News Archive
Spring 2012 Brown Bag Series Announced
Posted: April 25, 2012
The Puget Sound Section, Washington-APA announced the schedule for the Spring 2012 Brown Bag Series of continuing education. The schedule and other information has been posted on the website and is available here.
Puget Sound Section Announces Half Day Conference
Posted: April 15, 2012
The Puget Sound Section announces its first-ever Half Day Conference with Ethics, Legislative, and Grants sessions to be held Wednesday, May 16, at the Port of Seattle in SeaTac between 7:30 am and noon.
The New Economy and Urbanism until Now and Into the Future
Posted: April 13, 2012
EWU Urban and Regional Planning Program, City of Spokane Planning Services, AHBL, and the American Planning Association—Inland Empire Section are pleased to have nationally-acclaimed architect, urbanist, and the author of The Original Green in Spokane on Tuesday, April 17th. He will give a Community Presentation on "The New Economy and Urbanism until Now and Into the Future". Please check out his web page for more info: www.originalgreen.org.
Board Actions
Posted: March 27, 2012
At the March 9, 2012 Board meeting, the Board adopted the draft Strategic Plan for 2012-2015. In addition, the board endorsed the action agenda "Creating Great Communities: Game Changing Initiatives and Actions" and authorized the current leaders to continue this effort.
Growth Management Hearings Board
Posted: February 29, 2012
Governor Gregoire is now accepting applications to fill vacancies on the Growth Management Hearings Board. There are several statutory qualifications for the vacant positions, including county of residence, affiliation with a major political party, and professional experience in land use law or land use planning. (See RCW 36.70A.250) Please see the Growth Management Hearings Board website at www.gmhb.wa.gov to apply.
Applications are due March 23, 2012.
2012 CNU Cascadia Regional Summit: Envisioning Resilient Communities
Posted: February 28, 2012
CNU Cascadia invites you to our annual regional Summit—the premier venue for cross-disciplinary conversations that inform development, policy, and design of communities in the Pacific Northwest. This year our summit, a one day-conference, will explore the question “What does a sustainable, diverse, resilient community look like?”
CNU Cascadia Low-Carbon Neighborhoods Micro-Charrette: The Seattle 2030 District In South Lake Union
Posted: February 28, 2012
CNU Cascadia, in partnership with the Seattle 2030 District, will be holding the Low-Carbon Neighborhoods Micro-Charrette, a participatory workshop that will provide a forum for discussion and use facilitated workgroups to identify practical opportunities and best practices for achieving the vision of resilient communities. This event will specifically explore the 2030 District performance goals of energy, water, and transportation in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle.
Creating Great Communities Action Agenda
Posted: February 13, 2012
Last October, a group of 50 planners and allied professionals form Washington and Oregon met in Portland to discuss the crises we face. The results of this half-day symposium was an Action Agenda that defines 5 initiatives that we and our allied professions can undertake to make a difference.
Annual Report
Posted: January 31, 2012
APA Washington’s first annual report is now available online and can be downloaded here. There are several purposes for the annual report. First, we can showcase everything we do as an active APA chapter in one document. From committees, to sections, to Board of Directors activities, the report provides readers a snapshot of who we are. Second, it can be used to help recruit and retain members by showing the value of membership and all of the varied service we provide. Finally, the report celebrates our successes and recognizes excellence in planning.
WASLA 2012 Conference: Changing Convention
Posted: January 30, 2012
WASLA welcomes the public, allied professions and vendors to attend our 2012 Conference, Changing Convention on March 29th. This year, we examine the way projects are conceived, designed and constructed; how we are shaping the dynamic with clients and allied professionals; and how the conversation is different now than it was a decade ago.
Winter 2012 Brown Bag Series Announced
Posted: January 16, 2012
The Puget Sound Section, Washington-APA announced the schedule for the Winter 2012 Brown Bag Series of continuing education. The schedule and other information has been posted on the website and is available here.
FBC 201: Preparing a Form-Based Code: Urban Design
Posted: January 13, 2012
FBC 201 looks beyond the standard land use controls of FAR and the separation of uses, going deeply into the essential elements that make up a town or city. Instructors show how to put these elements together in a regulatory framework that intends to shape communities by timetested forms of urbanism. Participants study building types, street types and the street/block/building scale, and how to bring these together in regulatory plans. Instructors and panelists discuss "real world" design challenges. Thursday February 23 • Friday February 24 at the Heritage Hall on the waterfront Kirkland
Membership Survey Results and Strategic Plan
Posted: December 19, 2011
Our thanks to the 362 members who responded to the membership survey last fall as we began preparations for the Strategic Plan. You can see the full results here and the summary I presented at the conference here. The Board met in early November to craft the plan and has reviewed the draft plan at the December Board meeting. We are completing revisions to the plan this month and will be releasing it for comments by the membership in early January. We look forward to hearing your ideas on the draft plan early next year.
2012 Legislative Agenda
Posted: December 14, 2011
In preparation for the upcoming 2012 Washington State Legislative Session, a group of knowledgeable and committed Legislative Committee (LC) participants came together as an ad hoc subcommittee this past summer to draft a Legislative Agenda for 2012. The Chapter has enjoyed success over the last several years in enhancing our presence in Olympia and looks forward to ongoing participation in framing policy decisions and legislation in 2012.
APA Washington Chapter Committee Critique of a UW Study on the Costs of Regulation
Posted: November 27, 2011
In February of 2008, a research study on the costs of land use regulations was issued by University of Washington Economics Professor Theo Eicher. The study claimed that regulations add over $200,000 to the cost of a home in Seattle. A Committee of APA Washington Chapter members, both public and private sector practitioners, reviewed the UW study at length and concluded that it has a number of flaws and limitations. These are described in detail in the Committee’s white paper titled Observations on the Costs of Land Use Regulations and Growth Management: Critical Perspective on a Controversial UW Study.
Puget Sound Section Holiday Party
Posted: November 21, 2011
Please join your fellow planners at the 2011 Puget Sound Section Holiday Party. Thursday, December 8, 6:30 at Salty’s on Alki.
At this year’s event the Washington Chapter will recognize Ron Sims (former Deputy Secretary HUD and King County Executive) and Larry Springer (Representative - 45th District) with awards for their legislative work that has benefited our state and its communities.
Establishing a Chapter Legislative Agenda for 2012
Posted: November 09, 2011
An ideal way for APA Washington’s Legislative Committee (LC) to approach each year’s session of the State Legislature is to be standing on a stable platform of ideas and objectives built together with the membership and Board of Directors. In preparation for the upcoming Session, a group of knowledgeable and committed LC participants came together as an ad hoc subcommittee this past summer to draft a Legislative Agenda for 2012. The subcommittee pulled together past information, examined where we left off last Session and what we anticipate for next Session, and drafted an updated Legislative Agenda for consideration by LC leadership and eventually the Chapter Board of Directors.
If you are interested in statewide legislative and policy matters, take a look at this November 8 draft Legislative Agenda. You are welcome to provide comments through November 18. Email your comments to LC Co-Chair Esther Larsen.
2012 Conference Location Survey
Posted: November 08, 2011
We have begun planning for the APA Washington 2012 Conference, and want your opinion on location. Please take a minute to complete the short survey found here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KK32K93
Thank you, and stay tuned for more information.
Designing the New Cities of China: Blending Ancient Traditions with 21st Century Sustainability
Posted: October 28, 2011
You are invited to hear one of the most prominent designers in China speak in November.
Jie hu is the Director and Chief Designer of the Department of Landscape Architecture at Beijing Tsinghua Urban Planning and Design Institute. He is a very prominent designer of Sustainable parks and cities in China; and he is coming to Portland in November. Professor Hu will give a lecture on Tuesday, November 8. It will be at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Oregon in Portland (the White Stag Block).
There may also be opportunities to meet with Professor Hu in smaller groups. Call Derek Chisholm for more information 971-322-7942.
World Town Planning Day Online Conference 2011
Posted: October 19, 2011
Going Public: Spaces in our Communities
1-2 November 2011
We've put together an exciting line-up of speakers from around the world—Canada, USA, Dubai, China, and many more. What better way to celebrate the planning profession than to engage in a worldwide conversation on-line? We hope you'll join us for this our third annual event in honor of World Town Planning Day! Registration closes on Saturday, 29 October at midnight.