Conference Sessions – Thursday

10:15am-11:30am

Mainstreaming Green Practices in Your Government & Community

Through interactive exercises, learn how sustainable practices can be comprehensively integrated throughout your local government and larger community. See how taking a systems approach to sustainable development can bring about more rapid change and cost savings, through a highly-effective approach used by over 100 eco-municipalities. CM│1.25

  • Sarah James, Co-Director, Institute for Eco-Municipality Education & Assistance

A Tale of Two Codes: A New Approach to Developing Form Based Codes in New England Towns

Learn how the city of Newport, VT and the village of Damariscotta, ME effectively engaged the community in developing Form-Based Codes. The panel will highlight innovative community engagement tools and address the pro’s and con’s of using the “Smart Code” template in a grassroots driven process.  CM│1.25

  • Jane Lafleur, Executive Director, Friends of Midcoast Maine
  • Ariana McBride, Senior Associate, Orton Family Foundation
  • Peter Dreher, Director of Planning & Zoning City of Newport, VT

Innovations in Data for Decision Making

As planners face shrinking budgets and greater demand for data to drive decision-making, they must maximize resources. Learn how to use free tools that provide timely demographic, housing, and education data in downloadable tables and customizable graphics. CM│1.25

  • Rebecca Lee, Associate Director of Information Group, The Providence Plan
  • Jessica Cigna, Urban Information Specialist, The Providence Plan

Public and Private Applications for LEED for Neighborhood Development

Thinking about using LEED-ND in your community?  Learn how LEED-ND can be used to assess local regulations and how it can be incorporated into local project review. Hear a developer’s perspective of how LEED-ND’s goals and objectives might provide opportunities for discretionary relief or to seek changes to local codes and regulations. CM│1.25

  • Nancy Letendre, Esq., AICP, Attorney and Planner, Ursillo, Teitz & Ritch, Ltd.
  • Nathan Kelly, AICP, Senior Planner, Horsley Witten Group, Inc.
  • Greg Sampson, Esq., LEED AP, Attorney, Land Use Group, Robinson & Cole
  • Neil Angus, AICP, LEED AP, Environmental Planner, Devens Enterprise Commission

Restoring Water Balance: From the Corner Lot to the Watershed

This session will explore the many facets of restoring the water balance, from science-based watershed initiatives, to municipal stormwater projects, to site-specific green infrastructure. You will also learn about the Charles River Watershed Association’s “Blue Cities” Initiative.  CM│1.25

  • Jennifer Johnson, PE, LEED AP+C , Nitsch Engineering
  • Pallavi Kalia Mande, Urban Restoration Specialist, Charles River Watershed Association
  • Cheeta Soga, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Nitsch Engineering

11:45am-1:45pm

Luncheon – Land Use Law Update

Hear leading land-use lawyers from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island address changes over the past year in federal, state and local land use law, and assess the impacts in their respective states. Changes will include court decisions, legislation, administrative regulations and interpretations of existing law. CM│1.50 LAW

  • Sean Nolon, Director of Dispute Resolution Program/Associate Professor of Law
  • Peter Ruggerio, Esq., AICP, Ruggerio Brochu
  • Matthew J. Lawlor, CNU-A, Robinson & Cole LLP
  • Christopher J. Smith, Esq., Shipman & Goodwin

2:00pm-3:15pm

Creating a Shared Green Street

The City of Salem, MA is exploring strategies for converting a downtown pedestrian mall into a shared street in order to enhance its vitality and economic viability.  Learn how to address vehicular access and traffic circulation, plan for permanent and temporary public art spaces, accommodate café seating, and create a green street.  This session has lessons for all communities that wish to create great urban spaces.   CM│1.25

  • Lynn Goonin Duncan, AICP, Director of Planning & Community Development,  City of Salem, MA
  • Tim Love, AIA,  Principal/Associate Professor, Utile, Inc./ Northeastern University

Planners all aTwitter: Social Media’s Public Engagement Potential

Many planners are already using social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube – to engage the public. This session will explore recent initiatives where these tools helped generate buzz around planning projects and better connected projects with various communities. We hope to include an interactive element, so bring your smart phone, iPad or laptop.  CM│1.25

  • Gary Anderson, AICP, Senior Planner, Comprehensive & Special Projects, Town of Manchester, CT
  • Emily Moos, AICP, Senior Planner & Policy Analyst, Capitol Region Council of Governments
  • Christopher Rembold, AICP, Town Planner, Town of Great Barrington, MA

Preparing for Climate Change at the Local Level: Challenges and Opportunities

Have you ever wondered about opportunities to apply green infrastructure and associated zoning tools to address climate change vulnerabilities in New England communities?  Results of a Spring 2011 UMass study will be presented along with associated benefits, including municipal cost reductions.  CM│1.25

  • Elizabeth M. Hamin, PhD, Associate Professor, Regional Planning, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts/Amherst
  • E. Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Advisor, Mass Audubon
  • Robert L. Ryan, ASLA, PhD, Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning,  University of Massachusetts/Amherst

Smart Growth in Action: The Legacy Farms Story, Hopkinton, MA

Come learn how smart growth is being implemented in MetroWest Boston.  In 2007, the Town of Hopkinton undertook a master planning and rezoning process for a 730-acre area that promoted clustered development, walkability, and open space conservation.  The result was a smart growth zoning ordinance that conserves seventy percent of the site while enabling 940 homes and 450,000 square feet of commercial space.  Hear the lessons learned, how this innovative zoning code is being implemented and how the town is streamlining the regulatory process and overseeing design review. CM│1.25

  • Fred Merrill, AICP, LEED AP, Sasaki Associates
  • Elaine Lazarus, Director of Land Use, Planning & Permitting, Town of Hopkinton, MA
  • Steven Zieff, Developer, Baystone Development
  • Joe Markey, Former Chairman, Hopkinton Planning Board

Solar on Landfills: Trash or Treasure?

Tremendous environmental and financial benefits can be realized by using closed landfills to capture solar energy.  Along with the clear environmental benefits, solar on landfill projects can also produce positive results such as an improved tax base and more jobs to develop and maintain the clean energy system.  Hoever, the reality is that the cost of panels, installation, regulatory compliance and monitoring of the system is expensive.  Come learn more about this timely topic. CM│1.25

  • Mary McCrann, AICP, Planner, Woodard & Curran, Inc.
  • Alan Benevides, Senior Vice President, Woodard & Curran, Inc.
  • Miles Walker, LEED AP, Project Engineer, Woodard & Curran, Inc.

3:30pm-4:45pm

AICP Exam Review

This workshop is designed to instruct candidates how to prepare for the AICP Exam. The session will also provide an overview of the Certification Maintenance (CM) requirements for certified planners.

  • Nancy Letendre, Esq., AICP, Professional Development Officer, RI APA Chapter
  • John Pagini, AICP, Professional Development Officer, CT APA Chapter

Code Blue Implementation: Engaging the Regulated Community in Developing LID and Stormwater Standards

Low impact development (LID) significantly advances stormwater management. It also requires a significant shift in approach and philosophy. This session explores methods used by Rhode Island and Connecticut to engage stakeholders—including the regulated community—in a management direction that enhances environmental protection while supporting economic development. CM│1.25

  • James Riordan, AICP, LEED-AP, Fuss & O’Neill
  • Lorraine Joubert, URI Cooperative Extension, NEMO
  • MaryAnn Nusom Haverstock, Nonpoint Source Coordinator, CT Department of Environmental Protection

Achieving Sustainable Regions and Communities in Southern New England

A number of regions in New England were awarded significant grants from the Sustainable Communities Partnership between HUD, DOT and EPA.  The session will describe these initiatives in the Boston, Hartford-Springfield, and metropolitan New York and coastal CT regions.  The panel will discuss what these programs mean for communities and provide “lessons learned” for other New England regions. CM│1.25

  • Emily Moos, AICP, Senior Planner & Policy Analyst, Capitol Region Council of Governments
  • Mark Racicot, Land Use Division Manager, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
  • Amanda Kennedy, Associate Planner, Regional Plan Association

Planning for Rail at Every Scale: From station sites to regional land use planning to state smart growth policies, Massachusetts’ South Coast is getting ready for rail

Learn about MA’s ongoing efforts to fully coordinate commuter rail investment with economic development and land use planning—and an unprecedented collaboration between towns and cities, regional planning agencies, state agencies, and advocacy groups to advance coordinated growth and preservation in one of the state’s fastest growing regions. CM│1.25

  • Kristina Egan, Principal, Harraseeket Strategy Group
  • Amy Kohn, Senior Planner & Associate, Goody Clancy
  • David Spillane, Principal & Director of Planning and Urban Design, Goody Clancy
  • Greg Guimond, Deputy Director & Comprehensive Planning Manager, Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District

Planning and Zoning for High-Yield Urban Agriculture

New models of urban agriculture, including aquaponics, are transforming urban food systems. Come examine cutting-edge business and planning case studies from across the U.S. Learn how to diagnose your zoning ordinance for barriers to commercial-scale urban agriculture and learn how to encourage economic development through high-yield agriculture. CM│1.25

  • Stephanie Carlisle, Environmental Designer
  • Christopher Kiernan, Entrepreneur & Urban Agriculture Specialist
  • Seth Zeren, Chief Zoning Code Official, City of Newton, MA