Committees
There are a wide range of thematic Committees in the APA NY Metro Chapter. The Committees offer an avenue for Chapter members to actively participate in the work of the Chapter.
What do the Chapter Committees do?
The Committees provide added value for Chapter members in a number of ways. In addition to supporting the Vice President of Programs and the Chapter’s Executive Committee in organizing the Annual Conference, Committees also plan topical events throughout the calendar year. With input from the Vice President of Professional Development, these events typically offer Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for AICP planners. Individual Committees are encouraged to collaborate with other Committees, the Chapter’s geographic Sections, APA National Divisions, and related professional organizations to offer inter-disciplinary programs with wide appeal to the Chapter membership. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Committees author and contribute to timely policy position statements on behalf of the Chapter membership.
In addition to the thematic Committees, the Chapter also offers an Awards Committee to identify Annual Chapter Awards for excellence in the practice of planning in the New York Metro area, as well as a Student Representative Committee (SRC) for graduate students.
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Awards
Each year, the APA New York Metro Chapter bestows recognition on individuals, organizations and projects that exemplify the best of the metropolitan region’s planning work. The awards are meant to highlight excellence in the field and inspire planners of the next generation.
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Economic Development
The Economic Development Committee will assess the relationship between planning and economic development in the New York City metropolitan area. We will initiate a dialogue between the development community and regional and local planning interests.
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Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization
The Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee (HNRC) is an active committee, meeting throughout the year to network, to share information and to study and discuss a broad range of issues. The HNRC also reviews and comments on public proposals when requested by the Executive Committee of APA NY Metro.
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Technology
The Technology Committee will investigate relevant technology and planning concepts to encourage innovation and learning in the field of urban planning. The committee is committed to discussions of equity and seeks to challenge and analyze beyond buzzwords and hot topics. The committee will discuss best practices in the use of technology to support planning, and take a future-minded approach.
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Urban Design
The APA-NYM Urban Design Committee fosters dialogue and advocacy for creative, cross-disciplinary and equitable placemaking. We connect, convene, inform and engage urban design professionals, communities and public officials instrumental in shaping the form and function of cities.
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Young Planners
The Young Planners Group (YPG) is a new addition to the APA. This group identifies young planners who have finished school and entered the profession, up to age 35. As the future leaders of the planning profession, the YPG sees a greater role for networking to discuss important issues such as career development, moving into management positions, and balancing careers and families. Goals include organizing mixers, a mentoring program, and identifying other programs of interest to young planners.
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Diversity
VISION:
More just and equitable communities that enable opportunity, quality of life, and a sense of belonging for all; a more diverse planning profession working together to make this vision a reality.
MISSION:
To increase diversity and cultural competency within the planning profession and provide a resource for planners of different backgrounds in the NY Metro Area to build meaningful connections and share ideas.
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Environmental
Much of planning today focuses on building resilient and sustainable cities. Environmental planning is much more than project specific impact analyses and in many ways we are all –regardless of specialty—environmental planners. The Environmental Committee seeks to engage all planners in conversations that incorporate how our activities affect the environment.
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Student Representative
The Student Representative Committee fosters an ongoing relationship among students at New York City area planning schools and the local and national American Planning Association. Toward that end, the Committee acts as a liaison between students and the APA and coordinates events such as the annual Student Presentations and inter-school conferences.
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Transportation
The Transportation Committee provides the planning community with a forum for exchanging ideas, reviewing transportation initiatives throughout the region, recommending best practices for application throughout New York, and outreaching to other professional transportation organizations. Topics include all transportation modes (local and regional), parking policy, demand management, freight, and security.
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Waterfront
The Waterfront Committee consists of city planners, design professionals, public advocates, and the merely curious. We meet monthly to discuss projects, trends, culture, and opportunities/challenges for the metropolitan waterfront. Our mission is to promote long-term planning that will advance strategies for the preservation, restoration, and renewal of the region’s waterfront. This includes the promotion of sound land use policies that acknowledge sea-level rise and the intensification of major weather events. As the region’s shoreline adapts to climate change, there is also the need for open space and public access, resilient infrastructure, maintenance and growth of the maritime sector, and the attainment of redevelopment goals. The Waterfront Committee strives to advance these efforts and to work collaboratively with other APA Metro committees.
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Zoning & Legislation
To promote knowledge and understanding of zoning issues, the New York City Zoning Resolution, and the relationship of those regulations to planning issues. To formulate informal responses to proposed New York City zoning initiatives in their formative stages, and to prepare, from a planning as well as a technical perspective, draft position statements with regard to proposed zoning amendments on which the City Planning Commission will vote.
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Mentorship Program Chair
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Arts + Culture Committee Co-Chair