The Village of Orland Park requested the first virtual plan commission training session rather than the
typical in person training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six members of the Plan Commission and four staff members attended the virtual workshop. Michael Blue, FAICP and Laurie Marston, FAICP were the trainers for the session.
Since the program began in 2011, the APA Illinois Chapter and the Chaddick Institute at DePaul University have provided over 100 training sessions.
At the conclusion of the virtual training workshop, the attendees completed an anonymous evaluation form. The topics identified as most helpful were: special uses, variance process, planned unit development, public testimony, understanding the scope of what we can and can’t do and the explanation of the purview of the Commission.
The commissioners asked a variety of questions during the training, including:
How often should the comp plan be updated?
What is the process to amend the zoning ordinance?
What are the pros and cons of forcible annexation?
Is it helpful for the developer to meet with neighbors before the public hearing?
Can the staff report suggest conditions to impose on an application?
What is the difference between a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety?
Thank you to the Village of Orland Park for inviting us to train your plan commissioners.
Plan Commissioner Training News & Notes:
Save-the-date for Plan Commissioner Training at the 2020 APA-IL State Conference!
This conference is our once-a-year opportunity for urban planners and allied professionals to learn about the latest trends in Illinois planning and network with their peers.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we're holding a virtual plan commissioner training this year. There will be a special, 2-day plan commissioner training held during the 2020 Virtual State Conference on September 16-18, 2020. This training is great for commissioners that have and have not been through our evening training. We welcome entire commissions and boards or just the one or two commissioners. The training is split into a 101 / general information session and then a second session with a panel professionals that are invovled in the development process.
Plan commissioners are able to attend the Plan Commissioner Training Sessions plus access to the Keynote Address, Awards Ceremony, Quorum Forum Podcast's Planning Law Symposium, and will receive an APA-IL Chapter Only membership (worth $50).
Registration will be opening soon!
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