For a fifth year, Bi-State Regional Commission is hosting a series of audio/visual-conferences presented by the American Planning Association (APA). The dates and topics are listed below. The Basic Encore Series features the two hour Introduction to the Planning Commission two-part series. We also choose to participate in the 90-minute intensive training series for more technical aspects of planning and development.

All audio/visual-conferences will be held on Wednesday afternoons in the
Bi-State Regional Commission conference room unless further notification is given. The Bi-State office is located at 1504 Third Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois. The public entrance to the building is from Third Street. I encourage attendance of planning staff, planning and zoning commissions/boards and boards of adjustment members. This is a terrific no-cost training opportunity for your planning and zoning commissions as part of your Bi-State Regional Commission membership.

The 2006-2007 topical series is proposed as the following:

October 4, 2006
GREEN COMMUNITIES – Learn about programs that require environmentally friendly building materials and approaches. See how an inspired partnership has produced thousands of units of green affordable housing. [3:00 - 4:30 p.m.]

November 8, 2006
UNIVERSAL DESIGN – Learn how communities are implementing flexibility and usability in busing, housing, and through zoning and building codes. [3:00 - 4:00 p.m.]

December 6, 2006 (Encore)
INTRODUCTION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION: PART ONE – Introduction of the concept, principles, and practice of planning, the role of the planning commission, the comprehensive plan, state-mandated planning, the legal standing
of the plan, regional plans, and differences between states, and the tools of planning. [2:00 - 4:00 p.m.]

January 17, 2007 (Encore)
INTRODUCTION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION: PART TWO – Begins with a short recap and then proceeds to the players in the planning process, how plans are updated, revised, and redone, and plan implementation with case studies of effective techniques. [2:00 - 4:00 p.m.]

February 14, 2007
COMPLETE STREETS – Learn how the complete streets movement provides safe and convenient user access and more choice in transportation modes, and how it has become a major tool for planning to improve communities. [3:00 - 4:30 p.m.]

March 14, 2007
MAINTAINING NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER – Learn how communities have developed codes and guidelines, as well as community visioning programs that respond to these incompatible developments. [3:00 - 4:00 p.m.]

April 25, 2007
INTRODUCTION TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT – The purpose of the board, how it conducts sound public meetings, practices that commonly lead to litigation and conditional and special uses. [2:00 - 3:30 p.m.]

May 23, 2007
INCLUSIONARY HOUSING – Learn about the successes and pitfalls of this tool as well as which approach works best: mandatory or voluntary. Experts discuss the legal mandates and program standards necessary to ensure implementation in your community. [3:00 - 4:30 p.m.]

June 27, 2007
PLANNING LAW REVIEW – Learn about the legal precedents set in the last year by courts, Congress, and state legislatures. Legal experts explain how to deal with organized challenges to long standing planning tool including eminent domain. [3:00 - 4:30 p.m.]

Please contact me at (309) 793-6302, extension 124 or via email at lenglish@bistateonline.org for questions. For those calling long distance, you may contact me toll-free at 1-888-BISTATE. Look forward to seeing your government represented at these training conferences.