The APA-IL's annual Plan Commissioner Training is going virtual this year!
Plan commissioners work hard reading packets, reviewing cases, conducting public hearings, and considering policy matters; but they rarely get the chance to sit back and discuss the big picture - what they do and the significance it has to the communities in which they live.
Most commissioners are not professionals in the planning or development fields and can benefit from a bit of extra training on the topic. Even seasoned commissioners appreciate the chance to learn what’s new in planning, and discuss their role with fellow commissioners.
Dates, Location, and Time
November 17, 2021
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Virtual (Zoom). A link to join the session will be available through Eventbrite (our registration system)
Please note: a recording of this session will not be available. The APA-IL believes that the success of our Plan Commissioner Training is due in part to the live discussion and conversations that occur during the training. If your commissioners are not able to attend the general training on the 17th, we encourage you to email podo@ilapa.org and coordinate a training date for your community.
Registration
Cost: $25/person; Groups of 4 or more $20/person
Discount: APA-IL Members attending the training get 10% off! Email Paula Freeze at admin@ilapa.org for the coupon code. Click here to become a Chapter-Only member for just $50/year. Commissioners can be APA-IL members too!
2021 State Conference Attendees: if you registered as a Plan Commissioner you should have received a coupon code to attend this training for free. Contact admin@ilapa.org if you have not received your coupon code.
This session's curriculum includes:
Roles in the Development Process
Responsibilities of Commission Members
Basics of “Findings of Fact”
The Fine Print
Planning + Development 101
Tools of the Trade - master plans, zoning codes, etc.
Resources for Commissioners
Who is this training for?
All planning officials, boards, and commissions are welcome. This includes Zoning Board of Appeals, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation, etc.
This training is a great refresher for your commissioners or to get a new commissioner up to speed. The trainers will welcome attendee questions but for an in-depth discussion or to have a training session focused on your community's issues, you can consider holding a training in your community. Contact podo@ilapa.org to schedule a training.
Professional urban planners are welcome to attend this training (no CM will be offered).
The Trainers
Michael Blue, FAICP
Principal at Teska Associates
Michael has been a planner for over 35 years. That time working in both the public and private sectors of planning have given him a broad perspective of the field and how planners can best serve communities. Prior to joining Teska in 2013, Michael was the Director of Community Development in Highland Park, IL for 11 years. There he managed a department of 30 staff, worked on a range of planning projects, refined the Department's organization, supported City Council and Commission activities, and managed passage and implementation of the City's affordable housing ordinance. Prior to Highland Park Michael was Deputy Community Development Director for the Village of Mount Prospect, IL, managing planning, building permit and code enforcement efforts. Michael been actively involved in Illinois and national leadership of APA. He is current the Chair of National APA’s Planning Officials Committee. Michael has BAUP and MUP degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign.
David Silverman, AICP
Partner at Ancel Glink
David has a thorough understanding of the zoning and entitlements process. His prior career as a professional planner informs his practice as an attorney, giving him an unprecedented understanding of the dynamics that influence the zoning and entitlement process. His multi-faceted professional background also provides public and private sector clients with advisory services that extend beyond legal representation to help them achieve their goals and objectives.
David is co-chair of Ancel Glink’s Zoning and Land Use Group and co-editor of the group’s e-newsletter, In the Zone. David also serves as moderator for the Zoning and Land Use Group’s Twitter site, @AncelGlinkLand .
David is involved with several organizations that promote better land use and development practices. David serves on the Executive Board of the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association as its Legislative Committee chair and serves as the Education and Outreach Chair for the Planning and Law Division of the American Planning Association. In addition, David is also a member of the Ely Chapter (Chicago) of Lambda Alpha International, Urban Land Institute, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
In addition to his involvement with various land use and development organizations, David also teaches the Land Use Control and Zoning class (RE604/JD604) at the UIC John Marshall Law School.