Friday, April 29, 2011

SPIA Announces Student Awards


The School of Public and International Affairs announced there student awards for 2011 this week. Congratulations to all of the newest recipients.




Thursday, April 28, 2011

Upcoming CM Opportunities

Below please find information on upcoming events and approved and pending CM Credit opportunities.


Policy to Practice: Planning for Bicycles

Where: Arlington Transportation Partners, 1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100, Arlington, VA 22209

2 blocks from the Rosslyn Metro station.

May 4, 2001 4:00-6:00 pm

Please join us for Happy Hour at The Continental after the session.

Approved for 2.0 AICP CM Credits

Free and open to the public, RSVP required

RSVP to Sonali Soneji preferably by email: sonalisoneji2@gmail.com or call: 703-867-6042

Bicycling as a mode for commuting and recreation has made great strides in recent years in the Washington metro area. Three speakers will discuss: Policy Development; Implementation and Infrastructure provision; and Marketing and Community Outreach. The session will conclude with a demonstration of a Capital Bikeshare bike station in Rosslyn.

Jim Sebastian will discuss integration of bicycle infrastructure with urban planning and development, and innovative bike lane design. Mr. Sebastian is a Supervisory Transportation Planner at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Washington D.C., where he manages the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transportation Demand Management Programs.

Paul DeMaio will speak about planning and launching of Capital Bikeshare, including how station locations were determined, the RFP process for the program, and expansion plans. He will also touch on the history of bikesharing and different models for provision of service. Paul DeMaio is the founder of MetroBike LLC, a company that assists organizations in implementing bike-sharing programs, and writes The Bike-sharing Blog, an international news resource about the field.

Chris Eatough will discuss increasing bicycle use for transportation through encouragement and education of the community, as well as the activities and structure of BikeArlington and the impact of the program. Chris Eatough, program manager for BikeArlington, has an engineering background and was a professional endurance mountain bike racer, winning six 24-hour solo world titles and five US 24-hour national championships. He also has extensive experience as a mountain bike coach and product tester.

Young Planner Showcase

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Doors Open 6:00pm, Program 6:30-8:00pm

National Capital Planning Commission

401 9th Street, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20004

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is hosting its first annual Young Planner Showcase as part of our 2011 Walking Tours and Forums Series. This forum will offer young planners throughout the Washington D.C. region the opportunity to present the best, most innovative ideas from their jurisdictions. The event will highlight the best and the brightest of our region’s young planners and foster a lively conversation among participants and the audience.

Presenters

  • Matt Ladd, AICP, Senior Planner, Fairfax County Department of Planning & Zoning
  • Brandi D. Collins, AICP, Urban Planner, Neighborhood and Community Revitalization, Alexandria, VA
  • Maritza E. Mercado, AICP, LEED AP, Planner, AECOM

We have been approved for APA CM credit for this event!

RSVPs are required: http://csg.citizen-networks.org/site/Calendar?id=100881&view=Detail&scid=1022

Sponsored by: Coalition for Smarter Growth
www.smartergrowth.net
Twitter: betterDCregion

Putting Ethics into Practice, Lessons from Everyday Decisions

Friday June 3, 2011, 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Hosted by: Fairfax County Dept. of Planning & Zoning

Herrity Building, Room 106/107

12055 Government Center Pkwy.

Fairfax, VA 22035

RSVP by May 24, 2011 @ DPZTraining@fairfaxcounty.gov

Approved for 1.5 CM Ethics Credits

This session asks attendees to apply the AICP Code of Ethics to practical planning situations. The session starts with a brief review of the history, purpose, and content of the code. Speakers then introduce case studies illustrating common ethical dilemmas found in planning practice. The session encourages participants to discuss the nuances and context of the issues through a role-playing exercise followed by a period of questions, answers, and observations. The session closes with a reminder to participants on resources available to them.

An introduction to Green Roofs

1.25 AICP Credit Pending

Friday, June 10, 2011, 9:00 to 10.15 a.m.

Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.

5300 Wellington Branch Drive, Suite 100

Gainesville, VA 20155

By now most (and hopefully all) planners know that a green roof has nothing to do with a can of green paint and a brush! Whether being used to assist the management of storm water runoff, to help to achieve LEED certification or for other reasons, green roofs can provide a wide range of benefits.

Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) has kindly agreed to provide a presentation on the different types of green roofs available, their various benefits, implementation and maintenance requirements and associated costs. To allow attendees to get a first-hand view of an established facility, the presentation will include a tour of WSSI's office building's green roof.

Please RSVP by June 3rd, 2011, to Ben Wales at bwales@cooley.com

*This is a rescheduled session, which was originally scheduled for last fall.

2011 Planning Law Review

APA Audio/Web Conference (1.5 CM Credits)

Wednesday June 29, 2011, 4:00 PM to 05:30 PM

Hosted by: Fairfax County Dept. of Planning & Zoning

Herrity Building, Room 106

12055 Government Center Pkwy.

Fairfax, VA 22035

APA Virginia Annual Conference – 2011

Wintergreen Resort

Wednesday July 20 through Friday, July 22, 2011

http://apavirginia.org/events/2011/apa-virginia-2011-annual-conference


Job Announcement

Southern Environmental Law Center in Charlottesville, VA has an opening for a Planning Associate in their Land and Community Program.

If you are interested, contact Carol Satterwhite at
csatterwhite@selcva.org.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Attend the 2011 APA Virginia Annual Conference

Still working on your summer schedule? Consider July 20-22 for a trip to Wintergreen for APA Virginia's annual conference.

Register Now!


Notes before registering online:
  • Each email address can only register once.
  • You do not have to have a PayPal account to make a payment. Look for the links to bypass creating an account.
  • Confirmation emails will come from Constant Contact and PayPal. If you do not recieve a confirmation from PayPal and Constant Contact, you have not completed registration.
More details on room reservations, keynote, and the program are available at
www.apavirginia.org, follow the link on the homepage to the official confernce page.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

MURP Students Contribute to 16 Blocks Magazine

VT MURP Students Leslie Tate and Jed Grubbs' article on the Stroubles Creek Watershed was recently published in the local magazine 16 Blocks.


The creek as it runs behind the office at Old Town Hall

STROUBLES CREEK

Disrepair


If not for Stroubles, the Town of Blacksburg would not exist. At least not where it is today. Freshwater springs exist on both the east and west corner of the town’s 16 blocks and the community was purposefully positioned between these springs. The branches of these springs, along with a third branch, meet to become Stroubles Creek, which had provided Blacksburg with drinking water for over 150 years until health concerns forced us to draw downstream from the New River. Today, however, a visitor strolling through town is likely unaware that moving waters are buried beneath the concrete. Yet they continue to flow, and while we may have put Stroubles out of sight and out of mind, it has not ceased to assert its influence or wane in its importance.

~ Access the remainder of the article here.


VT Event

Earth Week 2011

Virginia Tech, April 18-22

www.ew2011.com

Whether you're a

sporadic

recycler

or a

dedicated

locavore

,

we've got

a workshop,

speaker, or event for you! Highlights include:

Speaker Mark Winne (local/organic foods author and activist)

Scavenger Hunt by biking, bussing, or walking (free prizes!)

Effective Communication workshop for eco-advocates

Hokies Love Mountains Rally with Larry Gibson

Earth Day Festival, 4/22 10A-5P Squires Plaza

Full schedule: ew2011.com

Why attend an Earth Week activity?

Clean air, water, land, & healthy communities are all needs

that can be met by living within our means; the knowledge &

skills gained at any event can enable you & your

community to lead sustainable livelihoods.

Oh, and every event is FREE!

Hosted by The Environmental Coalition

Contact: Rial Tombes, rialto13@vt.edu

Planner Position Available

The Chesapeake Public Schools’ New Construction and Planning Department, is advertising a vacant Planner position. An abbreviated job announcement is available here.

They are eager to fill the position preferably with a master’s degree holder in the urban/regional planning field, and it is a good opportunity for professional planning employment.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Job Opening

A position is open for a HOUSING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR with DHCD. More information can be found here.

CLG Senior Public Finance Analyst/Economist Position

Currently there is an opening for a Senior Public Finance Analyst / Economist position to fill at the Commission on Local Government. A link to the job postings is found here. A link to the documents on local fiscal condition that the Economist has been doing in the past is found here.

Two supplemental questions on the on-line state application provide a good idea of what is most important for to this position:

1. Does the applicant have extensive experience in quantitative analysis of public finance and economic issues?

2. Please describe your experience calculating a composite index, including the statistical methodology employed, the number and type of component variables or indicators involved, the sources of the data, any software used (i.e., SPSS, Excel, etc.) and what the index was designed to measure.

Cash Proffer Study Update RFP

Isle of Wight County is currently seeking a professional planning/fiscal analysis consultant to assist in the review and update of its 2003 Cash Proffer Study. Please follow the link to view the notice. The deadline for submissions is April 26.

"Strategies of NGO Assistance after Disaster" STS seminar by Barbara Allen, 4/19

Join us Tuesday, April 19 at 3:30 PM in Lane 132 for a talk Barbara Allen's Seminar Series talk "Environment and Justice Reconsidered: Strategies of NGO Assistance after Disaster".

Abstract:
Using post-Katrina New Orleans as her case study, Prof. Allen, a former resident, wanted to know what synergies between residents, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies and outsiders made for successful rebuilding and repatriation, particularly in poorer parts of the city. Given the environmental devastation that the city had suffered, what were catalysts and engines for community rebuilding and revitalization? To answer this question, a definition of "success" was needed. Was it percentage of people that returned? Was it numbers of houses reinhabited? It became clear to Allen as she continued her fieldwork in the city for over five years, that there were environmental justice issues not only revealed by the disaster itself, but also in the techniques of repatriation. The issue of success was twofold—both quantitative and qualitative—and the "justness" of the NGOs practices was a key element in the later.

See the poster for details. Contact
Sonja Schmid for more information.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Job Oppty: Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Policy Associate, Transportation and Community Energy
Position is based in Washington, DC

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is seeking a policy associate to lead and
support our work on energy and climate issues, focusing on transportation and community-based
energy strategies. EESI’s core mission is to educate and assist Congressional offices and other
policymakers and stakeholders to advance innovative solutions to energy and environmental
challenges. Much of our work focuses on federal policy, however, we have several projects
underway to promote and support innovative efforts at the state and local level.

EESI’s transportation work covers all aspects of transportation related to energy and climate
change—including vehicles, fuels, public transportation, non-motorized and other travel alternatives,
land use, community design, travel demand reduction, and climate adaptation. Our work on
community energy is focused on local innovations to scale up the deployment of renewable energy
and energy efficiency measures. The ideal candidate will have strong interest, knowledge, and
experience in each of these areas, but candidates with a specialization in one or more areas with an ability and desire to build their expertise in other areas are also strongly encouraged to apply.

Desired qualifications:
• Bachelor degree (graduate degree a plus), preferably in a relevant field.
• Three or more years of directly relevant experience (or equivalent combination of
experience); experience working with Congress or state legislatures preferred.
• Knowledge and aptitude in science, technology, economics, and policy issues relevant to
transportation, energy, and climate change. Knowledge of one or more these areas desired:
vehicle and fuel technology, renewable energy, energy efficiency, economic/community
development, transportation and/or land use planning, urban design, etc.
• Strong project management skills and experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; critical thinking, research, and analytical
skills; quantitative skills a plus
• Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with partner organizations and
relevant coalitions, and work effectively with a wide diversity of interests and personalities
• Proficiency with websites, social media, and other online communications technology; other
media experience a plus.
• Self-starter, flexible, able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Salary: commensurate with experience. EESI offers an excellent benefits package.

For a complete job description, please go to www.eesi.org/jobs. Please send cover letter, resume and a writing sample via e-mail to: jobs@eesi.org with your last name and “Policy Associate--
Transportation and Community Energy” in the subject line. No phone calls please.

CCAP seeks Intern on Transportation and Land Economics

The Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) is seeking applications for a Transportation and Land Economics Intern. The focus of the internship would be research and writing on the economic and livability impacts of transportation and land use policies and projects. Current graduate students or recent graduates from a program in Transportation, Economics, Planning, Policy or related fields are encouraged to apply. This internship is available immediately, 10 - 40 hours per week, for 4 - 8 months.  This temporary position is located in CCAP’s Washington, DC offices and may be either full- time or part- time. A remote part-time start during the spring is a possibility, as are candidates working from home in Montréal. This is a paid internship with no benefits provided.

For additional information and application instructions, please see: http://www.ccap.org/index.php?component=pages&id=11

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Job Opening

Land Protection and Stewardship Coordinator, North Branch Land Trust

Deadline: Open until filled

North Branch Land Trust (NBLT), an accredited land trust, seeks qualified candidates for the position of Land Protection and Stewardship Coordinator. Formed in 1993, NBLT’s mission is to conserve the scenic, natural, and working landscapes that sustain us including forests, wildlife habitat, watersheds, farmland, scenic viewsheds, critical urban fringe open space, and other natural areas. NBLT also works with communities to develop smart growth strategies for the benefit of their citizens. Serving most of Northeastern Pennsylvania and specifically the watershed of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, NBLT has conserved 11,000 acres through 46 conservation easements and 5 fee acquisitions.

The Land Protection and Stewardship Coordinator (LPSC) has two responsibilities: Implementation of the Trust’s land conservation program and stewardship of conservation easements and fee lands. The ideal candidate will have familiarity with land protection tools such as conservation easements and land use planning, a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, natural resource management, or related field, strong communication and organizational skills, strong computer skills including ArcGIS software, and GPS data collection. The candidate must have his/her own vehicle for daily travel and be able to work independently as well as on a team. Based in Trucksville, PA. Flexible hours, mileage reimbursement, medical coverage, generous vacation package, 403(b) retirement plan. Salary range $28K to $38K depending on experience (40 plus hour week). Submit cover letter, résumé, and references to info@nblt.org. Subject: LPSC Search. Additional job information can be found at www.nblt.org under “News.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

LEED-ND Updates

1. LEED-ND Panel & Reception on April 4

Neighborhoods Go Green: LEED for Neighborhood Development and Scaling Up Sustainability

The U.S. Green Building Council, the USGBC-NCR Chapter, COTEdc, and NCAC-APA
jointly invite you to a panel discussion and reception about LEED for Neighborhood Development. Cities, developers, and designers are searching for new strategies to develop sustainably, particularly at the district scale. LEED for Neighborhood Development is one of many sustainability frameworks and has received traction for both new and redevelopment projects, as well as a policy tool for local governments. Join development, design, and policy experts from the Washington, DC region who will present several LEED-ND projects and will discuss the implication of growing as sustainably as possible in our economically robust region.

Date:
Monday, Apr. 4, 2011
Time:
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location:
AIA Headquarters
1735 New York Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20006


Confirmed speakers include:

- Roger Platt, Senior Vice President, Global Policy & Law, U.S. Green
Building Council (moderator)
- David Kitchens, Principal, Director of the Alexandria office, Cooper
Carry
- Shelley Poticha, Director for Office of Sustainable Housing and
Communities, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
- Matthew Steenhoek, Development Manager, PN Hoffman

- Greg Trimmer, Senior Vice President, The JBG Companies


Registrants will also have the opportunity to tour the Neighborhoods Go
Green exhibit, on display at the AIA headquarters from Mar. 14 - Apr. 21 during a reception that will follow the panel discussion. Co-curated by USGBC, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and Farr Associates, staff from USGBC will be on hand to answer any questions
attendees might have about the exhibit.

Register now
Member: $25.00

Non-Member: $35.00

Members of COTEdc, NCAC-APA, NCR, and USGBC may register at the member rate.


2. LEED-ND Summer Associate position (paid) at USGBC


http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=63&#LEEDNDSA

3. LEED-ND 251 Workshop on May 9 in Washington, DC (Understandi/ng the
LEED-ND Rating System)

https://www.usgbc.org/CourseCatalog/coursedetail.aspx?ID=90003917


This workshop will be held in conjunction with the USGBC Government Summit, which also might be of interest to you and runs from May 10-11 at the Ronald Reagan Building in DC.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program

The Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program is designed to attract, develop and retain promising young professionals who will help lead the economic revitalization and development of Detroit. This talent pool is being cultivated in order to build the capacity of public, for-profit, nonprofit and quasi-public organizations, including Detroit's anchor institutions. The Detroit Fellows program is an outstanding opportunity for those looking to build a career in the fields of economic and business development, real estate and urban planning. It is also an outstanding opportunity to be a key contributor to the transformation of Detroit... to creating the Detroit of tomorrow.

The Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program is modeled after the
successful Rockefeller Foundation Redevelopment Fellowships launched in 2007 in New Orleans. That program, administered by the Center for Urban Redevelopment Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania, enabled key redevelopment organizations in New Orleans to recruit qualified professionals from across the country to work on the rebuilding process there. Full-time employment for a minimum of two years, working on initiatives that will turn the vision for Detroit into reality. Each Detroit Fellow will be working in various project management and leadership roles as an employee of one of the organizations actively shaping the Detroit of Tomorrow.

During the first phase, the Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program
will include up to 25 mid-career professionals working with a variety of local organizations. Organizations that have agreed to employ Fellows include the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, Invest Detroit, the City of Detroit, the University Cultural Center Association, NextEnergy, and the Woodward Corridor Initiative. A special effort is also being made to build capacity in a variety of other community development organizations across the city.

Qualifications and Application Requirements


Academic:
Graduate degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy or Administration, Business, or Law, preferred, Post-graduate and mid-career applicants welcomed Minimum: Bachelor's Degree completed, plus 5 years of relevant experience

Work experience in real estate, community, economic or
business development, or in fields related to urban revitalization preferred

Applicants will be evaluated based on their scholastic
achievements, oral and written communication skills, analytic skills, campus and community service involvement, political awareness, leadership potential, and work experience.

Efforts will be made to recruit a national pool of qualified
applicants. Young professionals living in the region and Detroiters who wish to return to the city and help make a difference are encouraged to apply.

Non-US citizens must show authorization to work in U.S.


Applications for the Fellows Program are due by April 15. Please see
the website at http://wayne.edu/detroitfellows/ for more information. There is also a Facebook page - search "Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program."