APA's 2009 National Planning Conference

April 25–29, 2009 • Minneapolis

Special Tracks

Why Places Grow
This track focuses on how cities and regions grow and sustain their economies. What makes for a successful regional economy? How have new economies developed since 1990? What makes an economy vulnerable and susceptible to decline and how can this be reversed?

Neighborhood Planning in a Citywide Context
Neighborhood planning is no longer a wish list tied to small grants. Today’s neighborhood planning considers the neighborhood within the context of the city’s form, development, changes, and economy. The track will look at the impact of corridors, nodes, and TOD on neighborhood planning. It will also examine how attempts to link social programs to neighborhood leadership have fared over time. How does neighborhood planning fit into the overall plan for the city and the region? For example, sessions on how neighborhood planning intersects with social service delivery, school planning, economic development, housing, historic preservation, and mass transit are encouraged.

Green Urban Design
What is the intersection between urban design and the green movement? Going green means more than eco-friendly building materials, so how has urban design reimagined itself in light of sustainability and environmental friendly planning? Special emphasis is placed on large urban centers and their relationship to suburban communities and the elements of urban design that connect the two into a green web.

Reclaiming the Waterfront (and the Mississippi River)
Minneapolis is the headwaters and New Orleans is the delta of the Mississippi River. This track will look at major waterways and how cities of all sizes are reclaiming their waterfronts. The picture is complex and extends from brownfield redevelopment to green infrastructure and from freight movement to international commerce. How are communities balancing essential needs with opportunities to provide amenities for all?

Is Regional Planning Coordinated Planning?
The Minneapolis and St. Paul region has a long established regional planning program. Using the approach of special purpose governments and governmental arrangements, the Twin Cities Metropolitan Council deploys a variety of tools. The track will explore assessment districts, school and park districts, and even bi-state commissions. Have these regional systems resulted in better coordination of all planning and services? In other areas of the country, is regional planning selective or inclusive of all programs and issues that fall under the rubric of planning? Does regional planning need to have coordination as a major goal?

Civic Planning and the Role of Foundations (mini track)
The Midwest has a long history of foundations and benefactors contributing to civic planning. The track will explore what problems foundations have chosen to tackle and how they assess the outcome. Proposals are welcome on both urban and rural initiatives as well as how nonprofits work with the local and regional planning community.

The Arts and Culture Economy
What is the size of this economy? Is it only the college-educated who benefit? Is there a difference, in terms of planning and the economy, between the traditional bastions of culture (the old, industrial cities) and communities with newer arts and cultural attractions? Does this economy serve residents or tourists and what should be the balance between the two?

Small Town and Rural Planning
The Midwest, like many areas of the country, has undergone a major restructuring of its rural economy. What has been the result of America becoming more urbanized? How have small towns and rural areas planned to address the change? What tools, techniques, and practices have led to sustainable small towns and rural areas?

Youth Engagement in Planning
An APA survey reveals that 307 communities across America are involving youth in the community planning. How are youth engaged, what are the challenges of developing a program, and what are the tangible results? How do you educate youth about planning? This track will examine techniques and case studies with a heavy emphasis on enduring programs and the outcomes from engagement efforts.

Climate Change and a Sustainable Future
The reality has set in, but how do you implement planning for sustainability? Should planners be concerned with measuring outcomes? Are the old tools and techniques enough or are some broader efforts required? Does planning need to become more technical and if so, in what way? Should planning try to stop climate change or embrace it and plan accordingly? How do science and planning connect to address this worldwide problem?

The Changing Face of the American Community
From inner cities to suburbia, America is becoming more diverse each year. How has this affected schools, housing, social services, community support for planning, and the economy? Not all groups are the same — how does a planning agency respond to differences and to new opportunities?

Planning and Community Health and Activity
Minneapolis has one of the largest systems of bike trails in the country. How do you plan for and encourage physical activity and overall health? What type of alliances and partnerships should planning engage in to develop successful programs? How is renewed awareness of health changing planning? What difference does the design of the community make in promoting health?          

Transportation Infrastructure: The Next Hundred Years
Much of our transportation infrastructure is being used at levels beyond those for which it was planned and is in dire need of regular maintenance and repairs. This track explores the next steps for planning transportation infrastructure at the national and the local level. Topics include:

• A National Transportation Infrastructure Plan
• Paying for Transportation Infrastructure: Innovative Approaches (addressing the balance between building new infrastructure and regular maintenance)
• Congestion Pricing
• Freight Transportation and the Urban Economy: Balancing Freight and Consumer Demand
• Transit Viability and Sustainability
• Rail vs. BRT
• Transportation Infrastructure for Pedestrians (including the role of land use and other supporting conditions like transit, car-sharing, and bicycle infrastructure)
• Transportation Infrastructure for Bicyclists: Facilities and Land-use Issues