Agenda - Planning Commission - 05/05/2011

Home

Community Planning Assistance Teams The Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) initiative is an AICP component of a broader APA Community Assistance Pro- gram. By pairing a multidisciplinary team of expert urban planning professionals from around the country with residents and other stakeholders from local communities, the place - based initiative seeks to foster community edu- cation, engagement, and empowerment. Each team member is selected for the specific exper- tise needed on the project. Through a coordinated, collaborative effort with community members, key stakeholders, and relevant decision makers, the team develops a framework or vision plan that promotes a sus- tainable, livable, economically vibrant, and healthy urban environment. Projects are highly focused efforts because of the time constraints on pro bono team mem- bers. They may vary from economic develop- ment strategies, transit -oriented developments, parks/waterfronts, and urban design guidelines to affordable housing, sustainability plans, and water management issues. Background Community assistance is built into the pro- fessional role of a certified planner. One princi- ple of the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct states that certified planners shall aspire to "seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recog- nizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote ra- cial and economic integration." Another princi- ple is that certified planners should aspire to "contribute time and effort to groups lacking in adequate planning resources and to voluntary professional activities." In the early 1990s, the American Planning Association took aim at the issue of social eq- uity in planning and development. In recogni- tion of the key role urban and regional planners planning minnesota April, 2011 The American Planning Association's Professional Institute American Institute of Certified Planners Making Great Communities Happen play in shaping vibrant, sustainable, and equita- ble communities, the APA Board of Directors established the "Community Planning Team" initiative in 1995. This resulted in a successful pro bono effort to assist an economically strug- gling African American community in North Carolina. AICP has continued to develop pro bono planning initiatives that provide assistance to communities in need. In 2005, program efforts were notably in- creased after the tragic and devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina the Gulf Coast Region. APA immediately embarked on a number of initiatives and projects, including Planning As- sistance Teams in the affected cities of Hender- son Point, Mississippi, and Mandeville and Sli- dell in Louisiana. Application Periods Team Member Applications If you are an APA member and have a desire to join a CPAT Team, please submit an applica- tion. Team member applications are always ac- cepted. Community Applications The CPAT initiative currently holds two an- nual application cycles for communities seeking planning -related assistance. If your community has a project suitable for a CPAT, download the application and submit it during one of the open application periods. Applications must be post- marked or emailed by the application deadline. Next application period deadline: June 21, 2011. Project Timelines While the specifics of every project will be different, provided below is an abbreviated ex- ample of a typical timeline of a CPAT project. APA staff will work with each selected commu- nity to determine the timeline for their unique - continued on next page -