Planning and Placemaking: Why Bother to Plan? 

Why is good planning important to the future of the St. Louis region? This session will illustrate the impact of planning and zoning decisions made at the municipal and county levels. It will demonstrate the importance of creating a sense of place and will discuss the role of commissioners, elected officials, and citizens working together to realize their shared vision.

The Trainer

Carol Gossett, director of planning for Arcturis. Previously ran her own planning business, CLG Enterprises, Inc., for 18 years. Has experience in master planning, implementation and finance strategies, land assembly, real estate consulting, site selection and analysis, property acquisition and relocation, and public engagement. Holds a BA in Anthropology from Washington University and is a registered broker in Missouri. Serves as co-chair of the Architectural Review Board for the City of Kirkwood.

Developing a Comprehensive Plan

Learn about the major components of the planning and zoning process that are recognized by state statutes and comprehensive master plan and zoning ordinances. Understand the comprehensive planning process, the commission's responsibilities, and how they vary from city to city. Learn about the inclusion of historic and other types of special districts.

The Trainer

J. Wayne Oldroyd, AICP, director of community development in the City of Maryland Heights, Mo. Manages the city's building and development, zoning administration, and code enforcement programs. Responsible for the preparation of all future land-use plans, including the Howard Bend Future Land Use Plan, Citywide Transportation Plan, and Westport Industrial Land Use and Redevelopment Plan. Previously worked as president of the Environmental Planning and Design Group, serving both municipal and land-development clients in the New Jersey and Philadelphia region.

Implementing a Comprehensive Plan

Discover how a county, village, or municipality can use a comprehensive plan as a tool to manage and guide all growth in the community, and how the plan is used with the zoning and other ordinances to create the community that was envisioned in the development of the plan.

The Trainer

J. Wayne Oldroyd, AICP, director of community development in the City of Maryland Heights, Mo. Manages the city's building and development, zoning administration, and code enforcement programs. Responsible for the preparation of all future land-use plans, including the Howard Bend Future Land Use Plan, Citywide Transportation Plan, and Westport Industrial Land Use and Redevelopment Plan. Previously worked as president of the Environmental Planning and Design Group, serving both municipal and land-development clients in the New Jersey and Philadelphia region.

Zoning

Review the basics of zoning structure, format, and process. Learn about updating your codes, drafting effective and unified zoning codes, the plan/code relationship, and administering exceptions. Address topics including code regulation of commercial and residential development, protecting the environment, and governmental roles in zoning.

The Trainer

Paul Langdon, AICP, director of planning in the City of Creve Coeur, Mo. Served as zoning administrator for the City of Maryland Heights, Mo.; planner for the City of Glendale, Ariz.; and community development planner for Bucher, Willis and Ratliff Corp. in Kansas City, Mo. Holds a BA in both Landscape Architecture and Biology from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and an MA in Environmental Planning from Arizona State University. Has also completed a program in Effective Zoning Administration Techniques at the University of Wisconsin.

Legal Aspects of Planning and Zoning

Learn about legal aspects of planning and zoning. Gain insight on adoption and use of planning and zoning tools, the scope of and limitations on regulatory authority, and the procedures involved in zoning reviews, appeals, and public hearings.

The Trainer

Dan Vogel, a founding shareholder in Cunningham, Vogel & Rost, PC. Practices law in land use, telecommunications, and general municipal issues. Has represented numerous municipalities throughout the Midwest on zoning and development code drafting, specialized development ordinances, land-use litigation, and related development issues.

Ethics and Effective Public Hearings

Address ethical considerations in the duties of commissioners and staff including conflicts of interest and responsibility to the community and petitioners. Learn about the appropriate role and conduct of commissioners, staff, and attorneys in maintaining objectivity and decorum in public hearings and meetings. Discuss fact-finding and conflict resolution.

The Trainer

Ted Shekell, AICP, director of planning, zoning, and building in the City of O'Fallon, Ill. Served as executive director of the Southern Five Regional Planning Commission, providing technical assistance to 23 municipalities and five Illinois counties, and as a research analyst for Planning and Management Consultants, Ltd. Holds an MA in Urban Planning from the University of Virginia.

Site Plan Review

Understand the implications of different site plan/preliminary plat choices and the variables that minimize negative impact, bringing maximum benefit to a community's transportation, engineering economics, environment, and visual appearance. Consider the work and responsibilities of architectural review boards. Examples of actual site plans will be provided and discussed.

The Trainer

Dan Lang, president of The Lang Gang Inc., a planning and zoning consulting firm. Formerly a senior planner with the consulting firm of Horner-Shifrin Inc. Worked as an employee of the cities of Lake Saint Louis, St. Peters, and St. Charles, Mo. Has more than 30 years' experience. Served five years as president of the APA-Missouri Chapter. Awarded the Distinguished Leadership Award for a Professional Planner in 2002.

Annexation

Discuss the planning, statutory, and economic issues related to annexation in Missouri and Illinois. The processes required for annexation efforts will be examined, as will the role of planning commissions. Consideration also will be given to the ramifications of potential annexations.

The Trainers

Julie Powers, AICP, director of planning, community, and economic development for the City of St. Peters, Mo. Served as a planner for Woolpert-Belleville, Ill., and as manager of current planning for St. Louis County. Holds an MA in Urban Planning from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ted Shekell, AICP, director of planning, zoning, and building in the City of O'Fallon, Ill. Served as executive director of the Southern Five Regional Planning Commission, providing technical assistance to 23 municipalities and five Illinois counties, and as a research analyst for Planning and Management Consultants, Ltd. Holds an MA in Urban Planning from the University of Virginia.

Financing

Learn how developments can be financed. Review implementation and development financing techniques and applications authorized by law. While planning and zoning commissions do not have approval authority over project financing, it is important that financing terminology and arrangements are understood by commissioners
and staff.

The Trainer

Thomas A. Cunningham, a founding shareholder of Cunningham, Vogel & Rost, PC. Focuses his practice on land use, urban development, and municipal finance. Regularly advises municipal officials and developers in the resolution of complex zoning and land-use questions, strategic plans, capital development programs, economic development strategies, and plans of intent for annexation.

Responsible Growth, Stormwater Management, and Sustainable Site Design

Place local planning issues into a regional context and consider what factors are important to ensure long-term sustainable development and health of both the local community and the region. Consider the components and issues surrounding stormwater management and the use of sustainable site design, and the implications of this development strategy for your jurisdiction.

The Trainers

David A. Wilson, division manager in planning for East-West Gateway Council of Governments. Specializes in environmental planning, sustainable development, and community involvement. Brought together regional stakeholders to address sustainable development, land use, and water quality issues. President of the APA-St. Louis Metro Section and adjunct professor at Webster University.

Mark Meyer, PE, principal civil engineer at Intuition and Logic, a St. Louis-based engineering firm specializing in the analysis and design of urban watersheds and streams. Focuses on large-scale conservation stormwater system design, stream stabilization design, and urban stream structure design. His designs provide flood and erosion protection, revitalize degraded watersheds, reduce damage to receiving streams, and provide aesthetic benefits.

Integrating City and Regional Plans

Increase your understanding of government structures and the planning agencies in the St. Louis metro region. Consider the relationship between city and regional planning efforts. Discuss the responsibilities commissioners have to the region and how this interaction takes place in other states.

The Trainers

Joe Vujnich, director of planning and parks for the City of Wildwood, Mo. Involved with the creation of several one-of-a-kind ordinances to preserve the character and beauty of the community. Developed the Town Center Planning Documents and Design Guidelines. Received the APA St. Louis Metro Section Award for Outstanding Professional Planner in 2002.

Les Sterman, executive director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments since 1983. Previously served as director of transportation planning. Directly responsible for some of the council's largest projects, including conceiving and planning the MetroLink light-rail system. Holds an MS in Urban and Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Founding member of the National Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

Transportation and Land-Use Connections

Gain an understanding of the interaction of transportation infrastructure with adjacent land use, and why land use can be a transportation strategy in and of itself. Learn about the benefits of a multimodal system, mixed land uses in a single area, and density.

The Trainer

Paul Wojciechowski, AICP, PE, director of public works for the City of Clayton, Mo. Formerly served as a highways group leader for Parsons Brinckerhoff in St. Louis and as a planner for the Missouri Department of Transportation. Served as planning and zoning commissioner in the City of Wildwood, Mo. Holds a degree from the University of Missouri–Rolla in Civil Engineering.