For its 39th Annual Conference, hosted in Frederick in October 2022, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) hired a videographer to produce a series of high-quality recordings of the conference.
The video recordings were recently posted on MPCA’s conference webpage, which includes presentation documents. If you were not able to join the MPCA last fall, or just want to go back and watch the videos as a refresher, please check out the recordings!
The 39th annual Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) conference, Planning for Challenges on the Horizon, was an even greater success than we could have imagined!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was MPCA’s first in-person conference since 2019. While we enjoyed the 2020 and 2021 virtual versions, there is nothing like gathering in one place and sharing the joy, frustration, and sense of accomplishment that is citizen planning.
The MPCA Executive Committee sincerely thanks our distinguished guest speakers: Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner; Frederick City Mayor Michael O’Connor; Frederick City Planning Commission Chair Barbara Nicklas; Secretary of Planning Robert McCord; and Keynote Speaker Eli Glazier, Transportation Planner Coordinator for the Montgomery County Planning Department.
Continue readingby Kristen Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner
Maryland’s citizen planners volunteer endless hours to their communities. Unfortunately, this civic dedication often goes overlooked. However, each year at MPCA’s annual conference, the Executive Committee recognizes the contributions of exceptional citizen planners and/or entire planning boards (planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, historic district commissions) from around the state. This year was no exception!
Continue readingby Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner
Keynote speaker, Eli Glazier, will be focusing on the importance of pedestrian safety and walkability during his presentation at the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association’s (MPCA’s) 39th annual conference later this month.
Continue readingby Kristen E. Humphrey, MLA, Local Assistance and Training Planner
This October, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association (MPCA) is partnering with Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) in support of Maryland’s Third Annual WALKTOBER – a month-long celebration and educational event surrounding all-things-walking-related – with tie-ins to our 39th Annual Conference.
Together, with help from local, state, and national partners, Walktober offers in-person and virtual events across Maryland will spotlight pedestrian safety, health, and infrastructure issues, as well as new programs and initiatives that encourage walking and support walkability.
The theme of MPCA’s 2022 annual conference is “Planning for Challenges on the Horizon” with sessions covering topics related to how planning commissions and boards can collaborate with planning staff, elected officials, and other stakeholders to address and prepare the challenges facing our communities, such as climate change, hazard mitigation planning, infrastructure planning, post pandemic recovery, and more.
MPCA is doing its part to address the challenges of walkability and pedestrian planning at the planning commission/board level. We are looking forward to a number of exciting sessions and activities, including:
Throughout Walktober, MDOT and its partners will share information and resources, including a series of free webinars, or Walkinars – hosted by the Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) – that are open to all.
October 5th is Walk Maryland Day, an event-filled day designed to encourage all Marylanders to step outside and enjoy walking or some other form of physical activity. As in previous years, Marylanders can register as a Walk Leader or to join a walk as a participating Sole Mate to celebrate Walk Maryland Day.
To register or learn more about MPCA’s 39th Annual Conference, click on the links above or contact Joe Griffiths, Local Assistance and Training Manager at joseph.griffiths@maryland.gov. And be sure to enjoy more coverage about this year’s Walkinar topics, presenters, and Walk Maryland Day options in this edition of Planning Practice Monthly.
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