Summer 2020 | The Graying of Florida

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

Summer 2020

florida.planning.org

MAKING

Florida

MORE HUMAN FRIENDLY

By Jeff Johnson

AARP founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus was an early champion of age-friendliness.

In 1961, Dr. Andrus conceived “Freedom House,” her concept of a home with amenities and design standards that would allow older adults to live independently at home longer as they age. The model was shown to President Eisenhower at the White House Conference on Aging, and successfully brought awareness to older adults’ concerns that had long been overlooked. It even had its own showcase at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

Fast forward 60 years, helping Americans aged 50 and older stay at home longer continues to be one of the key pillars of the AARP’s social mission and a driving force continued on page 4

OTHER FEATURES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

7

Opening a Door to Aging in Place

11

How Planners Can Help Create the "Villages" to Care for our Parents

14

Creating Safer Streets for Florida's Aging Population with Road Safety Audits

16

Best Practices: Covid-19 Has Some Cities Closing Streets to Car Traffic

18

Welcome to the VIRTUAL FPC20

21

Cast Your Ballot 2020 APA Florida Election Slate

President’s Message - p. 3 Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Survey Insights - p. 12 Plan to Attend the Annual Member Meeting p. 19 Planner Q&A p. 20 Planners on the Move p. 21 APA Working for You - p. 22 Consultants Directory - p. 23 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

Treasure Coast Section

Kori Benton, AICP

727-462-2518

treasurecoast@floridaplanning.orgf

Secretary

Lara Bouck, AICP, PE

407-481-5672

secretary@floridaplanning.org

San Felasco Section

Terry Clark, AICP, PMP

561-346-6392

sanfelasco@floridaplanning.org

Atlantic Coast Section

Mike Disher, AICP

386-236-2183

atlanticcoast@floridaplanning.org

Capital Area Section

Macy Fricke, AICP

850-380-2812

capitalarea@floridaplanning.org

EPG Representative

Sofia Garantiva

813-276-8330

ypg@floridaplanning.org

Promised Lands Section

Jason Green, AICP

promisedlands@floridaplanning.org

University Liaison

Christopher Hawkins

407-823-2604

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VP Communications

Michelle Heinrich, AICP

813-276-2167

communications@floridaplanning.org

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321-319-3213

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Kayla Lloyd

813-727-9953

students@floridaplanning.org taf

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813-282-2300

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352-415-1933

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Juan Mullerat

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407-245-0300

orlandometro@floridaplanning.org

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Kristen Nowicki, AICP

954-660-2432

broward@floridaplanning.org

VP Certification Maintenance

Jill Quigley, AICP

954-641-5680

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Treasurer

John Roach, AICP

561-822-1448

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Yexsy Schomberg

561-299-0508

membership@floridaplanning.org

First Coast Section

Ray Spofford, AICP

904-265-3189

firstcoast@floridaplanning.org

VP Conference Services

Thuy Turner, AICP, LEED AP BD+C

954-828-2400

conferencesvcs@floridaplanning.org

Heart of Florida Section

Tom Wodrich, AICP, MPA

863-838-8511

heartoffl@floridaplanning.org

Emerald Coast Section

Randy Woodruff, AICP

850-689-7347

emeraldcoast@floridaplanning.org

Executive Director

Julia “Alex“ Magee

850-201-3272

fapa@floridaplanning.org

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Denise Johns-Smith

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Communications Coordinator Patti Shea

850-201-3272

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Lester Abberger

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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 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE At the beginning of each year, the Editorial Committee meets to determine our monthly publication themes.

While we didn’t plan it, I appreciate the double entendre of this month’s Florida Planning theme: The Graying of Florida. Many of us are really missing our hairdressers right now, but that isn’t the greying we are talking about. We’re talking about the growing proportion of older Florida residents.

Approximately, one in four of Florida’s residents is projected to be age 65 or older by 2030. In this issue we explore topics such as Florida’s efforts to be more age-friendly, ADUs, safe streets for senior and more. This issue also gives us the opportunity to celebrate our partnership with AARP. Our two organizations collaborate on a number of activities throughout the year and have found it to be a very rewarding partnership.

Approximately, one in four of Florida’s residents is projected to be age 65 or older by 2030.

APA Florida volunteers and staff have been hard at work over the last several months on a few important initiatives: • Florida Planning Conference (FPC20): By now, each of you knows that we are moving to a virtual format for our annual Florida Planning Conference. The conference team is doing an amazing job of researching all of the best ideas and generating a few of their own to make this a great time. Be sure to block Sept. 9-11, 2020, for the conference. (Also see pp. 18) • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee: The EDI Committee is working hard to analyze the results of our first EDI survey, to provide opportunities for member conversation around these topics, and to develop a list of resources for selfeducation on this topic. Join us on Aug. 5 for an online forum. (Also see pp. 12) • Legislative Policy Committee (LPC): The LPC has been driving the update to our Legislative Platform and advising our Legislative Representative on advocacy issues. APA Florida was part of the successful advocacy efforts to encourage Governor DeSantis to veto SB 410. Members will have an opportunity to review and approve our Legislative Platform at our Annual Membership Meeting. (See pp. 22)

Please stay tuned for more details on each of these important initiatives.

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 3

[AARP]

continued from cover

behind its livable communities and age-friendly work.

In 2015, there were 65 age-friendly communities nationwide and only two in the Sunshine State. Today, Florida is one of seven age-friendly states and territories, and is home to 36 of the 468 age-friendly communities nationwide.

On April 23, 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis designated the State of Florida as the fourth state to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

“As our state continues to grow, we must ensure that we do all that we can to meet the needs of our residents. I am proud that Florida is leading by becoming the largest state to commit to this important effort,” DeSantis said.

We have come so far in five years, but our work at AARP is not done yet. We have a long way to go to making Florida a safe, accessible, and enjoyable place to live for residents of all ages.

AGE-FRIENDLY? REALLY, HUMAN-FRIENDLY

from Millennials to Boomers, value many of the same community features. The results from our 2018 survey show that all generations want:

• Safe, accessible transportation stops • Affordable housing options • Safe parks and outdoor spaces • Activities that are affordable and accessible for all residents

MAKING ‘AGE-FRIENDLY’ COMMUNITIES As of 2018, 77 percent of adults aged 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible. They face major challenges, however, in aging safely in place, including appropriate housing and transportation choices. For example, 34 percent of adults need to make major repairs or modifications to their homes to help them stay in their homes.

The needs and wants of individuals of all ages emphasize the importance of creating age-friendly communities, one that is free from physical and social barriers and is supported by policies, systems, products, and technologies that:

Age-friendly communities are an intergenerational effort, making a community • Promote health and build and maintain livable and accessible for people across the physical and mental capacity across lifespan. Among the enrolled communities the life course surveyed in 2019, 60 percent reported age-friendly public policy changes, such as • Enable people, even when Complete Street policies and 85 percent experiencing capacity loss, reported other successes, such as increasing Top/middle caption: AARP Founder Dr. Ethel Percy to continue to do the things Andrus showing President Eisenhower her idea for awareness of age-friendly efforts. they value. the Home of the Future during the inaugural White To join the AARP network – whose origins House Conference on Aging.

Examples of policies and projects that begin at the World Health Organization – Lower: Dr. Andrus at the Dynamic Maturity age-friendly communities have put in Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. communities commit to a five-year process place include: that starts with conducting a survey of • Complete Street policies that promote multimodal, community needs in year one, creating an action plan in year two, safe street designs and implementing that action plan in years three to five. To date, 20 communities in Florida have completed their assessments and 13 • Intergenerational parks which are designed and communities have completed their action plans. accessible for individuals of all ages. AARP created an We’re working to build communities that are accessible for intergenerational parks guide to help communities with the people of all ages and backgrounds. We have found that everyone, planning process continued on page 5

4 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

[AARP]

continued from page 4

• Affordable and intergenerational housing options, such as accessory dwelling units that enable people to age in place Each year, the AARP Livable Communities team awards Community Challenge Grants to promote the age-friendly efforts of our communities and fund livable projects. Past awardees in Florida include: • Historic Springfield in Jacksonville for bicycle repair stations • Pensacola’s Harmony Park, an intergenerational musical instrument park that is accessible to people of all ages

Additionally, one of our age-friendly communities, Winter Haven, was named the winner of the APA’s 2019 Great Places in Florida Award.

As Florida’s population of older adults increases, the needs of our residents will continue to change, emphasizing the importance of age-friendly communities. Age-friendly communities can help meet these needs and ensure that all of our communities are livable and accessible for people of all ages.

We like to think that Dr. Andrus would be happy with how far we have come.

Jeff Johnson is AARP Florida’s State Director. He can be reached at jpjohnson@aarp.org.

• Tallahassee’s accessible, linear park that connects two neighborhood parks and promotes outdoor recreation

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 5

6 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

OPENING A DOOR TO AGING IN PLACE: Accessory Dwelling Units and What We Can Learn from St. Pete

By Kim Ogren

When the City of St. Petersburg adopted

“Over the past 12 years, home design has evolved

an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance in

to building homes that accommodate the changing

September 2019, they created the

demographics of our nation. More housing is being

opportunity to diversify housing types within

developed for a mix of life stages and at a range of

their existing traditional neighborhoods.

price points, including extended families and caretakers, those who may need first-floor living and

The city’s general residential zoning districts are either traditional or suburban. There’s a reason why housing diversification is a goal in many Florida plans, namely as the means to address affordability issues. However, diversification, so far, has less often been achieved within existing neighborhoods due to a number of barriers associated with unique complexities of infill development.

And land economics still pull large-scale, single-type investors to the outskirts of our towns.

But that’s no reason to let up. The American Planning Association’s 2019 updated Housing Policy Guide continues to help build the case.

zero-step entries, larger families, and single-person households. A diversity of housing types accommodates all needs.”

Florida is no stranger to supporting the needs of retirees. From retirement communities, including resort style living, to lifestyle campuses with institutionalized care, modest housing types mobile home parks, and rental or subsidized housing units. These are the housing types available for Florida’s aging population and as well as that which migrates here from other places. continued on page 8

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 7

[ACCESSORY DWELLING] ST. PETE

continued from page 7

AARP educates its members and partners with subject-matter experts to keep attention on how the missing middle is an important strategy beyond the traditional ways of thinking about housing diversification. In fact, it created a team to handle this task.

Danielle Arigoni, director of AARP’s Livable Communities Program, builds the case about the needs for and benefits of housing diversification, including ADUs, for aging adults during one of the advocacy organization’s webinars. Arigoni concludes: • Current patterns aren’t serving older adults well.

• Less than 1% of homes have a set of features needed to support aging in the home. And more than 50% of renters 65+ are rent burdened in 2015.

• Average American outlives their ability to drive by 6-10 years.

• Older adults are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters and aren’t fully prepared for emergency situations.

• Isolation and loneliness are worse for health than obesity.

• The health risks of prolonged isolation and loneliness = smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

The webinar also explains how limited the options are: Either single-family neighborhoods or multi-family condos and apartments. What’s needed is something in the middle. Hence the Missing Middle, which includes ADUs, duplexes, quads and other modest multi-unit parcels. What about the chance to live in an established neighborhood – either in your own home – or in a small house?

Again, AARP provides planners with important big picture information, such as the results of its 2018 Home Community Preference Survey: 75% of people age 50+ want to stay in their homes  and communities.

Homesharing is on the rise, from 2% up to16%,  Desirable amenities include safe streets, health  care facilities, parks, grocery stores, 33% of homeowners interested in building ADUs  for help, income and companionship.

However, we are living in the midst of vast, yet to be understood, changes to what aged means. It is no longer just a number. And as society faces unprecedented shocks and stressors related to the social, health, and financial impacts of climate change and severe weather events, reverberating job instability, and access to healthcare, planners have the opportunity facilitate diverse housing options within existing communities as a way to guard against what otherwise would become a cascading downfall to community, family, and individual resilience.

What St. Pete has done through its approach to addressing the missing middle is marry the research that compels places to look for more housing diversity with the market forces on location, location, location. St. Pete’s population of around 260,000 resident trends younger. Despite that, the process exemplifies a way to think of ADUs as what biologists call, keystone species.

In administrative terms: St. Pete moved through a variety of procedural and substantive needs, that have positive outcomes for the aging. The process St. Pete followed did not target a segment of the population, but rather leveraged needs and concerns raised by citizens to dedicate focused planning capacity on the neighborhood design that opens the door to one unit at a time. In 2020, CNU recognized the Town of Bryan, Texas and its planner firm, Infill Group, for the merits of its Midtown Pattern Zone. While not exactly the same thing, St. Pete’s efforts mimic the pattern zoning approach, which has been described as a “novel approach, and continued on page 9

8 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

[ACCESSORY DWELLING] ST. PETE

continued from page 8

technique for convenient-yet-contextual densification of existing urban landscapes.”

St. Pete Rising reported on the impact of the city’s update to the LDRs. Currently, the city requires a minimum lot size of 5,800 SF for a homeowner to be eligible to build an ADU. With this change, the minimum lot size will be reduced to 4,500 SF. This change may not seem significant but it will open up approximately 9,617 lots citywide for potential ADUs. That’s about a 43 percent increase in eligible lots. ADUs are already very common in desirable neighborhoods like Old Northeast, Crescent Lake, Historic Uptown, and Historic Roser Park. This change will simply allow homeowners in other neighborhoods to build ADUs too, potentially adding to St. Pete’s housing stock.

So, what did the city do to accomplish this? To start, a 2017 Florida Planning Magazine piece by Liz Abernethy, AICP, provides a playbook for 85 changes to the LDRs were part of a Phase I effort to address concerns about residential redevelopment. Breaking Down the Big Box House is a great refresher on how the city passed a Floor Area Ratio for residential homes is a great refresher and laid the groundwork for Phase II that focused on ADUs. Abernathy describes a similar planning process for Phase II that has resulted in allowing ADUs in existing Traditional Neighbor-

hood Districts, resulting in that 43 percent increase in eligibility described above. Because city staff is unburdened by constant backlog of rezoning applications, Abernethy and her staff took to the streets to observe homesites and other contextual conditions such as access, made basic queries in their GIS system that generated scenarios with ADUs on different sized lots, and spoke with stakeholders including developers and neighborhood associations early and often to share and exchange information that informed further testing and refinement.

The resulting Ordinance #375-H is summarized in a 2 ½ page handout. The thorough, approach marrying data-driven knowledge with field work and citizen engagement enabled all parties to understand with a degree of confidence, the impacts of the ordinance, before it was passed. St. Pete’s comprehensive, yet incremental approach to infill, focused on the built environment rather any one segment of the population, that will serve multiple needs as they change, provides certainty in uncertain times, which in turn, enables positive change planners strive to achieve and an important option for individuals who are planning for their own future.

Kimberly Ogren is the founder of Ogren Planning & Communications. She can be reached at kim@kimogren.com.

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Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 9

10 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

HOW PLANNERS CAN HELP CREATE

THE ‘VILLAGES’ TO CARE FOR OUR PARENTS By: Kim Ogren About 10 years ago I left my planning-adjacent career to become a caregiver for my parents. I was in a fortunate position where I have an understanding husband who was alright with me spending more time with them. I want to share my experience with other planners living with or caring for aging parents and those with interests in working in powerful ways with health and aging sector colleagues.

Bonus: You don’t have to draft an ordinance!

HERE’S MY STORY: Initially, my parents didn’t need the kind of physical Kim with her father, for whom care that comes to mind.

It was the ordinary stuff of living – namely in form of motivating, remembering, deciding, and acting – grocery shopping, bill paying, lawn maintenance, home repairs, meal prepping, staying socially engaged. They had gotten along so well for so long thanks in no small part to the tight knit community of neighbors, all of whom had lived within steps of one another for decades. On more than one occasion, the retired nurses had jumped to my father’s aid when things did fall apart. Lots of casseroles were exchanged over the years preceding my visits. A few late night calls telling me what room a parent was in at the

hospital, or that they sent the ambulance away. One neighbor drove another to the grocery store every Saturday morning at 7:00 for years. Deep into phase I of my visiting, as my unknown future and incredibly familiar past simultaneously unfolded before me on my front lawn, the lawn I had played in for nearly 50 years, I counted 6 aging couples or singles in a similar boat as my parents. While I was feeling the pressure of no good choices for the future, a lightbulb went off.

I remembered learning about a national organization established to help people, friends, neighborhoods, establish the services needed to keep aging she was a caregiver for 10 years. people living at home longer. In typical fashion, my brain was wired to make lemonade out of the situation. I could marry my skills as a planner, problem-solver, my exposure to innovative nonprofit programs, and my duties as an only child to create a shared economy among my parents and their neighbors. We could figure this out. I just need a little help and guidance.

I called the Village to Village Network, the organization I had learned about in my work. Based in D.C., I spoke with a staff person who verified that they were established to help create and support villages. Not those Villages but the villages of the social movement. continued on page 12

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 11

[PLANNERS] CARING FOR PARENTS

continued from page 11

More, the communal neighborhoods that come to mind with shared meals, but that too is an outdated way of thinking about them. The Village to Village is anything but organic in its approach to helping people take the steps needed to establish and operate one. They provide comprehensive standard advice, procedures, education and support, including shared learning, of a wide range of village types across the country. The staff person was intrigued by my idea, but as I began to understand the level of coordination and organization that would be needed, I quickly realized it was too late for me to take it all on myself. In fact, in my interview for this piece with the Executive Director Barbara Sullivan, the first thing she tells people when they call to say they want to start a village is, “Great! Gather 5 to 10 friends who also want to and call me back!”

Fast forward to today. My parents are gone. At least half of those neighbors are gone. Some are still in their homes in greatly diminished states. Their families no doubt worrying like I did.

Or more so because the network is gone. Knowing the heroism demanded of me and an entire staff of people to care for my parents, my heart still aches for anyone struggling with caregiving.

Now that I’m on the other side of things, I find myself in conversation, nearly constantly, with peers, planners and other forward thinkers or recent retirees a little older than my 50 years, most of whom are thinking about how they are going to live outside of the institutionalized care facilities most of us have had some

experience with. Part of my experience involved visiting retirement communities and assisted-living facilities (ALFs) from Destin to Gainesville to Miami and south further. I grew up in tow with my mother as she cared for our close and distant family members. My father-in-law is the longest, maybe most satisfied, resident of a 5-star facility in Pinellas County.

Couple this reality with the warp speed that environmental, social and economic shocks and stressors are coming at our communities, who are made up of people. COVID has given new meaning to aging in place. And sadly, excruciatingly, new meaning of isolation for the elderly in corporate owned and operated housing.

Leverage this against the incredible progress being made in the planning and health fields to share and expand roles around the social and physical determinants of health.

Kimberly Ogren is the founder of Ogren Planning & Communications. She can be reached at kim@kimogren.com.

Village to Village Network Villages 101 (downloads as a pdf) Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home by the National Institutes on Aging

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLNUSION SURVEY INSIGHTS: LISTENING TO YOU Join us on Aug. 5 for an online forum

Please participate in the forum to learn about the findings and lend your voice to the effort to create a more equitable, more diverse, and APA Florida’s Equity, Diversion and Inclusion (EDI) Committee is a more inclusive planning community in Florida. convener and connector to engage and empower APA Florida members We invite you to join APA Florida’s EDI forum on Wednesday, to act collectively and individually as change agents in service to Aug. 5, from 11 am to 1 pm ET, to learn about the findings and people facing discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion. lend your voice to the effort to create a more equitable, more Earlier this year, the EDI Committee launched a survey to better diverse, and more inclusive planning community in Florida. understand the intersection of experiences and work of planners in Florida in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion. APA Florida expects to use the survey results as a means to initiate broader REGISTER FOR THE FORUM HERE. conversations and inform specific actions improving how a diverse profession serving diverse communities actively works to eliminate unconscious bias and systemic discrimination.

This online forum will include: • Presentation of Survey Results • Panel discussion on Survey Insights; and • Interactive discussion of ongoing concerns and the path forward.

12 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

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Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 13

Creating Safer Streets for Florida’s Aging Population with Road Safety Audits

By Benazir Portal and Kevin Walford living facilities that were identified through a A 2017 study completed by the Miami-Dade data-driven analysis as the top priority locations Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) to address. revealed that 11 percent of all crashes in the TPO and Kittelson (the study team) county between 2008-14 occurred within a coordinated a multidisciplinary group including quarter mile of older adult living centers. The representatives from the Florida Department goal of the Aging Road Users Strategic Safety of Transportation (FDOT) District Six (traffic Plan, was to improve the safety and mobility operations and design units), Miami-Dade of older adults on the road “…by reducing their County Department of Transportation and Public fatalities, serious injuries, and crashes, while Works, City of Miami, City of Hialeah, staff for maintaining their mobility and independence.” the various assisted living facilities, residents, The older adult population (defined as 65 and Live Healthy Little Havana, a project that years or age and older) in Florida is increasing, the City of Miami put forward for the Little and areas where there are high concentrations Havana neighborhood where two of the identified of older adult citizens need attention from facilities were located. transportation professionals. Many older adults are not capable of driving themselves and rely ROAD SAFETY AUDIT PROCESS & on walking, transit services or shared mobility RECOMMENDATIONS to access, at a minimum, basic services. This is The study team gathered information especially true in disadvantaged areas. through background research, data collection, In 2019, the TPO implemented the field reviews, and meeting with residents and recommendations set forth in the Aging staff at the Assisted Living Facilities. Learning Road Users Strategic Safety Plan. These about residents’ daily experiences was key recommendations included conducting Road to uncovering safety concerns. For example, Safety Audits (RSAs) at priority locations residents told the team about a specific and identifying potential road safety issues Courtesy of Miami-Dade TPO. unsignalized intersection that they frequently and opportunities for safety improvements crossed out of convenience, but noted vehicles consistent with the procedures outlined in tend to drive through that intersection at high speeds, making it a the Federal Highway Administration RSA guidelines. The TPO safety hazard. brought on Kittelson & Associates, Inc. (Kittelson) to assist with continued on page 15 the development of the study and conduct an RSA at five assisted

14 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

[SAFER STREETS] FOR AGING POPULATION

continued from page 14

All of this information was incorporated into the analysis, which recommended nearly 140 projects including, but not limited to, maintenance projects, signage improvements, pavement markings, and signalized crossing evaluations. Some solutions were identified that could be implemented quickly as part of a systemic safety approach, while others will require further analysis and allocated funding to advance. Once implemented, these projects will improve safety conditions for residents of the assisted living facilities, as well as other members of the community who share the roads and utilize area transit stops.

Three Takeaways for Transportation Planners There are a few takeaways from our work that may benefit other agencies and planners: 1. The makeup of the team matters. An RSA requires a multidisciplinary approach, but the specific makeup of the team brought many benefits to the project. Specifically, representatives from FDOT District Six and the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works helped us address “low hanging fruit� improvements that could be implemented immediately, such as signal timing adjustments.

2. Community engagement means listening for missing pieces of

the story. Collaborating with the Live Healthy Little Havana team, who brought insight from previous conversations, public input and observations, combined with listening openly to residents’ daily experiences gave us key information that we would not have attained through field observations and data collection only.

3. For a solution to be truly context-sensitive, there must be a way for everyone to be heard. The identified assisted living facilities are located in disadvantaged areas and many residents were non-English speakers. Thankfully, Benazir is a Bolivian native and was able to lead many of the workshops in Spanish, but the team had to shift our approach to make it work. For community engagement to be inclusive, these considerations must be identified early on.

This project is a good example of prioritizing safety for older adults and populations in disadvantaged communities with limited automobile access and underscores the need for infrastructure that supports all modes of transportation. For additional information, the team project managers may be contacted below.

Benazir Portal is a senior engineer at Kittelson & Associates, Inc. She can be reached at bportal@kittelson.com. Kevin Walford is a transportation planner at the Miami-Dade TPO. He can be reached at kevin.walford@mdtpo.org.

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 15

Best Practices: COVID-19 Has Some Cities Closing Streets to Car Traffic

by Devan Leavins and Michelle Heinrich, AICP

Find out how cities are using pre-pandemic practices to help TALLAHASSEE. As part of the City of Tallahassee’s commitment to supporting a vibrant, active community pre-COVID-19, it regularly closed roads to allow gatherings of people. Several areas have been specially designed to easily shift from vehicular to pedestrian use. While this is typically part of the fabric of Tallahassee, there have not been any local road closures specifically in response to COVID-19.

One example of this intentional use can be found in the Midtown area. In the city’s placemaking plan, a goal was established to create a plaza, which could be easily closed to vehicles, from an existing street segment. The street is about a block in length and was upgraded with brick walls that double as seating. Gas lamp lighting was added to enhance the pedestrian realm of the streetscape. This plaza has been used for multiple events over the years, and the success of these events led to the implementation of the once-a-year closure of an adjacent DOT road for Taloofa Fest. This annual event was started by the Midtown Merchants as a way to bring people to the district to enjoy local music, food and history.

16 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

Tallahassee also reclaimed streets through a protected bike lane project. About five years ago, the TallahasseeLeon County Planning Department implemented this project by reassigning an eastbound and westbound lane of traffic from a set of three-lane, one-way streets. Initially, this was a temporary pilot project, but due to its success, it is still on the ground today. The bike lane connects downtown to the campus of Florida State University and is part of the City of Tallahassee’s extensive bike route network. When the project begin, citizens were concerned that redefining these lanes as protected bike lanes would increase traffic congestion; however, the impact to vehicle traffic has been continued on page 17

[CLOSING STREETS] TO CAR TRAFFIC

continued from page 16

minimal. Today, to widened sidethis infrastructure walks and improved is used by several streetscapes along types of microClematis Street. mobility users, This program will providing a safe take it a step further space on the road with alleyways and for bicyclists and parking lots also e-scooter users. being activated for Beyond these pedestrian use. More designed, multiinformation is use spaces, available here.

Tallahassee also closes roads to TAMPA. vehicular traffic The City of Tampa temporarily for has responded to community events.

COVID-19 impacts For example, the with Lift Up Local The Longest Table in Tallahassee.

Images courtesy of the City of Tallahassee.

Longest Table, Economic Recovery which began in Plan – A Guide for 2015, draws north of 500 citizens to one location to share a free Expanded Restaurant & Retail Space. Vehicular use areas have been meal and good conversation at a long, uninterrupted table. To acrepurposed as open and walkable areas to serve as an extension of commodate such an event, the Longest Table is typically held in the local businesses, which are currently operating under limited indoor middle of a street, stretching for up to two blocks. Vehicle traffic is capacity. Restaurants and business can help create more areas for re-routed for several hours to allow residents time to mingle and eat. social distancing within three designated “café and retail zones” of These are only a few examples of how Tallahassee has opened it the city – which are entire sections of roadways closed 24 hours a roads to citizens to enjoy outside of their vehicle. From parades and day, seven days a week. These public roadway areas can now be block parties to 5Ks and art shows, each demonstrates the imporused for sidewalk cafes, parklets, and tent areas by local businesses tance of communal space within our community and further develops using temporary materials, such as tables and chairs, along with vithe vibrant place we strive to create. sual/physical barrier materials. Additionally, the plan allows private parking lots to convert up to 50 percent of the spaces to allow for ST. PETERSBURG. retail and dining use. Find more information here.

Restart St. Pete is the City of St. Petersburg’s response to their local economy during the impacts of COVID-19. This multi-faceted WINTER PARK plan offers assistance in terms of job growth, housing and resiliency. Winter Park focused their efforts around a weekend which typiA large part of the effort addresses what can be now to help busically involves dining out, gift shopping and spending time with famnesses open. The city began offering restaurants with the ability ily – Mother’s Day. The city hosted a weekend long “socially distant to expand existing on-site outdoor dining area through a temporary shopping and dining experience” with the closing of three public use permit. Permit standards outline required site layout and design streets within the downtown to allow for outdoor restaurant seating standards to be complied with. Also available is the temporary conand retail displays. Handwashing and sanitizing stations were proversion of off-street parking to allow restaurant and retail uses for a vided by the city within the now pedestrian only area. Additionally, 72-hour time period. Click here for more information. the city allowed the extension of restaurant service to the outdoors for restaurants throughout the city.

Devan Leavins is a planner with the city of Tallahassee. He WEST PALM BEACH. can be reached at devan.leavins@talgov.com. Michelle Heinrich, The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, West AICP is a principal planner with Hillsborough County. She can be Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of West reached at heinrichm@hillsboroughvounty.org.

Palm Beach partnered to launch Dining on the Spot – a program that helps the restaurant community safely serve city residents. Downtown West Palm Beach is already poised to offer exterior dining due Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 17

WECOME TO THE

VIRTUAL FPC20!

What has fantastic speakers, scintillating sessions, mobile tours, fun games and more? Why the 2020 Florida Planning

Conference, of course! Just with a slight twist this year.

The APA Florida Conference Committee pivoted earlier this year to take its in-person annual member virtual and has planned a wonderful experience on Sept. 9 - 11.

Our goal this year was to create a fun, interactive and rewarding experience, as close to the in-person events as possible, without you having to leave home. We will have both opening and closing plenary speakers, more than 24 informative sessions, and mobile tours. As in previous years, there will also be question and answer sessions with the plenary speakers, meet-and-greet opportunities with your Chapter President and President-Elect, and even happy hours,

which will be filled with fun Planners’ Bingo and trivia games to test your knowledge. To start your day right, we’ve also planned yoga classes to stretch your body and relax your mind.

We are striving to bring value to your 2020 conference registration by offering more than 29 AICP CM credits on a variety of topics, but focusing this year on diversity and inclusion. Lastly, for anyone who has been unable to attend the Chapter Conference in the past, we believe this year will be a great opportunity for you to join and meet with other planners across the state without incurring typical travel and hotel expenses.

Now for how our virtual conference will, in actuality, work.

 Attendees will log on to an online conference platform hosted by PheedLoop. From there, you can choose which sessions to join, speaker bios, and even take breaks and schmooze with some of your planning colleagues.

 PheedLoop will provide you with chat functions to connect with your fellow planners and a virtual Exhibit Hall for you to roam and meet sponsors and exhibitors. Most importantly, you can still have a broad experience and exchange of information.

 Once you are a paid registrant, you will be emailed instructions on how to access to the conference event. Feel free to login and explore the site - you don't have to wait until September to check out speakers, add your picture to your profile, reach out to other registrants and start chatting about how excited you are for the conference! However, if you have any questions regarding how to log on and take full advantage of the virtual experience, please feel free to contact the Chapter office and we will make sure you are all set to participate.

We look forward to seeing you (virtually) in September!

18 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING IN SEPTEMBER! The 2020 Annual Member Meeting will be held virtually from 4-5pm on September 8.

Normally this meeting is held in person at the annual conference venue, but due to COVID-19 and the need to practice social distancing, we will meet this year in a virtual platform. We hope that this will enable many more members to participate.

REGISTER HERE

At this meeting, members will be asked to VOTE on the 2021 Budget, the 2021 Strategic Operational Plan, and the 2021 APA Florida Legislative Mission, Guiding Principles and Policy Positions.

The agenda and the materials to be voted on are posted on the Chapter website at florida.planning.org.

Please take the time to review them before September.

For those members who are unable to attend the annual

meeting but who wish to vote on these items, a proxy system has been created. This proxy system form allows you to decide whether you want to REGISTER YOUR VOTE IN ADVANCE and submit it to the Chapter Office for use at the annual meeting OR DELEGATE YOUR VOTE to another member who will be attending the annual meeting if you are unable to participate. A proxy voting form, which may be reproduced, can be downloaded from APA Florida’s website at florida.planning.org.

There are two important requirements when using the proxy voting form: 1) Mailed proxies must be received at the Chapter Office by 5:00 pm, August 28 to ensure timely receipt; 2) all proxies, whether mailed or hand-carried, must be verified by the APA Florida Secretary or Executive Director so please completely and legibly fill out all required fields on the proxy.

If you have any questions, please contact the Chapter Office at 850-201-3272 or fapa@floridaplanning.org.

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 19

Executive Committee Spotlight Q&A: Where are you originally from?

I am from the beautiful city of Barcelona in Catalonia. I grew up just north or Cerda’s Eixample, but since then I have moved around a fair bit.

What college/university did you attend?

I studied in several. I began my architecture studies at Kingston University in the UK and continued at UNC Charlotte finally completing dual Masters in Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Miami.

What is your current position / Who is your current employer?

I am the Founding Principal of Plusurbia Design, a Planning and Design studio in Miami. Although my role is to steer the ship, I like to row once in a while.

What is your current and any past positions in APA FL and/or APA National?

I am now the Chair for the Gold Coast Section of the Chapter.

Before that, I served on the board as a devout APA acolyte, learning the ropes from my peers.

What would you be doing now if you hadn’t chosen the planning profession?

I would be a Park Ranger working in protected land, away from ANY development. My preferred workplace would be Dry Tortugas National Park in Monroe County. I highly recommend everyone to visit.

Are you a member in other planning or non-planning boards, committees, or organizations?

I serve on several municipal and county boards, generally as a planning expert. I am also a member of our church’s outreach committee.

Would you like to share anything about your family?

I am who I am because of my family. I owe much to my wife Megan, her ethics, her unwavering support, her love for community, history, planning. Her love for all things good and right, and most of all, her love for me and our children: Margarita, Rose and Jordi, who are growing so fast. My wife and children inspire me and make me a better person. They are the reason I am a planner; I selfishly strive to make better places for them – even if we are physical distancing right now and we are unable to show them the world.

What are your hobbies and interests?

My work is the hobby that takes most of my time. I love what I do and I am a victim of that passion. I mix business and pleasure gratefully.

Ever had your 15 minutes of fame?

Standing on the stage to receive the Economic Development Award at the APA’s National Conference in 2015 for our Wynwood 20 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

Juan Mullerat

Revitalization Master Plan. It is a humbling experience to have your work recognized by your peers.

Do you have any advice to new graduates in your field/career tips?

Daniel Burnham said it best: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with evergrowing insistency. Remember that our sons and our grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.”

What have you gained or learned by being a member in APA FL, your Section and/or as a member of the APA FL Executive Committee?

Being an APA Florida member, attending the conferences, and serving in representation of my section has been a terrific experience. As a non-Florida native, my understanding of the State of Florida was quite parochial. The APA has afforded me the opportunity to appreciate the cultural, demographic, and geographic diversity that make up the different regions of the State. I have meet outstanding professionals through the Chapter, I have learned from their views, the issues that affect them, and the diverse approaches that they take in solving problems. I have learned about the tools that they use to address growth and improve the built environment. This has made me realize that the State’s diversity requires us to collaborate with each other to improve our interventions. We must acknowledge that we are not statewide experts.

The nuances of each region, each town, and each community are unique and our projects will improve through our collaboration.

The APA is an invaluable resource to make these connections, to learn and grow as professionals. It provides a platform to improve our craft, it creates a forum for dialog and debate that helps us improve ourselves and advance our profession.

Is there a particular state planning topic you’d like to comment on or feel fellow planners need to follow?

History will undoubtedly remember this Covid-19 pandemic as a trying time; an inflection point in the development of our society and our built environment. We have a responsibility as planners to lead on how the changes that we are making now are not a temporary fix, but an opportunity to make permanent change for the better. We must work to educate and help our communities realize that this change could launch us forward with a better understanding of the challenges we face and with the necessary tools to overcome them.

Anything else you would like us to know?

As the Chair of the Gold Coast Chapter, I’d like to welcome our new members. I encourage everyone who has just arrived or are just visiting to reach out. Miami-Dade and Monroe are home for us, and we would love the opportunity to show you around.

APA Florida

PLANNERS ON THE MOVE Julie Conn Christesen, AICP was named FDOT’s Transportation Planner of the Year. In Julie’s role as Principal Planner at the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, she is a leader in micromobility planning, initiating and implementing one of Florida’s first e-bike and e-scooter-sharing pilot programs.

The City of Gainesville announces their new hires of Salvatore J. Cumella (Historic Preservation Planner), Chelsea Proia (Urban Forestry Inspector), and Nathaniel Chan (Planner I).

Jason W. Green, AICP, CFM accepted a position with Axis Infrastructure. Axis Infrastructure is the full-service Architecture/ Engineering arm of Axis Companies. Jason will serve as the Director of Planning / Florida Lead for Axis Infrastructure. Axis Companies offer

development, design, project management, and construction management services they refer to as their Development Suite.

Bike/Walk Central Florida named Emily Hanna as its new executive director. This is not Emily’s first ride around the block, so to speak. She’s been involved with Bike/Walk Central Florida since 2016, helping to coordinate the Bike Five Cities initiative.

Emily previously served as the City of Casselberry’s development services manager.

Grayson Taylor joins the City of Palm Bay. Grayson most recently served as APA Florida’s intern and was an immense asset to the chapter over the past year, helping with the website, conference items, working to create our new CPAT program and POP grants program, and many other tasks.

Get Ready to Cast Your Ballot!

It is time to cast your ballot for new officers! This year, we are again participating in APA’s consolidated ballot for chapters and divisions so please carefully read the following instructions.

On July 16, APA sent each APA Florida member an email with a link to the ballot. You would have received this notice from Survey Ballot Systems, and it will contain your unique link to the ballot.

If you did not receive your election email by July 18, 2020 please contact support@directvote.net.

All voting will be done online and only members in good standing will be allowed to vote. Voting will end on August 17. Three email reminders will be sent to members who have not voted during this time period in case you miss the first one.

You will be voting on the chapter slate listed to the right.

View the candidate position statement on the ballot site or at florida.planning.org. Please make sure you review them before voting!

Members of an APA Division that is holding elections will also be voting for division leadership at the same time. The chapter slate will show up on the ballot first. If you are a member of a division that is holding elections, that division slate will follow the chapter on the ballot.

Should you have any questions or problems accessing the ballot webpage, please contact Lynn Jorgenson at LJorgenson@planning.org. * Order of candidates for positions is randomized within the Survey and Ballot System used by APA for elections.

2020 APA Florida Election Slate* Alllison Megrath, AICP

President-Elect

Whit Blanton, FAICP Jenniver Vail, AICP

Secretary

Lara Bouck, AICP, PE Ali Palmer

Treasurer

Allara Mills Gutcher, AICP Thuy Turner, AICP

VP-Conference Services

John Roach, AICP

VP-Certification Maintenance

Jill Quigley, AICP Brad Parrish, AICP Edward Ng, AICP

VP-Professional Development

Jim Barnes, AICP Henry Bittaker, FAICP Tony Palermo, AICP

VP-Section Affairs

Charles Barmby, AICP

VP-Membership & Outreach VP-Communications

Yexsy Schomberg Ennis Davis, AICP Melissa Dickens, AICP Dara Osher, AICP Candidate

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 21

APA FLORIDA WORKING FOR YOU APA FLORIDA NOTCHES LEGISLATIVE WIN Members were called to action to join APA Florida in successfully requesting a gubernatorial veto to SB 410 – a bill which will preempt local governments’ regulatory authority and remove the input of those involved in the local planning processes. In addition to APA Florida sending a formal letter to Governor DeSantis to express these concerns, members were emailed with instructions on how to individually contact the Governor. Members can stay up to date on all legislative news by visiting florida.planning.org

CHAPTER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION The planning profession champions our communities, which must include and be reflective of our diverse population.

Over the past year, the chapter’s recently organized Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee has been working to support this mission. Using voluntary survey results from both members and non-members, the EDI committee will be undertaking strategic planning, program design, event planning and related initiatives.

Those interested in joining the committee can visit the EDI page on the chapter website for more information.

2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE GOES VIRTUAL More than 500 members responded to our conference survey with a strong preference for an online conference this year due to COVID-19 concerns and travel restrictions. Conference committee volunteers have done an outstanding job of responding to this request by assembling our first ever virtual conference. Like our in-person conferences, members will still have an opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired. Added benefits for a virtual 22 Summer 2020 / Florida Planning

conference include a more affordable and accessible conference for our members throughout the state. New to attending a virtual conference? APA Florida will be hosting a training event before the conference to ensure attendees are comfortable and familiar with the technology to be used this year. A huge thank you to the Orlando Metro Section in this effort. Updates and announcements will be posted on the conference website.

CM OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE Despite the lack of in-person events and conferences, webinar and online distance learning is still available. Visit our Free CM page for listings of free national and state webinars, including those that qualify for required law and ethics credits. Additionally, the APA Chapters & Divisions Planning Webcast Series events are free to APA Florida members.

[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.

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

Summer 2020 / Florida Planning 23

[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 October 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.

APA Florida 2017 Delta Boulevard, Suite 201 Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: 850-201-3272 Fax: 850-807-2576

[UPCOMING] EVENTS AUG. 5: EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION SURVEY INSIGHTS: LISTENING TO YOU Webinar. Earlier this year, the APA Florida EDI Committee launched a survey to better understand the intersection of experiences and work of planners in Florida in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion. Please participate in the forum to learn about the findings and lend your voice to the effort to create a more equitable, more diverse, and more inclusive planning community in Florida.

Information here.

AUG. 7: TRANSIT PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND RECOVERY Webinar. Presenters representing transit systems in the US will share their experiences and lessons learned through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Viewers will learn innovative techniques in which transit providers are implementing community outreach, operations, and future planning.

Information here. Free. 1.5 CM when viewed live.

AUG 14: PERSPECTIVES ON RESILIENCY PLANNING Webinar. ​Planners are increasingly concerned with the vulnerability of their transportation infrastructure and with techniques for improving its resiliency. Efforts to identify vulnerability and improve resiliency immediately reveal how complex and broad-ranging this topic is. This webinar will explore a range of different perspectives on implementing resiliency planning in the overall transportation planning process. Information here. Free. 1.5 CM when viewed live.

AUG. 21: PLANNING FOR UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES Webinar. The growing demand for utility-scale solar generation and storage facilities coupled with federal and state tax incentives have accelerated the energy industry’s efforts to bring facilities online as quickly as possible. Localities are struggling to properly determine how to evaluate utilityscale solar facility applications, update their land-use regulations, and achieve positive benefits for hosting these clean energy facilities. Information here. Free. 1.5 CM when viewed live.

SEPT. 9-11: FLORIDA PLANNING CONFERENCE Online. Are you ready to Dream Big and Imagine Florida in a virtual world? It is time to register for the 2020 Florida Planning Conference, APA Florida’s first ever virtual annual conference! Take advantage of early pricing to save money. Early bird registration ends on Aug. 14. Information here.

CM available WEEKLY: FDOT TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM 2020 Webinars. In an effort to continue to keep staff and our industry partners up-to-date with federal Department of Transportation policies, procedures and best practices we will be developing and implementing the Transportation Symposium Webinar Series. You must register individually for each webinar. Information here. Free. Various CM available.

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