planning ACADEMY
What’s Inside?
What is a Comp Plan?
Zoning & Land Development Codes
Planning & Development Review
Zoning Codes vs. Building Codes Transportation 101 GIS Basics Managing Public Hearings & Politics
Whetheryou'renewtoplanningorlookingtostrengthenyourfoundational knowledge,PlanningAcademy101isyourgo-toguideforunderstandingthe coreprinciplesthatshapeourcommunities.HostedbytheAPAFlorida ChapterOrlandoMetroSection,thiscatalogisdesignedfornewplanners, engagedcommunitymembers,students,appointedandelectedboard members,andanyonecuriousaboutthekeyconceptsthatdrivelocalplanning processes.
Coveringawiderangeofessentialtopics,thefollowingpagesprovidethe toolstohelpyoubecomeamoreinformedandeffectiveparticipantin communityplanning.Throughreal-worldexamplesandaccessible explanations,thiscataloginvitesyoutohelpdesignamorethoughtful, connected,andresilientfuture.
ElementDescriptions
Speaker:
RoxannRead,AICP,CFM, FRA-RA,CPM
Summary & Importance
This session provides a clear and accessible foundation for understanding how communities grow and evolve. By exploring Florida’s urban and regional planning history, it highlights the importance of comprehensive plans and their influence on land use and community design.
Participants will gain insight into how planning tools guide everything from neighborhood development to transportation systems. Each element of a comp plan is broken down to help demystify the policies that shape our local environments.
Key Points:
ZoningDefined
HistoryofZoning
Speakers:
LandDevelopmentCodes TypesofZones
NicolasThalmueller,AICP
JessicaFrye,AICP
HowCodes&Maps
Summary & Importance
This session introduces the fundamentals of zoning and land development the backbone of community growth. Participants will learn what types of buildings can be constructed, where they can be located, and under what conditions.
The session also explores how zoning evolves in response to public needs and how different zoning approaches influence a community’s character. It’s an essential starting point for understanding how growth is regulated and how these rules directly impact the places we live.
Link to Presentation Slides
Key Points:
DefiningCurrentPlanning Coordination
DevelopmentStandards
SFRSiteReview
Summary & Importance
This session explains how local governments apply zoning and land development codes to individual projects. It introduces the key steps in the development review process from application submission to final approval and highlights the collaboration among planners, agencies, and stakeholders.
Speaker:AnochWhitfield,AICP
Participants will gain a clear understanding of how local governments manage growth to ensure safe, functional, and well-designed communities.
Key Points:
Speaker: ShaneGerwig
Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of how zoning ensures appropriate land use, while building codes ensure that structures are safe, accessible, and resilient. FloridaCodeHistory CodeVolumes
Summary & Importance
This session clarifies the critical differences between zoning and building codes and how they work together. It explores the structure and evolution of Florida’s building codes, including their legal foundations, ADA integration, and safety standards.
Key Points:
KeyConcepts
Speaker: AlissaBarberTorres,FAICP, PhD,CLTD
This session offers an introductory overview of transportation planning, with a focus on Floridaspecific standards such as the Florida Greenbook and FDOT Design Manual.
It emphasizes the importance of integrating land use and transportation to promote connectivity, accessibility, and safety especially for pedestrians. Participants will learn how inclusive, data-driven planning supports a future-ready transportation system.
Key Points:
Participants will explore tools like ArcGIS Online to analyze zoning, public safety, and land use. With a focus on practical skills and accessible data sources, this session equips participants to make more informed, data-driven decisions in urban planning. Definition/Function
Speaker: MichaelGilbrook,AICP
Summary & Importance
This session introduces the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including data types, software platforms, map projections, and real-world planning applications.
This session provides essential guidance for navigating the political and interpersonal dynamics of public hearings. It emphasizes relationship-building, effective communication, and ethical conduct when working with citizens, officials, and stakeholders.
Speaker: HeatherUrwiller,AICP,CFM
Designed to foster confidence and understanding of local political structures, this session highlights the human side of planning and the importance of preparation, transparency, and trust in public-facing roles.