News: Albany County's Planning and Zoning Workshop

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Albany County is hosting its 2nd Planning and Zoning Workshop on April 30th 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information. The workshop is free of cost and will feature sessions presented by the Capital Region Transportation Council (CRTC), the Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC), and the New York State Department of State. In addition, the program will include a networking reception for planners, students, and others interested in regional planning. REGISTRATION is now OPEN! Workshop sessions will provide eligible training hours for planning and zoning board members and provide CM credits for planners with AICP accreditation. For questions in the meantime, please contact us at EDCAP@albanycountyny.gov or (518) 447-5670. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the workshop.

SEEN: Were you spotted at our annual conference?

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In October, more than 200 planners convened in Rochester for the Chapter’s Annual Conference and Awards Program. We captured some of the sights from the event - check out the gallery below to see if our camera spotted you!

Call for proposals! NY Upstate Chapter Conference

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The 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.

Registration is now open for Parks & Trails New York’s inaugural Greenways Advocacy Summit

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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!

Event: North Country Housing Symposium

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The North Country is facing its own unique set of challenges as we navigate the housing crisis. This symposium will bring together a variety of perspectives and expertise that can provide guidance, tools, and important data for your role in tackling housing issues in your own community.

Registration is required and closes on March 10, 2024. Register here to attend.

NOTE: The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Assocation is not responsible for the event. Please contact the host for more information. CM credits for AICP members may be self-reported unless the event is otherwise approved and recognized by the Chapter for CM credit. Local land use board members (e.g. planning board, zoning board of appeals, etc.) required to obtain annual traning shouls verify with thier appointing jurisdiction if this training satisfies local requirements.

UAlbany GPSA visits Lake George, Albany Rural Cemetery Tour next

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The Geography & Planning Student Assocation (GPSA) at the University at Albany recently explored Lake George at its most recent event. The GPSA is a student organization in the PAB-accredited Master of Regional Planning program at UAlbany. It seeks to educate and involve the next generation of urban planners.

“We had an excellent turnout, and the presentations provided valuable insights into the ambitious plan to transform Lake George into a vibrant year-round community,” said GPSA Liaison Devendra Kanithi. “The enthusiasm and collaboration of community leaders and stakeholders were inspirational.”

The GPSA’s next event is a guided walking tour of Albany Rural Cemetery on April 24, 2024. It will include a demonstration of the Albany Rural Cemetery Explorer (ARCE) app which was developed in partnership with the University at Albany. In addition to UAlbany students, the program is open to members of the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association. For more information, contact the GPSA at GPSA@albany.edu.

Free Webinar!

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The Affordable City: Supply, Stability, and Subsidy — and Lessons Since 2020

Thursday, February 22, at 1:00 p.m. ET

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

A webinar with Shane Phillips, Author of The Affordable City: Strategies for Putting Housing Within Reach (and Keeping it There)

There is no single solution to the U.S. housing crisis. In The Affordable City, Shane offers more than 50 policy recommendations, beginning with a set of principles and general recommendations that should apply to all housing policy. The remaining recommendations are organized by what he calls the Three S’s of Supply, Stability, and Subsidy. 

During this presentation, Shane will review the core principles of the housing crisis, his Three S’s approach, and what lessons he has learned since his book was originally published in 2020.

Find out more and register for this free webinar here.

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ACSP Task Force on Climate Change Lecture Series

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The ACSP Task Force on Climate Change has organized a spring lecture series on careers in climate planning. The poster is attached. There are three sessions, each featuring current or past planning students, with a strong showing from NY. I would be grateful if you could share this in your next newsletter.

  • Thurs Feb 22, 3-4pm EST: Climate Migration and Housing

  • Thurs Mar 14, 3-4pm EST: Decarbonization and Transportation

  • Tues Apr 23, 3-4pm EST: Climate Planning in Local Government

Click here for full details.

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Native American Land Rights: Impacts on Planning

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The Susan Christopherson Center is sponsoring a series of talks with authors on planning related topics.  Upstate NY author Cindy Amrhein has written a great book laying out a history of treaties, land deals and land claims, as well as the unique sovereign rights of the Haudenosaunee have that few planners actually know about.  

The Haudenosaunee now have territories in 10 counties in New York and with land claim settlements have the potential for acquiring thousands of acres of new territory he coming decades.  This will be an opportunity for planners at the county and local levels to become better informed. It is free and open to the public.

See CM Toolkit.

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Conference: Saratoga County

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Join the Saratoga County Department of Planning and Economic Development for our annual all-day conference at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, which includes:

  • 16 Education and Information Courses

  • Luncheon

  • Exhibitor booths

  • Training for volunteer members of planning boards, zoning boards of appeals, and municipal staff.

  • *Conference meets NYS 4-hour Mandatory Continuing Education Requirements.

  • CLE and AICP credits available.

Register today at https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/planning/annual-planning-zoning-conference/ .

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