October 3, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET

CM #TBD

Guest Host: APA Arts and Planning Division
Extreme heat is becoming one of the deadliest and most complex climate threats—and planners must adapt. But what if we approached heat hazard mitigation not just with data and infrastructure, but also with art, storytelling, and technology? Join the APA Arts and Planning Division, APA Technology Division, and the Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery Planning Division for a solutions-focused conversation exploring how exploring how a multidisciplinary approach using creative and technological tools is key in reshaping the way planners can reshape the way planners understand, communicate, and respond to extreme heat.CM 1.5
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Housing proponents recognize the role manufactured housing has played and could play in producing more affordable housing. Manufacturers are ready to build, but the regulatory and financial environments are not always favorable to do so. It will take a combination of regulatory changes and incentives to make real progress. Join the Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration’s webinar to hear some perspectives from Delaware and Maryland.

The APA Maryland Awards Program highlights best practices, celebrates planning leaders, and elevates the APA’s vision of “creating great communities for all.” This year, the Awards Program will focus on implementation efforts that address Maryland’s housing needs, aligning with the 2025 APA National Policy Priority on zoning reform and housing supply. Potential implementation measures include zoning reform, programs supporting low to moderate income households, or housing resilience. To be considered, nominations must be in the implementation phase.

2025 Submission Guidelines:

• Nominee Eligibility: Open to individuals, plans, programs, or policies that include at least one APA Maryland Chapter member on the professional team.

• Focus Area: Only implementation measures—adopted, active, and currently addressing housing needs in Maryland during 2024–2025—will be eligible for recognition. Please see the scoring rubric for examples of eligible efforts.

• Recognition Categories: People, plans, programs, and policies demonstrating tangible impact and leadership.Submission

• Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025 at 5 PM

• Awards Celebration: Winners will be notified in mid-October and recognized at the APA Maryland Annual Meeting, to be hosted in the Baltimore Region, on November 7, 2025.

APA Maryland Book Club Selection!
September 2, 2025 at 12-1pm | Virtual

Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll for our 2025 APA Maryland Book Club selection! The votes are in, and we’re excited to announce thatw our Fall read will be: Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion of the Perfect System by Angie Schmitt

Join us for a virtual book discussion on Tuesday, September 2, from 12:00–1:00 PM via Zoom. (Registration details will be shared soon!)

We encourage you to grab a copy now so you can read along with us throughout August. The book is available through major booksellers, and we also encourage you to support your local libraries or independent bookstores when possible.

Planning to take the AICP exam this November?
Join APA staff for one—or all—of our upcoming AICP Office Hours sessions to get your questions answered and connect you with others preparing for the AICP exam:

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 10:00–11:00 AM CT
Register here: https://planning.zoom.us/meeting/register/rFR0W4-_Qa6jo1IG7BBhPA

These sessions are open to both members and non-members, but advance registration is required. For Fall exam dates and fees, please visit the APA website.

New Date, Same Great Night at the Ballpark!
We’ve rescheduled our “Planners at the Park” event to Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM—but all the fun is still in play!

Join your fellow planners for a fun-filled night out at Camden Yards—come network, unwind, and watch the Orioles take on the Texas Rangers. Mix and mingle with colleagues at Pickles Pub before the game at 5pm. We hope you can join us for a night of home runs and high fives! Tickets: $25
⚠️ Seats are limited and available to APA MD members only (first come, first served). Section 12.
📲 MLB Ballpark app and account required to receive your ticket.

Questions? Contact Sarah Diehl at contact@apamaryland.org

Participants of this live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits.

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is presenting this webinar in partnership with the Mid Atlantic Planning Collaboration. Panelists will explore best practices that support accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development from the state, local, and builder perspectives. Attendees will learn about:

• How Maryland and Anne Arundel County are advancing ADUs;

• Potential changes to local ordinances or programs to support ADUs;

• The challenges faced by ADU builders and property owners;

• The pool of people who benefit from ADUs;

• How to advocate for ADU programs and development within their communities and planning offices.

Panel Members:

Joe Griffiths, AICP, Director of Planning Best Practices, Maryland Department of Planning. Joe oversees the department’s regional planning, local assistance, and education efforts, serving as the Project Manager for the ADU Policy Task Force. Prior to joining MDP, Joe served as the Manager of Community Information and Outreach for the Loudoun County Department of Planning and Zoning, and as a Program Manager with the Pathways Community Development Corporation in Petersburg, Virginia. 

Lynn Miller, AICP, Assistant Planning and Zoning Officer, Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning. Lynn has 30 years of planning experience with local governments in Maryland, covering a wide range of topics including community, environmental, transportation, zoning and development, urban design, and preservation planning. In her current role as the Assistant Planning and Zoning Officer for Anne Arundel County, she also serves as the department's legislative liaison and conducts research and analysis of proposed land use laws and regulations. 

Mike Novotny, Founder and Principal, Backyard Homes Building Co. Prior to founding his company, Mike worked in real estate development and construction for more than 15 years in Arlington, VA and greater Washington DC for two of the area’s largest builders and developers. In 2019, Arlington County adopted an ADU ordinance which allowed property owners to add small second homes on their lots and foster a new era of more affordable and multi-generational housing. Mike founded Backyard Homes to meet that moment and has since developed an exciting new line of small second homes.

Planning to take the AICP exam this November?
Join APA staff for one—or all—of our upcoming AICP Office Hours sessions to get your questions answered and connect you with others preparing for the AICP exam:

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM CT

These sessions are open to both members and non-members, but advance registration is required. For Fall exam dates and fees, please visit the APA website.

Planning to take the AICP exam this November?
Join APA staff for one—or all—of our upcoming AICP Office Hours sessions to get your questions answered and connect you with others preparing for the AICP exam:

 Thursday, July 10, 2025 | 1:00–2:00 PM CT
Register here:

https://planning.zoom.us/meeting/register/LB-MUoa9Q3CoYtaYWtNatQ

Join Matt Miller, Executive Director of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, for a walking tour of the award-winning Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project followed by buffet lunch at Ristorante Ottavianni, including pasta, salad, and woodfired pizza.

Baltimore Street has long been a center of commerce and activity in downtown Cumberland. In 2017, the City of Cumberland began the process of reimagining a segment of Baltimore Street that had been converted to a pedestrian mall in the 1970s. Following years of planning and construction, the transformation of Baltimore Street was celebrated with a grand reopening in November of 2024. Baltimore Street is once again a vibrant, thriving gathering place for residents and visitors. The redevelopment project celebrates the region’s cultural and natural resources, and features broader sidewalks, added green spaces, and a reintroduction of vehicle and bicycle traffic.

The tour will begin at The Rosenbaum, 118 Baltimore Street, Suite 202.  Participants should park at the George Street Parking Garage, which is 1.5 blocks away.  

Cost: $20 per person

Calling all Orioles fans! Join your fellow planners for a fun-filled night out at Camden Yards - come network, unwind, and watch the Orioles take on the Texas Rangers. Mix and mingle with colleagues at Pickles Pub before the game. We hope you can join us for a night of home runs and high fives!

When: Tuesday, June 24th. Game starts at 6:35

Happy Hour: 5:00 at Pickles Pub

Cost: $25 per ticket 

Notes: Seats are available on a first come first serve basis to APA MD members only. Our block of seats are located in Section 12. In order to receive your ticket, you must have a MLB Ballpark account and access to the mobile app.

⚾ Space is limited, so sign up and reserve your seat today!

Questions? Contact Sarah Diehl at contact@apamaryland.org

CM #9311248

Guest Host: APA Water and Planning Network APA Water and Planning Network

Every water challenge — whether it’s managing resources during drought, guiding development through availability assessments, restoring wetlands, or protecting watersheds — starts with a foundational question: Who owns the land? Land ownership determines access, responsibility, and the potential for action. Yet for planners and water professionals, this data has historically been difficult to access and integrate. To bridge this gap, the Center for Geospatial Solutions (CGS) — a mission-driven organization enabling data-driven decisions for the greater good of land, water, and people — has developed a nationwide parcel database that reveals, with unmatched precision and interoperability, who owns what land across jurisdictions, state boundaries, and complex ownership structures. CGS is exploring new opportunities to weave water data into this platform and open the door for deeper insights into how land and water systems connect. This webinar will introduce the unique dataset, share early use cases, and invite discussion about how integrating land ownership and water data can help planners and water managers answer questions like: “Who owns land critical to watershed health?” and “Where are land use patterns influencing water access or infrastructure investments?” Join us for a preview of what’s possible at the intersection of land and water data — and help shape where we go next.

FAICP - eligible members and nominators are encouraged to join the Fellows Q&A Sessions held at the following dates and times: 

• January 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Please register at the following link.

• March 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Please register at the following link.

• June 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Please register at the following link. 

For prior nominees who may have specific questions or concerns to be addressed personally, we encourage you to email Fellows@planning.org.

More information on FAICP can be found here.

Additionally, we are continuing to gauge interest in an April AICP Study Session. Please contact our Professional Development Officer, Andrew Gray, AICP at contact@apamaryland.org if you are interested. This event will take place at Towson University.

APA Michigan Chapter

The State of Michigan's MI Healthy Climate Plan and the subsequent adoption of PA233 has resulted in communities needing to consider renewable energy development, including solar energy, wind energy, substations, and battery storage. Join us for a deep-dive into planning and zoning for renewable energy so you can better guide your communities to a position that is based on good planning.

CM #9311245

Guest Host: APA Private Practice Division + Transportation Planning Division

The session will focus on preparing and reviewing multimodal transportation impact assessments rather than just preparing a traffic impact study. A review of the recently updated Institute of Transportation Engineering (ITE) Recommended Practice on Preparing and Review of Multimodal Transportation Impact Assessments will explain the benefits. Speakers from cities that have developed and applied a new multimodal process will explain their process and the lessons learned. Dan Hardy, the Chair of ITE’s Committee, will review its Recommended Practices on Multimodal Transportation Impact Analyses for site development. Melissa Hayes, the Project Manager for the City of Nashville, will describe how the city replaced traffic impact studies with multimodal guidelines. Nashville applied ITE’s recommended practices along with examples from Austin, Seattle, San Jose, and Washington, D.C. Melissa and dan’s work will be discussed to show the positive impact on not only Nashville, but other communities.

Join us in Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County, for a dynamic one-day conference showcasing the town’s remarkable revitalization. Discover how this historic area has evolved into a thriving destination, balancing growth with community charm.

Our agenda features insights from local leaders, planners, and economic development experts, including a session with the owner of a cooperative winery, a walking (or trolley!) tour led by town planners, and discussions on the successes and challenges of revitalization. See firsthand how Leonardtown has enhanced its waterfront park, attracted new businesses, and set the stage for future development.

The day wraps up at the winery—where you can unwind, enjoy a glass of wine, and continue the conversation. Don't miss this opportunity to experience and learn from Leonardtown’s transformation!

Guest Host: HMDR Division.

Communities have long used landscaping codes to reduce water consumption, but a few stand-out cities have crafted codes that pair water-wise goals with fire-wise principles. Join experts for an hour-long webinar exploring how these double-duty landscaping codes can reduce fire risk and encourage water conservation in your community.

CM Credit: 1.5

Planning Webcast Series:

CM #9309088

Guest Host: Urban Design and Preservation Divisoin.

Across the United States, a shift is underway to reimagine auto-oriented landscapes, leading to a surge in collaborative projects to improve connectivity and revitalize public spaces within auto-centric areas. This year's Student Planning and Design Competition focused on the Colfax and Federal Interchange site in Denver, Colorado. Situated adjacent to Empower Field at Mile High on the east and multifamily neighborhoods to the west, the site presents a unique opportunity to explore sensitive and strategic infill solutions. Join us post-conference to discuss the student work and the broader response to sprawl repair.

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Register

CM #9309087

Guest Host: APA Food Systems Division + Public Schools and Communities Division.

Join our virtual cafeteria with the APA Public Schools and Communities Division and APA Food Systems Division to learn more about the intersections between school planning and food systems planning through a panel of school food planning practitioners. Panelists will reflect on their current work, how they arrived at their focus area in this field, challenges ahead, and example projects. They will also reflect on the how and why planners might engage at the intersection of schools and food. This session will also highlight how APA Divisions’ cross-collaboration can open new avenues of opportunity and learning to reach planners’ professional goals. Participants will gain insight into the various roles planners take on at the intersection of food systems and public schools, how school food planning supports jurisdictional priorities, and how planners can create opportunities for thriving public schools and food systems.

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Registration for the Spring 2025 AICP Certification Cycle opens April 1, at 9:00 AM CST and closes April 30, at 3:00 PM CST.

CM: #9303639

Guest Host: APA Technology Division

As planners increasingly embrace digital tools, understanding the workings behind the web has become crucial. Just as “Code is the new concrete,” planners who understand the “infrastructure” of websites can more effectively engage with digital platforms to serve their communities.

This webinar, Planning Webcast: Web Skills for Planners, will provide an essential foundation in web skills, equipping participants to evaluate, design, deploy, and maintain websites. Participants will gain insights into everything from user-friendly design principles to back-end fundamentals, collaboration with web developers , or key no-code platforms. The session will also highlight web tools like Google Sites, Wix, and AI-driven resources that simplify coding and optimize functionality. With knowledge of these tools, planners can confidently navigate and harness the potential of web technology to enhance their planning efforts.

A Q&A will follow. The goal of this webinar is to equip planners with essential web skills and knowledge, enabling them to effectively evaluate, design, deploy, and maintain websites. Participants will also learn how to collaborate with web developers and utilize online tools to enhance their planning efforts through websites.

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