A MONTHLY BULLETIN FROM APA FLORIDA

 

May 29, 2009

Chapter 10 of the study specifically looks at Florida's growth management program.  The introduction to the chapter states "After nearly 40 years of growth management efforts, Florida provides a prime example of what is good and not so good about smart growth as state policy....Given a rather broad, unfocused, and constantly changing smart growth program, coupled with a lack of consistent political support for this agenda, it is not surprising that the state has struggled to manage growth.  Florida's experience with a state mandate for comprehensive planning clearly illustrates that program design and implementation are fundamental to the success of any smart growth initiative."  The report can be downloaded at http://www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/smart-growth-policies.aspx .

NEWGEOGRAPHY RANKS CITIES ON JOB GROWTH
Newgeography conducts an annual survey with Pepperdine University to rank cities based on their potential for job growth.  The study looks at Metropolitan Statistical Areas across the country using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Nineteen Florida cities made the "2009 Best Cities List", lead by  Gainesville at ranking 131 and Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach at ranking 150.  To see the complete list of both the Best and Worst Cities, go to http://www.newgeography.com/category/story-topics/best-cities .

ON-DEMAND REPLAY OF DCA VIRTUAL FORUM NOW AVAILABLE
An on-demand replay is now available for the Florida Department of Community Affairs' Virtual Forum with Secretary Tom Pelham held May 21st on planning and growth management topics. During this live two hour on-line forum, the Secretary responded to numerous questions from diverse interests across the state. It can be accessed at http://www.dcatechnicalassistance.com through the "Events & Replays" tab.

NEW WEBSITE TRACKS STIMULUS DOLLARS DONE TO THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT LEVEL
Onvia, a Seattle-based, public company that tracks all spending at every level of government launched Recovery.org March 31, 2009 to track all American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spending by federal, state and local government agencies.  You can search by state and find out specifics about individual projects by county.  Go to http://www.recovery.org/home.aspx.

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TOP 10 FREE WEB APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING
Some of you who attended the national APA conference in April may have attended a session on this topic.  Chris Steins and  Christian Madera, who conducted that session, have posted the applications and links on Planetizin to allow you to experiment with them.  Among the applications they discuss are mapping tools, virtual meetings, and community outreach via video.  To learn more, go to http://www.planetizen.com/node/38952.

CNU REPORT ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND STREET DESIGN NOW AVAILABLE
Connected networks of traditional streets provide better safety for pedestrians and vehicles alike, while readily accommodating emergency responders' access needs. The Congress for the New Urbanism's newly published Report on Emergency Response & Street Design demonstrates this by laying out the common ground found between CNU, fire marshals, and the U.S. EPA, and drawing upon research presented at CNU XVI and Transportation Summit 2008.  Access this report at http://www.cnu.org/sites/www.cnu.org/files/CNUEmergency%20Response_FINAL.pdf.

HANDBOOK NOW AVAILABLE ON REDEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
With the economy and housing crisis still imploding and many communities struggling with the availability of affordable housing, a new handbook - based on a study of Florida community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) - is shedding light on successful efforts and offering strategies, tactics and tips for creating more residential opportunities for local workforces. The handbook, entitled "Affordable Housing Tools at a Glance: Practical Experiences, Lessons Learned and Successful Advice," was commissioned by the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) and conducted by Rebecca J. Walter, an independent researcher who recently completed her Master's in Urban and Regional Planning at Florida Atlantic University.  The handbook is available to download at no charge at www.redevelopment.net, then scan down to "FRA Housing Report" and click on "CRA Housing Handbook." 

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Some publications may require free registration.

Veto flawed growth bill
Editorial, News-Journal, May 26, 2009
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/opnOPN69052609.htm

Bill to Ease Rules on Development Divides Floridians
Damien Cave, New York Times, May 20, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/21florida.html?_r=2&ref=global-home

Traffic concurrency a failure: give growth bill a chance
Senator Mike Bennett, Letters to Editor, Palm Beach Post, May 23, 2009
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/opinion/epaper/2009/05/23/saturdaywebletters_0523.html

Shocking: A Post-Automotive Times Square?
Steve Rosenbaum, The Huffington Post, May 25, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rosenbaum/shocking-a-post-automotiv_b_207290.html

More U.S. airports add rail service to downtown
Roger Yu, USA Today, May 26, 2009
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2009-05-25-rail-lines-airport-city-center_N.htm

Developers see opportunity in car-dealer lots
GM, Chrysler woes may spur stores, hotels
Casey Ross, Staff, Boston Globe, May 26, 2009
 http://www.boston.com/realestate/news/articles/2009/05/26/developers_see_opportunity_in_car_dealer_lots/

Looking at Europe's Green Ways
Kate Galbraith, New York Times, May 24, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/business/energy-environment/24iht-green25web.html?_r=3

Former Ford plant site nears Phase 1
Hapeville spot to include office space. hotels, retail, restaurants
Gertha Coffee, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 26, 2009
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2009/05/26/hapeville_ford_site.html

Smart Growth? Or Not So Bright Idea?
Rick Harrison, Newgeography, May 13, 2009
http://www.newgeography.com/content/00790-smart-growth-or-not-so-bright-idea

Let's try taxing drivers by the mile, Seattle official says
Aubrey Cohen, Staff, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 12, 2009
http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/406125_infrastructure12.html?source=rss

This Is Your Brain on Architecture
Michael Cannell, Fast Company, May 8, 2009
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/michael-cannell/cannell/your-brain-architecture

A walk down history lane
Carol Sanders, Winnipeg Free Press, April 4, 2009
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/A-walk-down-history-lane-44291362.html

Skills in Planning:Writing Content Free Documents
Ann Forsyth, Blog, Planetizen, May 26, 2009
http://www.planetizen.com/node/38939

Building "Climate Positive" Communities
John Lorinc, New York Times, May 26, 2009
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/building-climate-positive-communities/

Obama Official Offers Water War Help
Edgar Treiguts, Georgia Public Broadcasting News, May 27, 2009
http://gpbnews.blogspot.com/2009/05/obama-official-offers-water-war-help.html

Ave Maria: A Town Without A Vote: Ave Maria district charted new direction
Liam Dillon, Naples Daily News, May 10, 2009
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/may/10/town-without-vote-district-new-direction/

County, military training group battle over land use
Stephen Hudak, Staff Writer, Orlando Sentinel, May 11, 2009
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-lklake-green-swamp-complaint-0051109may11,0,3509053.story

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LEARN ABOUT JACKSONVILLE VIA SLIDESHOW
Jacksonville is the exciting location for the APA Florida 2009 Annual Conference, and it is not the Jacksonville you remember!  The host committee has posted a slideshow on the APA Florida website so you can get a taste of what you can experience this September.  Go to  http://www.floridaplanning.org/conference/2009/Images/slideshow.html .

APA OFFERING 2009 PLANNING LAW REVIEW AUDIO WEB CONFERENCE IN JUNE
Keep current on Supreme Court, circuit, and state court decisions and legislative changes from the past year. Hear from the experts regarding digital signage, environmental regulation, regulatory takings, and how the comprehensive plan is faring in the courts. Learn about the nationwide ramifications of Oregon's Measure 37 and similar initiatives. The web conference will be held on June 24 from 4:00-5:30 EDT.  It is approved for 1.5 AICP CM Law credits.  To register, go to http://www.planning.org/audioconference/series/plr.htm .

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TREES 4 FLORIDA PROGRAM
With the recent devastation to trees in Florida by hurricanes, storms and fires, millions of dollars in valuable tree resources have been lost. Jointly, the Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC) and the Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) are unveiled a new Trees 4 Florida program focused on making the public more aware of the need to be vigilant in safeguarding our trees and preserving Florida's greatest green resource. A single urban tree in Florida returns over $90,000 of direct benefits during the lifetime of that tree to the residents and visitors to the Sunshine State according to the U.S. Forest Service. Direct benefits include the reduction of pollutants, extension of the life of paved surfaces, increased real estate value, increased sociological benefits and improved traffic safety. The Trees 4 Florida program has produced a variety of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) available for anyone free of charge. Included in the campaign are English and Spanish print-quality and broadcast-quality PSA ads and spots. To access these PSAs , go to  http://www.treesarecool.com/.

NEW PEW RESEARCH SHOWS AMERICANS RATE CARS AS NECESSITY
Americans are driving less because of the recession but a survey by the Pew Research Center show they still rank a car as the number one necessity of modern life.  Driving less and eliminating "unnecessary" car trips has been one of the leading ways people say they save money, according to the poll. Asked to say whether an item is a necessity or a luxury 88% say a car is a necessity compared to other items.  To read the survey results, go to http://pewsocialtrends.org/assets/pdf/luxury-or-necessity-2009.pdf

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 RFQs/RFPs are listed in this newsletter and posted to APA Florida's website at no charge.  APA Florida does this as a service to its members. Please take advantage of it.  Email a one paragraph summary to the Chapter Office at fapa@floridaplanning.org for posting. Include deadline and web link.
 
       NO RFQs/RFPs currently listed
 

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Newest JOB MART advertisements now posted:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (City of Deerfield Beach); SENIOR TRAVEL DEMAND MODELER-ATLANTA GA, FT. LAUDERDALE, ORLANDO OR TALLAHASSEE (Cambridge Systematics)

We encourage you to visit APA Florida's JobMart website at http://www.floridaplanning.org/jobs2.asp for salaries, descriptions, minimum requirements and application deadlines.  Also, don't forget about APA Florida's resume posting feature at http://www.floridaplanning.org/membership/resume_select.asp.

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June 9, 2009:  Sustainable Florida will host its 11th Annual Best Practices Awards at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando.  Contact Tim Center at tcenter@collinscenter.org to register.

June 10-13, 2009:  The 2009 FPZA Annual Conference will be held in Tampa.  Go to http://www.fpza.org/conference.shtml to register.

June 25-26, 2009:  Register now for the DCA Growth Management Workshop, to be held at the Hilton in Walt Disney World Resort.  Check http://www.dca.state.fl.us/   for updates.

July 22 - 24, 2009:  The Florida Chamber will host its 23rd Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School at the Marco Island Marriott Resort.  Its Water School will be held on July 21-22nd at the same location.  To register, go to http://www.floridaenet.com/.

July 23-25, 2009:  The Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects will hold its 2009 Annual Conference at the Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa in Fort Myers.  To register, go to http://www.flasla.org/conference.htm .
 

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