Workshops & Trainings

Gain an overview of the AICP exam, its content, and topic areas. In the morning, learn about successful strategies for applying to take the exam, how to address the five types of questions on the exam, and the abundant local, state, and national resources available to help you prepare for the exam. In the afternoon, gain training in several important exam topic areas (History/Law/Ethics), review past test takers’ comments, work on answering practice questions, and learn how to access the Florida Chapter study materials, including presentations, materials, and practice exams. Plenty of time will be available for your questions.

Speakers:

Henry F. Bittaker, FAICP – APA Florida & Treasure Coast Section PDO. Henry is currently the Chapter’s Vice-President for Professional Development and has prepared more than 1,100 planners to successfully pass the AICP Exam.  He has served as an APA Peer Reviewer in the AICP application process, was one of ten national faculty, along with Susan, for APA’s 3.0 AICP exam prep guide, and authored about a third of APA’s new 2020/2021 CPC AICP Exam Study manual.  Before retiring in 2011, he spent 14 years working in growth management at the Department of Community Affairs and 14 years working on Everglades and water planning issues at the South Florida Water Management District.

Susan M. Coughanour, FAICP –  Program Chair, Treasure Coast Section. Susan is currently the APA Florida Treasure Coast Section’s Program Chair and, with Henry Bittaker, has run the Treasure Coast AICP Study Group since 2004. She and Henry were the co-recipients of the 2011 APA CPC National Leadership Award for their Chapter volunteer efforts, including the APA Florida Treasure Coast Section AICP Study Group. She also works extensively with FAU’s planning faculty and students, including the planning school’s accreditation. Before retiring in 2011, she spent 36 years working on regulatory, Everglades, land management, natural resource protection and water planning issues at the South Florida Water Management District.

Peter Henn, AICP, JD – FAU Department of Urban & Regional Planning. Peter is a faculty member at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in the Department of Urban & Regional Planning where he teaches urban planning, urban design, site planning, and land use and zoning law. Peter started his career as a land use attorney at Florida’s largest law firm and later transitioned into the real estate development industry, where he planned and developed numerous communities. He is a member of The Florida Bar and is an AICP certified planner. He received his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and received his B.A. and M.A. in Economics from FAU.

NOTE: This workshop is complimentary for all Planning Board Members who register for the FULL CONFERENCE. 

This all-day training that is ideal for appointed advisory board members, elected officials, utilities, historic preservation or water board members, city clerks, or a local government employee who is eager to learn more about local planning and zoning fundamentals, land use law, future planning trends, and effective public engagement tactics. All positions and backgrounds are welcome.

TOPICS COVERED:

Implementing Comprehensive Planning Techniques.  Florida planning as it relates to the comprehensive plan and the land development code will be discussed as well as exploring how they are different in their scope. Review processes for local and state planning will be explained, including state and local jurisdictions for roadways. EAR based amendments will be covered along with various topics related to Florida planning.

Navigating Land Use Law Requirements. The legal aspect of planning will be discussed. Bert Harris basics as well as important case law will be discussed as it relates to land use planning. Quasi-judicial versus legislative decisions will be explained. An overview of new legislation will be provided as well as guidance regarding state preemption of local regulations.

Inclusive Public Engagement Practices.  The planning board’s role versus the planning staff role will be explored. Best practices for public participation, public hearings and meetings will be explained for both in person and virtual meetings in the post COVID world. Meeting procedures will be explored including explaining Roberts Rules of Order. Finally, the Florida Sunshine Law requirements and the state’s code of ethics will be explained.

Transportation Planning & Implementation.  The changing nature of transportation and mobility planning will be covered in this session. The role of engineers versus planners, bike and pedestrian planning, transit, connectivity, suburban design, autonomous vehicles, local versus state responsibility and coordination as well as complete streets projects will be explained.

Private Sector Perspectives on Current and Future Planning Trends.  A variety of emerging trends in planning will be presented in this session. Architectural design, green infrastructure, low impact development, resiliency, sustainability and land use and planning in a post pandemic world will be covered.