January: Views on Urban Sprawl

This session, which was jointly hosted by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (UIC CUPPA) Alumni Association, the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul, and APA-CMS, offered a thought provoking discussion on the topic of urban sprawl which was led by experts in the field, including:

• Robert Bruegmann, Professor, UIC Department of Art History & College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs;
• Heather Smith, Planning Director, Congress for New Urbanism;
• Siim Soot, Director Emeritus, Urban Transportation Center; and
• Tony Smith, AICP, Practice Leader, S.B. Friedman& Company (moderator).

The over 90 students and professional planners in attendance were engaged in the discussion through the varied (and sometimes controversial) positions on sprawl that were represented by the featured speakers. These discussions, as well as other more informal conversations, continued during a networking session that followed in which seasoned and upcoming planners had an opportunity to meet and talk. 

All groups involved felt that the event was a tremendous success and as noted by Joe Kearney, Chaddick Institute, “We were pleased to work with UIC and ILAPA CMS on January's student-professional networking event and panel discussion. In addition to getting a chance to discuss pertinent planning issues with their peers at UIC, our students reflected positively on the opportunity to meet professionals in the field. Eighteen DePaul graduate students participated in the event, a number which we hope will only grow in the future!” 

Many thanks to Kara Knack, UIC CUPPA; Joe Kearney, Chaddick Institute; and Michael Mays, ILAPA-CMS, for their work in organizing this event and to UIC for hosting the location of the event!

February: Contemporary Zoning Practices

The February CMS event, which was hosted by the Village of Plainfield, focused on contemporary zoning techniques, including aspects of form-based codes and innovations in conventional zoning. The event highlighted the relationship between zoning regulations and market forces and demonstrated the importance of adopting zoning regulations which produce development that achieves the desired results. Speakers included:

• Tony Smith, Practice Leader of S.B. Friedman & Company;
• Tom Smith, Senior Associate with Duncan Associates;
• Mike Hoffman, Vice President with Teska Associates; and
• Michael Garrigan, Village Planner for the Village of Plainfield.

Tony Smith from S.B. Friedman and Company demonstrated the value of performing a financial feasibility analysis as part of a zoning or master plan effort. Tom Smith’s segment on form-based codes reviewed opportunities to incorporate form-based codes municipal-wide, in targeted areas (such as downtowns or TODs), or via hybrid approaches – all with easy-to-use regulations that result in the desired built environment. The segment on innovations in conventional zoning showcased methods to promote desired development patterns through a density bonus program and by-right Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) and Conservation Design zoning districts.

The over three dozen planning professionals in attendance also had an opportunity to continue their conversations following the event at a networking session held at the Lazy Lizard in Downtown Plainfield. 

Special thanks to Jonathon Proulx, Marisa Warneke, Anna Koch, and Ranadip Bose (APA-CMS members) for their work in organizing this event and to the Village of Plainfield for hosting!

March: Changing Demographics & Implications for Planners

This session, which was hosted by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), focused on population growth and the changing demographics resulting from an aging population, retirement of the baby boomers, and immigration and the resulting new demands that each has on society. Session speakers included:

• Ron Thomas, AICP, Deputy Executive Director for Planning, CMAP;
• Stephen B. Friedman, AICP, CRE, President of S.B. Friedman & Company; and
• Sylvia Puente, Director of Metropolitan Chicago Initiative for the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies.

The session’s speakers helped the 50-plus planners in attendance to understand the key demographic forces that will shape tomorrow's communities and provided guidance on how planners can embrace the projected diversity in population to make places that are more livable and economically vibrant. This session also followed with a networking event which was held at the CMAP offices. 

Many thanks to Ranadip Bose, Jackie Reyff, and Christine Norrick (APA-CMS members) for organizing this event and to CMAP for hosting!

Upcoming Events

While there wasn’t a CMS event held in April, I hope that those of you who were able to attend the National APA conference enjoyed yourself! Locally, we have the following upcoming CMS sessions to look forward to:

May 17^th: Design Review Trends: Commercial Standards That Work!

June 5^th: Conservation Easements in Developments

July 18^th: Are You Prepared? They Weren’t (Disaster Mitigation).

August 17^th: Planner’s Toolbox: Development Review 101

E-mail apachicagometrosection@yahoo.com for more information, or check the website at www.ilapa.org.