Send your job openings, news and updates to kate@nyupstateplanning.org, along with your logo for promotion.
Best format would be a link to the job post/RFP on your website. Thank you!
𝗔𝗣𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗨𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 ☘️ 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬 ☘️ 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. The role of a board member is giving of your time, treasure and talent. Education Officer George Frantz has been doing just that for APA NYU since 1993!
Read MoreIf you liked (or you missed!) Upstate native Bill Fulton's recent Learn At Lunch webinar, just a reminder that his content is available several ways. You can sign up here for his AICP CM-eligible on-demand courses -- including courses on finance for planners, economic development, and parking- And you can subscribe here to his Substack newsletter (free or paid).
Read MoreThe Capital District Planners Association, a section of the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association, held its Annual Meeting and mentorship event this evening. About 30 members were present to approve an update to its bylaws and to elect a new executive board.
The new section officers are:
Section Director Jesse Vogl, AICP
Deputy Section Director Liz Podowski King
Treasurer Melissa Marton
Communications and Media Officer Sergio Ramirez
Professional Development Officer Ethan Warren
Secretary Mirren Galway
Programming Officers Matthew Lee and Tess Drauschak
Student Representative Shan Prevatt
In partnership with the New York Planning Federation, APA NY Upstate Chapter is seeking interested members to present as part of NYFP Webinar Series “Learn at Lunch.”
Read MoreVoting ends this Friday, 11/8 for the NYU APA Officers. APA NYU Members: Be sure to vote for our officers. These dedicated volunteers help shape and guide the future of our organization.
Read MoreThe New York State Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations Conference will be held on May 13-14, 2025 in Syracuse. We are pleased to invite transportation planners, researchers, and policymakers to submit presentation proposals for the 2025 NYSAMPO Conference.
Read MoreGot a minute? We want to hear from you! As we continue to grow our organization, we are looking for feedback from our members.
Read MoreNYS Homes and Community Renewal has launched a new funding opportunity available through the state’s recently created Vacant Rental Improvement Program (V-RIP). Grants up to $5 million are available to local governments and nonprofits to administer the program in areas across the state (outside of NYC).
The program will provide grants up to $75,000 per unit for property owners to rehabilitate vacant units into long-term rentals for low- and moderate-income tenants.
Read MoreThe City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning recently engaged on a strategic planning initiative. The city will review the progress made and utilize data to refresh the strategies necessary to achieve the vision of the city’s 2003 Queen City Hub Plan in light of the hidden challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the team has prepared a survey to gather data from several different perspectives about the state of downtown.
If you’d like to learn more, please check out: https://www.buffalony.gov/1707/Queen-City-Hub-Revisited-2024-Downtown-A
Enroll in FREE online GIS course at Pace University
Read MoreThe New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), Southern Tier APA Section is proud to announce that the 2024 Annual Chapter Conference will be held in Ithaca, New York at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, from Wednesday, October 9 through Friday, October 11. The Planning Committee is now seeking proposals for presentations from those willing to share their talents to make this year’s program memorable.
The conference theme “Planning for Protopia: Designing with Empathy in Upstate New York” will bring together urban planners, designers, and community stakeholders to envision and create a future for Upstate New York that is prosperous, equitable, and sustainable. This year's conference emphasizes the importance of designing with empathy – understanding and incorporating the lived experiences and needs of diverse residents into the planning process. This Conference is an opportunity for planners and allied professionals, planning students, and community advocates to learn and share successful strategies for revitalization in their communities and the Upstate region.
The 2024 Conference Planning Committee is developing a conference program to bring various planning, design and other allied professionals together to learn from each other, as well as acquire new skills. We are seeking presentations that present cutting edge skills and/or highlight current issues relevant to planners throughout Upstate New York. We are also developing ideas for mobile workshops and ways to encourage involvement of graduate students and citizen planners. Sessions are also sought on Law, Ethics, Equity, and Sustainability & Resilience that would fulfill the 1.0 hours (each) of AICP Certification Maintenance (CM).
If you have a presentation that you would like to share at the conference, please submit your session proposal by 4:30 pm on July 22, 2024 through this short online form .
If you have questions about sessions, submittal requirements or related topics, please contact Ray Burger at rburger@dryden.ny.us or 607-844-8888 ext 213. Questions about the conference can also be directed to the Southern Tier Section Director, Greg Hutnik at planner@danby.ny.gov.
The award deadline has been extended until June 28.
Information on the award criteria and the submission form are here: https://www.nyupstateplanning.org/about/chapter-awards.
Serving as an elected leader in APA offers a tremendous opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your networks, and work directly to strengthen the impact of the organization. The portal for candidate self-nominations will be open through May 30th at https://apa.directnominations.net and includes all the groups and positions up for election this year. Learn more at https://www.planning.org/elections/
The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association is seeking expressions of interest from qualified firms or individuals able to provide the services of Chapter Administrator. The Chapter Administrator provides services as a consultant in accordance with a Scope of Services and is not an employee of the Chapter or the American Planning Association. The term of the agreement for the engagement is typically 12 months. The Chapter is accepting expressions of interest through May 24, 2024. A full request for proposals is expected to be released by May 31, 2024.
Prior scopes of service have included the following tasks:
Coordinate of communications among Executive Board, Sections and the general membership as directed, primarily through electronic forms of communication and often occurs weekly.
Assist with the Annual Conference and a spring chapter event, including soliciting and managing sponsorships, and promoting both events.
Assist the Professional Development Officer to register and promote upcoming Certification Maintenance and other development opportunities.
Manage chapter communications, including email updates (via MailChimp or similar), postings to the web site (CMS-based), and monitoring the Chapter email account (via Google Workspace).
Solicit sponsorships for the website, annual conference, and any other opportunity by email and possibly phone follow-ups.
Act as a liaison to partner organizations on behalf of the Chapter in order to facilitate more effective communication between the Chapter and our allied professional organizations, including AIA, ASLA, and the New York Planning Federation (NYPF).
Perform additional tasks not included in the scope and assigned by the Executive Board as agreed upon and documented in a written task order on an hourly or other fee basis.
You may submit an expression of interest to the Chapter President via email at president@nyupstateplanning.org. Please provide the following:
Name of the firm or individual expressing interest.
A summary of key qualifications and experience working with membership-based organizations.
Annotated resumes of key staff assigned to provide Chapter Administrator support.
A fee proposal based on approximately 250 hours of work per year in consideration of the scope above.
Contact information for additional questions or follow-up.
The UAlbany GPSA hosted a successful tour of the Albany Rural Cemetery on April 24th. The tour showcased the Albany Rural Cemetery Explorer App (ARCE), which combines history and mapping for self-guided tours and will soon be available for free download.
Members of the Bender Foundation joined UAlbany students and faculty. The University’s Geography and Planning department, led by Dr. Rui Li, has generously contributed to the app's development. Friends of the ARC supported us invaluably during the tour.
Join us for a pivotal moment in the future of New York’s greenways! Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s inaugural Greenways Advocacy Summit, to take place on Monday, May 20 at the Egg Performing Arts Center in Albany. This event will be the premier gathering of statewide advocates dedicated to expanding New York’s network of multi-use trails.
The morning program will feature a lineup of a dozen trail experts, showcasing innovative initiatives and leading policy advancements in greenway development. In the afternoon, we'll engage in legislative meetings in the Capitol to secure support for the Greenway Trails for a Green Future bill package as well as funding in next year’s state budget for trail development.
Space is limited, so register today to secure your spot! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to help our greenways have a powerful voice in Albany.
For more details and to register, visit our website. For questions, email me at dcarey@ptny.org.
Your participation is crucial to the future of New York’s greenway network. Join us to be a key player in this vital movement!
The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association joined with the American Planning Association and more than 30 other organizations to endorse the bi-partisan Neighborhood Revitalization and Land Banking Act in the US Senate. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the bill that would further assist land banks across the U.S. with efforts to remediate blight and stimulate economic growth.
“Since New York State joined the land banking effort in 2012, land banks have become essential resources here and across the country,” said Sean Maguire, AICP CEcD, Chapter President. “We’re further encouraged that this bill, when paired with the efforts of New York State’s leaders in Albany, will continue to bring resources to help land banks advance a new model for redevelopment in all communities, and especially those communities negatively impacted by practices of discrimination and disinvestment.”
Read Sen. Casey’s announcement here.
The American Planning Association has announced that Chapter President Sean Maguire has been appointed by the American Planning Association Board of Directors to its Governance Committee. Maguire will serve as a member of the committee starting January 1, 2024 and through December 31, 2024. The Governance Committee is charged with reviewing the Association’s Bylaws and governing policies and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Sean Maguire, AICP CEcD
“I’m honored to be invited to serve our association in this important role,” said Sean Maguire. “Recently, the APA published proposed changes to the Bylaws that are quite important to our members. I was pleased to join the New York Metro Chapter President on a letter asking for more time to consider these changes. I look forward to being involved in what is certain to be a very active discussion in the year ahead. I thank the APA President Angela Brooks and the APA Board of Directors for trusting me with this important responsibility and look forward to working with many of my colleagues in 2024.”
“As APA works towards achieving our strategic goals, we will again need the time and talent of many volunteers who graciously agree to serve,” said APA President Angela D. Brooks, FAICP.
The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) has announced the recipients of the 2023 Professional Awards. Thirteen projects have been selected and were recognized at the 2023 Chapter Conference, held in Syracuse on September 15, 2023. These projects were deemed to represent excellence in planning throughout Upstate New York.
Awards were made in seven categories, three of which were the works of students at either the University at Albany or University at Buffalo.
Best Practice
City of Watertown Zoning Ordinance Update
Plan Onondaga
Smart Growth in the Steel City: Utilizing Form-Based Zoning to Foster Resiliency, Sustainability, and Placemaking in Lackawanna, NY
Town of Ballston Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Green Energy Program
Comprehensive Plan
Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan
Mitigating Vacancy in Arbor Hill & West Hill: An Asset-Based Approach
Grassroots Initiative
Re-Envision Albany
Great Places in Upstate NY
Cattaraugus Creek Access Amphitheaters
Implementation
Elevating Erie
Public Outreach
Erie County Community Climate Action Plan
Citizen Planning School
Distinguished Leadership
Mayor Megan Grenier
Stephen Iachetta
Details about each award winner can be found in the section below.
ABOUT THE AWARDEES
City of Watertown Zoning Ordinance Update
Following a comprehensive plan update, the City of Watertown began implementation by updating their 1950s-era zoning ordinance. The code was transformed into a form-based code that included parking maximums, allowances for urban agriculture, and support for multi-modal transportation. The update was informed by extensive public comment and is helping to energize Watertown’s neighborhoods, waterfront, and downtown.
Plan ONondaga
Plan Onondaga defines a vision and goals for community success that includes the shared needs, goals, and challenges of the County and its municipalities, and facilitates a pathway to implement positive growth and change. Five themes give structure to the Plan including: strong centers, housing and neighborhoods, community mobility, greenways and blueways, and agriculture. Extensive public participation was a cornerstone of this Project, which was adopted in July 2023. With the adoption of PLAN ONondaga, the County has a framework for making investments in local planning and capital projects that work toward the county vision.
Smart Growth in the Steel City: Utilizing Form-Based Zoning to Foster Resiliency, Sustainability, and Placemaking in Lackawanna, NY
This project examined the City of Lackawanna’s existing zoning code and presented an alternative solution - the Lackawanna Regenerative Code (LRC). The LRC is a form-based code inspired by contemporary trends in land use regulation that can ultimately restore opportunity and growth within the city by utilizing smart growth principles and the transect theory to encourage walkable mixed-use development. This is a student project.
Town of Ballston Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Green Energy Program
Following a comprehensive plan update, the Town began implementation by developing a purchase of development (PDR) and green energy program. The Town is located within one of the fastest growing counties in NYS and is experiencing significant residential and commercial development pressure. The program is a voluntary incentive program that allows for greater residential density or greater commercial square footage for new development or redevelopment projects when PDR credits are purchased by the applicant. The program is intended to promote the protection of important agricultural and open spaces, and to encourage green energy initiatives.
Town of Dryden Comprehensive Plan
Dryden2045 presents an inclusive vision focused on addressing sustainability and climate change and developing new mixed-use walkable development patterns within the Town. The plan recommends innovative solutions, such as accessory dwelling units, affordable housing, increased and improved recreational amenities, improved stormwater management systems, and other measures that improve the quality of life and work towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Public engagement was a top priority of the comprehensive plan, and despite the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the process successfully facilitated a diverse and engaged level of participation. The end result is a truly comprehensive plan that provides a clear roadmap for upcoming decision-making.
Mitigating Vacancy in Arbor Hill & West Hill: An Asset-Based Approach
The project highlights potential strategies for preventing and mitigating vacancy in the Arbor Hill, West Hill, and Sheridan Hollow neighborhoods of Albany, New York. The project team applied the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model and prioritized an equity and social justice centered approach to repurpose vacant lots and structures. Implementation has begun with project partners taking subsequent steps to secure funding and vacant land for redevelopment. This is a student project.
Re-Envision Albany
Re-Envision Albany is the result of a largely volunteer-based collaborative advocating for a more vibrant, just, and sustainable state capital.Re-Envision Albany has created broad support for a reconnected Albany, leading to multiple letters, over one hundred signatories, national recognition, and contributing toward the approval of a $5 million study to reexamine interstate 787. The result of progress made by Re-Envision Albany demonstrates that groups of volunteers can assemble compelling visions that spark interest and lead to progress in addressing the immediate needs of today, remedying the damage of the past, and build toward a more just, sustainable, and community-oriented future.
Cattaraugus Creek Access Amphitheaters
To realize its potential to contribute to economic and job development through eco-tourism and outdoor recreation, Gowanda developed two amphitheaters on Cattaraugus Creek. The Zoar Valley Gateway Amphitheater is strategically located at several well-known fishing spots and “Grand Finale'' whitewater rapids. The more intimate Creekside Amphitheater is in the heart of downtown. These amenities are well-loved by residents and attract new and returning visitors. Development of the amphitheaters was a crucial step in restoring community pride, participation, and confidence by creating unique destinations that reflect the community and its character.
Elevating Erie
This project aimed to revitalize the Erie Boulevard East Corridor, which served as the historical route of the Erie Canal between the Town of DeWitt and the City of Syracuse.
The project began with an international ideas competition, generating numerous submissions and public engagement. Through collaborations between the two communities and state programs, a strategy was developed to involve the public in re-envisioning the corridor. The project's effectiveness led to New York State allocating over $20 million for the implementation of the Empire State Trail along Erie Boulevard - the largest single Empire State Trail allocation.
The completion of the Erie Boulevard East portion of the Empire State Trail in 2020 has already resulted in increased tourism and positive impacts on local businesses.
Erie County Community Climate Action Plan
Erie County has worked over the past two years to draft an equity-centered Community Climate Action Plan. The planning process was overseen by the Department of Environment and Planning with guidance from the Community Climate Change Task Force. More than 100 volunteers from almost 70 stakeholder organizations participated in Working Groups to create the draft Plan. Each Working Group was co-led by a volunteer and a County staff member. Public outreach during the planning process was robust and diverse, resulting in almost 10,000 people signing up for email updates and hundreds of public comments being received before the draft Plan was released.
Citizen Planning School
Community members, known as Champions, apply and present a project idea that aligns with one of the five overarching goals of One Region Forward. Students from disciplines across the University at Buffalo work alongside former Champions of the program or other professionals in the field, known as Community Coaches, to provide technical assistance for the various projects brought forth by current Champions.
Champions then share their ideas at an Idea Summit. Each Champion can walk away better equipped to act on the ideas they have, forming an understanding of assets and allies and who they can collaborate with to achieve a common goal in strengthening the region.
Mayor Megan Grenier
During her twelve years as the first female Mayor of Menands, and six prior years as a Village Trustee, Mayor Megan Grenier has guided the Village in coordinating, funding, adopting, and implementing several public planning and zoning initiatives, These efforts culminated in the completion of the first-ever Comprehensive Plan in the history of the Village in 2020, followed by the adoption of major revisions to the zoning, site plan review, and form-based codes.
Mayor Meg is one of those leaders who has balanced the day-to-day demands of being a village mayor, while guiding a long-term vision for her community that is shared by her constituents. Her work has placed her community is a strong position to face the challenges of the future.
Stephen Iachetta
Steve Iachetta retired at the end of 2022 after a 38+ year career in planning, 31 of which were with the Albany County Airport Authority as an Airport Planner. At the Airport, Steve oversaw the Albany International Airport Capital Improvement Plan, and managed grants related to the new terminal development and airport safety and security improvement projects. His planning interests included work in sustainability and historic preservation planning, areas that he continues to support in retirement.
Steve was heavily involved with the NY Upstate Chapter of APA, serving as Capital District Section President for six years during which time he mentored, engaged with and encouraged young planners to participate in the organization. His influence on a generation of young planners continues to be felt today.
Read MoreDo you know a colleague of the APA New York Upstate Chapter who has made significant contributions to the planning profession and a positive impact in the community? They may be eligible for nomination to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP).
Read MoreThe New York Upstate APA's mission is to serve and support the professional, student, and citizen planning community in New York State and to improve the quality of life through the use of planning. APA members seek to implement good planning in their communities and impart the benefits of planning.
Rural Transit seems like an impossible dream - but it doesn't have to be. Find out how you can start creating a successful transit program in your area.