a comprehensive overview and specific action roadmap to guide the district to proper growth that positively impacts both economic growth and quality of life. PlusUrbia Design’s plan, with support from architects Perkins + Will and Garcia-Pons, was created and drafted from intense stakeholder input. The results-oriented plan provides the tools to improve the identity and character, open space, mobility, land use and form, community and resiliency of the Village Core.

Unanimously adopted, the plan is essential to maintaining the Grove’s history of lush greenery, idyllic waterfront, unique restaurants/retail and one-of-a-kind village vibe.

Midtown Vision Plan: Downtown Fort Myers Integrated Redevelopment Strategy Category: Best Practices

Left to right: Tony Palermo, AICP, APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Laura Tefft

The City of Fort Myers and its partners developed a cohesive strategy for urban design, regulatory revisions and long-range planning for Downtown Fort Myers. The Midtown Vision Plan: Downtown Fort Myers Integrated Redevelopment Strategy was a multi-year effort to engage the community in crafting a vision for the City, its Downtown and the new Midtown. The 243-acre Midtown area was the intense focus of the City’s planning and visioning efforts. The City explored in depth how the new proposed Midtown area will accommodate smart growth, more housing options, and enhanced economic opportunities for the City and its citizens.

Arts & Cultural Master Plan for Downtown Lake Worth Category: Grassroots Initiative

Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Joan Oliva, William Walters

Lake Worth Beach is known as a culturally and architecturally rich city. It is also recognized for embracing various lifestyles and cultures. Leadership from the Community Redevelopment Agency and the City are undertaking a series of initiatives to achieve economic vitality through arts and culture. To build upon past efforts, including the creation of an arts district and the development of live/work artist housing, the Cultural Council, the CRA and the City collaborated to develop an Arts and Culture Master Plan for Downtown Lake Worth. The Master Plan aims to boost arts and culture to create a sustainable, thriving downtown.

continued on page 16

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 15

[2019] PROJECT AWARDS

continued from page 15

AWARDS OF MERIT Glades Region Master Plan Implementation Category: Planning Project

Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Carol Thompson, AICP, Alan Chin Lee

The distressed Glades Region (GR) of Palm Beach County is making significant strides toward achieving economic sustainability, resulting from the GRMP. These strides are attributable to planners securing grant funding from HUD. A three-year planning process produced a plan developed by GR stakeholders and professionals that not only identified, designed and quantified the costs of infrastructure improvements to support development, but also prioritized improvements in areas of most need from a land-use balance, market and accessibility perspective. The GRMP was accepted by HUD in 2016, with improvements recommended by the Plan totaling in excess of $330 million to date.

South Central Park Category: Innovations in Planning for All Ages

Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Eric Labbe, AICP, Heather Reuter, Sean Byers, AICP, Merle Bishop, FAICP

The South Central Park project transformed a typical 1950’s passive park into a engaging space that accommodates a wide array of community uses. This park design preserves the quaint charm and historical significance of the area while welcoming people of all ages and abilities. The design accommodates parking & circulation with a curb-less design, permitting the park to expand into the surrounding streets for events and providing unparalleled accessibility for all users. The park is directly linked to the larger community via a path that connects the park to the City’s Trail System.

Envision St. Cloud Category: Best Practices

Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Andre Anderson, AICP, Pete Sechler, AICP, Patrick Panza, AICP

Developed through an in-depth series of public engagements, Envision St. Cloud drives physical improvements and new policies that reflect the community’s aspirations to be a strong and livable town that embraces its downtown and lakefront through growth that reinforces the positive town-and-country qualities of community character. The scope of the plan includes the entire existing city plus surrounding unincorporated lands that may be included in the city limits in the future.

Maitland Comprehensive Development Plan 2035 Category: Comprehensive Plan- Small

Left to right: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA, Kelley Kleppner, AICP, Dan Matthys, AICP, Harris Berns-Cadle, AICP, Keith Hathaway

The City of Maitland’s 2035 Comprehensive Development Plan is the blueprint for the city’s future, bringing together interconnected neighborhoods, multimodal transportation solutions, and “smart” redevelopment options. Maitland is rapidly reaching buildout, making it important to capitalize on available infrastructure and plan for projects that will increasingly come in the form of infill development and redevelopment of existing properties. With a goal of remaining a model community that is regionally competitive, the bold, yet adaptable plan supports an emerging downtown, maintains a high-quality suburban community experience, and protects cornerstones of the City such as its parks, lakes, and other natural resources. continued on page 17

16 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

[2019] PROJECT AWARDS

continued from page 16

AWARDS OF MERIT Assessment of Planning Risks and Alternative Futures for the Florida Transportation Plan Update Category: Student Project

Front row, left to right: Kristine Williams; Evangeline Linkous, AICP, Ph.D.; Rosemarie Fusco Middle Row: APA Florida President Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA; Andrew Morris; Jeremy Crute; Aastha Patel; Ruth Steiner, Ph. D. Back row: Amanda Sapala; Dennis Smith, AICP; Nathaniel “Nate” Chan; Tyler Griffin

Students from Florida State University, University of South Florida, and University of Florida worked independently for the Florida Department of Transportation to understand how changes in economics, demographics, the environment, technology and global conditions might impact transportation planning over the next 50 years. Upon completing this independent research, the student teams came together to help craft an agenda for a long-range visioning session in support of FDOT’s 2020 update to the Florida Transportation Plan. At the visioning session, attended by over 200 planning professionals, on May 7, 2019, the students highlighted project-derived posters and white papers, hosted a panel discussion on the five areas, and helped with small group facilitation.

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 17

TRAVEL WITH A PLANNER’S EYE We asked our members to send us pictures from recent travels and tell us if they noticed something unique about the city/town/village from a planner’s perspective.

VIETNAM

This is a BRT statio n in Hanoi. It is an interesting work around for handicap and elderly as the platform is raised and the BRT buses do not have steps so that’s there is a smooth transition onto th e bus much like a tra in or a subway.

I know that AstroTurf and other fake grass solutions is a controversial topic among planners. But I personally love these mock grass and rock tiles.

I think if they were used in moderation and outdoor areas they could really blend with a natural environment. Especially in areas where you need hard surfaces for seat, such as sidewalk cafes.

These dimensiona l tree grates are manuf actured in squares and then assembled together to make whatever size you need. It’ s a very decorative solutio n and allows for rainwater an d creates a walkable surface .

t help give Farmer’s Marke a sense of s od ho neighbor mmunity. I identity and co e and picking m love coming ho d fruits up vegetables an freezing to in without walking arkets. rm pe su ile cold and ster

This is the future light rail/ sky train . The first rail mass transit project in Hanoi. They are work ing on two lines now after many delays. The rest is in the remote future.

Tui Munday

Tui Munday is a former senior planner with the City of Miami Beach who moved to Vietnam in May where she now freelances as a planner and works in real estate. She shared some of her planning observations from Hanoi. continued on page 19

18 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

ICELAND

[TRAVEL] PLANNER’S EYE

continued from page 18

PUERTO RICO

Melissa Dickens, AICP

Jeffrey Jenkins, AICP, MPA

The attached is a bike/ped only area in Reykjavik, Iceland. Loved the colorful bike as a pretty alternative to a gate. The flowers as streetlights look really neat too.

On a recent trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I took note of some of the ways that San Juan has redeveloped its waterfront areas following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. It is very satisfying as a planner to see the incorporation of dedicated lanes for bicycles that are clearly separated from vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

ME & CA

Yes, side setbacks are important in downtown Portland, Maine

Bus rapid transit in Bogota.

Wiatt Bowers, AICP

During a trip to Colombia this spring, enhancing access in areas where many people don’t have cars.

Gondola and Escalator Transit in Medellin

COLOMBIA

Multi-modal street in San Francisco during APA NC19

Doug Kelly, AICP continued on page 20

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 19

[TRAVEL] PLANNER’S EYE

continued from page 18

Tulum, Mexico highway from Tulum to Cancun – Instead of black bears or deers drivers must pay attention for black jaguar crossings.

Tulum, Mexico Zona Arqueologica de Tulum – In Mayan, Tulum means “wall” and the city was christened thus because it was once Historic Chinatown a walled city. in Boston.

Amanda Chornoby, AICP

Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston has it all: food, shopping, people watching!

MEXICO & MA SWITZERLAND & GERMANY

Green roof: This was a transit station in the center of Basel Switzerland which had vegetation growing on the roof.

Alex Magee

20 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

Community Garden: This garden is off of one of the main squares in Mainz, Germany. The flowers and plantings are changed every three months. But rather than throw the old ones out, an advertisement is placed in the local paper and residents are invited to come at a specified time, dig up whatever plants they would like and take them home to use in their own yards.

Flying Ferry: This passenger ferry is used to cross the Rhine River in Basel Switzerland – attached to a wire cable that spans the river, the ferry moves from one bank to the other only using the current and the wind.

888.499.9624 www.wadetrim.com

Planning Stronger Communities For nearly a century, we’ve been developing creative and thoughtful solutions to strengthen communities and improve our quality of life. We adapt our work processes to fit the unique demands of each project using a collaborative, friendly style.

The result? Solutions you can stand behind.

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 21

HURRICANE MICHAEL TASK FORCE UPDATE By: Ali Palmer The task force has been working closely with FEMA’s Interagency Recovery Coordination Group to coordinate additional planning support services through the volunteers of the Florida Chapter.

The Hurricane

The task force has been working closely with FEMA’s Interagency

Michael Task Force

Recovery Coordination Group to coordinate additional planning sup-

was proposed at

port services through the volunteers of the Florida Chapter. A grant

the Nov. 2, 2018

writing assistance program has been developed for the use of under-

Executive Commit-

served communities and organizations. The task force has a group of

tee, a few weeks

grant writing volunteers from the chapter ready to provide support.

after the devastating

FEMA’s Interagency Recovery Coordination Group is also looking

storm had hit the

for APA Florida volunteers to assist with the following types of

panhandle region

projects in the underserved communities of the panhandle:

of the state. The

• Affordable Housing Development Technical Assistance

Executive Committee overwhelming supported the task force and

• Downtown Redevelopment Design Guidelines

approved its initiation.

• Commercial Corridor Design Guidelines

Over the course of the last year the Executive Committee approved

& Planning Assistance

a one-time $1,800 donation with funding to be utilized specifically

• Capital Improvement Plan

by our members in the sections affected by the storm. The Executive

• Housing Action Plan

Committee also approved a $2,000 “matching” donation to be

This month marks one year after the storm made landfall and

made to the Community Foundation of Northwest Florida towards

yet the affected communities remain overwhelmed and in need of

Hurricane Michael recovery efforts to be utilized in coordination

our support. If you are interested in becoming part of the task force

with APA Florida support efforts. Additionally, APA Florida members

please contact Beth Otto at elizabeth.otto@fema.dhs.gov or Ali

from across the state stepped up and provided invaluable support

Palmer at alipalmer9212@gmail.com.

Ali Palmer is the chair of the Treasure Coast Section.

services to the Emerald Coast Section in SanDestin resulting in a tremendously successful conference.

22 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

She can be reached at alipalmer9212@gmail.com.

Executive Committee Spotlight Q&A: What is your current position on the State’s Executive Committee?

I serve as Vice-President of Section Affairs. In Florida, we have 12 membership sections located throughout the state. I work with each of the section chairs to support their efforts to bring interesting programs and activities to the sections, and coordinate section grants and scholarships for each section. We’re fortunate to have a very committed group of section chairs.

How do you help our members in this position?

I believe in so many ways the real value and benefits of our membership is found at the state and local level. Our program grants (competitive and non-competitive) provide funding for special programs, speakers and activities thereby reducing the cost of those events. My role includes coordination and communication between the various sections, finding out what is working in one area of the state and sharing that information among the other sections. In 2020 we’ll begin a community engagement program which I think will be very interesting.

Doug Kelly, AICP

What might members not know about your work as an officer on the state’s Executive Committee?

We have an executive director Alex Magee who is incredible. She keeps us in line and on schedule and we could not do what we do without her. There’s so much more that I would like to be doing to advance the recognition of our profession among the allied professions.

Do you have any advice for a new planner who is embarking on their planning career?

It’s really an exciting time to do what we do. First, use the early years of your career to gain as much experience in different subject areas as you can. You’ll have the rest of your career to specialize.

Secondly, find a mentor you feel comfortable with, it’s a fantastic opportunity and we’re seeing more sections in Florida that are organizing mentoring opportunities. Lastly, go to conferences, get inspired, stay connected and travel to the great cities when you can.

Outside of planning, what else do you enjoy doing?

I love flying and spending time with my wife and our three sons, hopefully flying.

Have you held any other positions on the State’s Executive Committee?

Yes, I served as the Orlando Metro Section chair for three years and section chairs serve on the executive committee. I had a blast and it really opened my eyes to the fact that APA Florida is very inclusive. If you’re interested in volunteering, there’s a role for you.

What’s your favorite part of being on the Executive Committee?

Without a doubt, the favorite part is the friendships I’ve made with planners from all over the state who are very passionate about many of the same issues that I face and the causes I support whether they’re just beginning their career or in senior positions.

Who is your current employer and what is your position/duties? Has membership in APA Florida helped you in your career?

I’m based in the Orlando office of GAI-Community Solutions Group and work as a planning manager. I’m fortunate to work in several practice areas throughout the state including private land development and expert witness services.

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 23

APA Florida

PLANNERS ON THE MOVE Mark J. Bennett, AICP, retired from the US Army Reserve at a ceremony on May 18 at Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales. Mark spent most of his 30-year career as Civil Affairs officer, achieving the rank of colonel.

As a Civil Affairs officer, he worked with local governments, non-governmental organizations, and other agencies to address social, economic, and humanitarian issues and concerns.

In 2004, Mark deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. While there he worked with the Amanat Baghdad Roads and Construction Authority and the Planning Authority to restore services, organizational capacity, and provided materials and supplies. He also served as a liaison officer to the Mayoralty of Baghdad, participated in the restoration of the Abu Nuwas Riverfront Park and the preservation of the Ottoman Archives.

During his career, Mark commanded a Civil Affairs Company, a Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Training Battalion, and a Logistics Support Battalion. He also served as a Civil Affairs Plan Officer at the US Special Operations Command, and a Planning Team Chief at the US Southern Command. His significant awards and decorations include the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star (Meritorious Service) and the Parachutist Badge.

He has been an urban planner for more than 30 years, with experience in both the private and public sector at the city and county level. He is employed by the City of Haines City as the Deputy Director of Development Services/CRA Manager, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Alan Gray joined SESCO Lighting’s Public Sector Division as Project Administrator.

Roxann Read, AICP, recently started as the Assistant Development Services Director with the City of Wildwood. She previously was a planner with Sumter County.

Tom Deardorff, AICP, Assistant County Manager for Planning and Development and Executive Director of the Polk Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), retired in September 2019. A graduate of Florida State University, he retired after 33 years of service with Polk County. Tom joins his wife Celeste, who retired in 2018, after more than 20 years of service with the City of Lakeland. They are both entering the third and final year of Audire, an ecumenical training program for spiritual direction.

Laura Lockwood-Herrscher recently joined Patel, Greene and Associates as Planning Group Manager. She will lead the focus of building a planning practice for the firm. Previously Laura served as Intermodal Systems Development Administrator for the Florida Department of Transportation, District One.

RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES VA C AT I O N D E S T I N AT I O N S MEMBERSHIP CLUB C O M M E R C I A L R E A L E S TAT E The St. Joe Company is a Northwest Florida based real estate developer and asset manager. We focus on thoughtfully planned destinations to live, work, play, shop, and vacation near the region’s beautiful white sand beaches.

SAVE THE DATE

JOE.COM

February 5 for the 2020 APA Florida Public Policy Workshop in Tallahassee

© 2019 The St. Joe Company, all rights reserved. The St. Joe Company, “St. Joe,” “JOE,” and the “Taking Flight” design are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliated companies. The advertisement is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate. Void where prohibited by law. The St. Joe Company is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

24 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

APA FLORIDA WORKING FOR YOU APA FLORIDA MEMBERS TAKE THE HILL! APA members participated on Planners Day on the Hill while attending the recent APA Policy & Advocacy Conference in DC. Activities started with the announcement of the 2019 Great Places in America followed by meetings with local congressional members and staff. Lobbying on the hill this year focused on the upcoming reauthorization of surface transportation FAST Act and the need to prioritize planning in the next bill. Florida attendees, led by APA Florida President Laura Everitt, met with House members/staff from the Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Miami areas, as well as with Sen. Rubio’s and Sen. Scott’s staff. Our Florida delegation also included Whit Blanton, FAICP, Tia Keitt, David Capelli and Wiatt Bowers, AICP.

APA FLORIDA’S TEACH-IN GUIDES LET MEMBERS GRAB AND GO TO THE GREAT AMERICAN TEACH-IN! November is the time of year for our nation-wide Great American Teach-In. If you’re planning to take part and share your passion for planning, APA Florida has resources available to assist you with our K-12 Teaching Guides available online at www.florida.planning.org.

These guides have been developed specifically for Florida using Common Core Standards. Each grade level guide provides you with a facilitator guide, activities and necessary materials to make your presentation a winner.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Did you misplace your notes or wish you had jotted down an important fact as you attended some of the 2019 Annual Conference sessions? The chapter has posted all available session presentations from the conference online for our members. Sessions are listed in day and time order. If you do not see a session you were looking for, then the panelist optioned to not make it publicly available.

2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO BEGIN JANUARY 2020 Members will soon be receiving updates on our upcoming Legislative Session which begins January 12, 2020 and ends on March 13, 20202. Information to members will be available throughout the session, which includes a Bill Tracking Report every Friday and updates posted on the Legislative Page at florida. planning.org/legislativenews. At the session’s conclusion, the chapter will provide a summary of the major planning bills passed by the Legislature, as well as a conclusion webinar available to all members. Any questions regarding future bills can be sent to the Chapter Office at fapa@floridaplanning.org. Need a refresher on the legislative process and terminology? Visit the Online Sunshine Information website for helpful resources.

If you do not deal with legislative issues on a daily basis, the information you receive from us may be confusing. A number of materials are available at the Online Sunshine Information website to help you understand the legislative process and vocabulary:

How an Idea Becomes a Bill (Senate Document)

Glossary of Legislative Terms (Senate Document)

Frequently Asked Questions (Senate Document)

AICP CM CREDITS STILL AVAILABLE FOR 2019 REPORTING PERIOD Another AICP credit log period will be closing at the end of December. Now is great time to for members to check their credits to ensure compliance. Do you need more credits? Then visit the CM Maintenance webpage at www.florida.planning.org for a listing of free credit opportunities, including the Planning Webcast Series at ohioplanning.org/planningwebcast.

At the top of this page you will find the four sessions we recorded at the Florida Planning Conference. For those that attended this year’s Annual Conference, all sessions can be found for reporting using the event number of 9177648.

BYLAWS AMENDMENTS APPROVED The recent proposed chapter bylaw amendments were approved. Thank you to the members who took the time to vote and to the members of the Bylaws Committee for their hard work. The bylaws are posted on the website, with the chapter’s other operating documents, here.

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 25

NEW PLANNING EXPERIENCE GAIN AT THE FLORIDA AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONFERENCE

By Mark Bennett, AICP

Editor’s note: Mark was one of the recipients of free registration to the Florida Affordable Housing Conference in August.

We asked for a short recap of his experience there.

This article discusses my attendance at the Florida Housing Coalition’s Annual Conference in Orlando from Aug. 28-30. I was fortunate to receive a complimentary registration courtesy of APA Florida and the Florida Housing Coalition.

For most of my career I’ve been a generalist planner working

The conference started with Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, as the Keynote Speaker. Awards were presented for innovative projects throughout the state. I was able to attend sessions on topics such as 4% Tax Credits, Implementing the Local Government Preference for Housing

Based on this conference, I’ve set up some meetings with potential affordable housing developers. in local government, with some experience in the private sector.

However, I have become interested in housing issues based on a recent appointment to the Polk County Board of County Commissioners Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. I’m currently the Deputy Director of Development Services and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Manager with the City of Haines City, where we’ve started an affordable housing program. For these reasons, I welcomed the opportunity to attend this event.

26 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

Tax Credits, and the use of Community Land Trusts as a method to ensure affordability. During a luncheon, speakers from AARP discussed the need for age-friendly communities that enhance personal independence. As with any conference, there was great networking opportunities.

An unexpected benefit was that I received AICP credits for certain sessions. Given that I’m nearing the end of my two-year certification period, this was a nice bonus!

Thanks to APA Florida and the Florida Housing Coalition for providing this opportunity, and I encourage these organizations to continue this partnership in the future. I also encourage APA Florida to reach out to other allied professions and organizations to continue expanding our knowledge and professional development.

[CONSULTANTS] DIRECTORY Advertise in the Consultants Directory The Consultant Directory is a fitting place to showcase your firm. $250 buys space for a year in the newsletter (five issues) plus inclusion in our webbased consultant directory. Display ads to promote your business, conference, projects and more are available. Contact the Chapter office at 850-2013272 for rates and details.

In a Livable Community, people of all ages can make their town or city a lifelong home. Learn about what’s happening in Florida. Contact Laura Cantwell at lcantwell@aarp.org.

We provide exceptional solutions to help our clients achieve success.

OUR SERVICES Building Code Services · CEI · Code Compliance · Construction Services Engineering · GIS · Governmental Services · Landscape Architecture Planning · Surveying · Traffic Engineering

888.274.0081 · www.cgasolutions.com

Advocates and strategic problem solvers for smart, sustainable communities. www.carltonfields.com

Planning | Urban Design Landscape Architecture Economics | Real Estate

Creating great community places. gaiconsultants.com/communitysolutions

Statewide and State Wise

Joshua I. Long, AICP Certified Planner | jlong@gunster.com | (800) 749-1980

Fall 2019 / Florida Planning 27

[CONSULTANTS] DIRECTORY Advertise in the Consultants Directory The Consultant Directory is a fitting place to showcase your firm. $250 buys space for a year in the newsletter (five issues) plus inclusion in our webbased consultant directory. Display ads to promote your business, conference, projects and more are available. Contact the Chapter office at 850-2013272 for rates and details.

Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando www.WaldropEngineering.com (855) Waldrop

[LET’S CELEBRATE] OUR MEMBERS

continued from page 8

recovery process. His volunteer efforts with his neighbor Zoo World kicked off an ongoing relationship which was recently rewarded with having a flamingo in a new exhibit named in his honor.

When Matthew is not in the office, he can be found immersed in a wide range of hobbies: visiting zoos, travel and cruises, camping, and cooking. However, his favorite pastime is riding roller coasters and enjoying amusement parks. To date, he has ridden more than 850 different roller coasters worldwide. When not searching out the latest coaster, he relaxes in the water of the Emerald Coast. Finally, all that know him, knows that he is a true living Peter Pan.

CHRIS RIETOW

(Nominated by Macy Fricke, AICP, Capital Area Section)

Chris Rietow has been in the planning field since 2000. Upon completing a required internship at the Apalachee Regional 28 Fall 2019 / Florida Planning

Planning Council (ARPC), Chris was hired as a full-time regional planner, and then appointed its executive director in 2013.

Chris appreciates that working at the ARPC has given him incredible opportunities to work with local, state and federal partners on regional initiatives such as economic development, emergency preparedness, growth management, transportation and many more.

“I believe the regional planning councils are in a unique position to convene partners that may not normally work together for the benefit of creating regional solutions,” he notes.

A recent example of this comes in the wake of Hurricane Michael, which devastated a mostly rural part of the state comprising the majority of the ARPC’s local governments. The Apalachee Region was hurting economically before the storm and now almost a year later, the challenges are even more daunting. In response, the ARPC Board recently directed staff to host an economic development summit on industrial hemp.

In roughly more than two months’, Chris and his staff worked with partners to convene the Inaugural 850 Hemp Summit. Over 260 participants attended to hear from North Florida’s farmers and the multitude of stakeholders across the state, including hemp cultivation and production experts, Florida Department of Agriculture representatives, legislators, policymakers and economic development officials on the current status, challenges and opportunities of the industry, and to make recommendations for improving the program.

Chris cites work like this that makes him proud to be in the planning field and to have the opportunity to make a difference.

When away from work, he enjoys camping, mountain biking, kayak fishing, hiking and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Planning from Florida State University.

[FLORIDA] PLANNING

[THANK YOU] TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS

Published by the Florida Chapter, American Planning Association, the Florida Planning newsletter has a current circulation of 3,200 members, subscribers and other readers. Four issues are published a year.

CHANGES OF ADDRESS For APA members, Send to: Member Records Department American Planning Association 205 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1200 Chicago, IL 60601 Fax: 312-786-6700 or log onto www.planning.org/myapa

ARTICLES Florida Planning welcomes articles, announcements, letters, pictures and advertising. Call 850-201-3272 regarding articles.

The next issue will be published February 2020.

DEADLINES Article deadlines are generally four weeks prior to publication.

Ad deadlines are generally two weeks prior to publication. Consult the editor for any exception to this schedule.

ABOUT THE CHAPTER APA Florida is a non-profit organization funded through membership dues and fees.

Contributions are also welcomed for general purposes and earmarked programs. Please note that contributions are not tax deductible.

For news and information on Chapter concerns, visit the APA Florida website at florida planning.org.

[UPCOMING] EVENTS NOV. 13: WEBINAR: COVERING ALL THE BASES: EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN THE M-CORES PROCESS During this webinar Tim Jackson, 1000 Friends of Florida Treasurer and Director of Real Estate for Weyerhauser, will discuss M-CORES within the context of Florida and federal transportation planning processes. Florida Conservation Voters Government Relations Director Lindsay Cross will discuss efforts underway to halt the toll roads through a broad, growing coalition of environmental, community and business organizations. Information here. 1.5 CM. Free.

NOV. 13: AN EVENING WITH JEFF SPECK St. Petersburg. Florida is well-known as one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians. The increasing lack of walkability in American cities has led to dire health implications, economic drain, and a rapid and harmful decrease in civic engagement. Conversely, those American cities that have embraced walkable urbanism are thriving. We invite you to join renowned urban planner Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, to discuss the importance of walkability in building an engaged, healthy, and economically viable community. Information here. $20 NOV. 21: MISSING MIDDLE HOUSING FORUM Fort Lauderdale. South Florida’s Housing market is one of the most expensive in the country.

According to Harvard’s Joint Center of Housing Studies 2017 Rental Housing Report, the Miami Metro Area ranked No. 1 on the list of most rent burdened areas in the nation. The panel discussion, followed by a Q&A will discuss policies, plans, tools. and incentives and project examples that create additional market rate and subsidized housing stock to address the missing middle housing gap. Information here. 2 CM. DEC. 11: WEBINAR: 2020 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW The actions taken during the 2020 Florida Legislative Session will have significant public policy impacts for planning, conservation, transportation, community design and other issues of concern to many Floridians with myriad impacts for concerned citizens, professionals, local elected officials and others. Information here. 1.5 LAW CM. Free.

APA Florida 2017 Delta Boulevard, Suite 201 Tallahassee, FL 32303

DEC. 12: FLORIDA CIVIC ADVANCE SUMMIT Seminole. The Florida Civic Advance supports and strengthens civic progress in Florida’s communities. The FCA is a collaborative initiative involving an emerging network of 59 local, regional and statewide organizations, who believe civic matters and are committed to strengthening civic life. Information here. 1.5 LAW CM. Free.

Phone: 850-201-3272 Fax: 850-807-2576

For more information on these and other APA Florida events, please visit florida.planning.org/calendar/