The City of Aurora hosted a Plan Commission Training workshop, facilitated by the APA-IL and the Chaddick Institute at DePaul University, on February 20, 2019. Eleven members of the Plan Commission attended along with city staff. This was the 99th workshop since the training began in 2011. Andy Cross, AICP, City of Highland Park, and Carrie Davis, AICP, Wallin/Gomez Architects, were the trainers for the session. Emily Egan, AICP, City of Elmhurst, also attended.
During the session, we encourage commissioners to ask questions and talk about issues specific to their community. One of Aurora's commissioners raised a question about the special uses, specifically for video gaming. Another commissioner requested more in-depth discussion of the plan commission’s role.
Feedback from commissioners that attend our training is important and allows us to monitor the issues that communities are facing. Aurora's commissioners completed our anonymous evaluation forms at the conclusion of the session. Special uses, discussion of specific cases and “everything” were the topics ranked most helpful. One commissioner felt that conflict of interest was common sense so was the least helpful topic.
Thank you to the City of Aurora for inviting us to train your commissioners.
Be sure and save-the-date for the 2019 APA-IL State Conference!
We're excited to be back in Evanston, IL at the Hilton Orrington, September 25-27, 2019. We will be holding an all-day Plan Commissioner Training on September 26th. This all-day training is great for commissioners that have and have not been through our evening training. The training is split into a morning of general information, a networking lunch with fellow commissioners and trainers, a PM mock hearing to put your knowledge to the test, followed by an evening cocktail hour. Stay tuned to the APAIL19 webpage for more details!
Want to know how we can customize training for your officials?
Visit the Plan Commissioner Training website and contact the APA-IL Planning Officials Development Officer, Michael Blue, FAICP at podo@ilapa.org
(photos by Emily Eagan, AICP)