Join us in Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County, for a dynamic one-day conference showcasing the town’s remarkable revitalization. Discover how this historic area has evolved into a thriving destination, balancing growth with community charm.

Our agenda features insights from local leaders, planners, and economic development experts, including a session with the owner of a cooperative winery, a walking (or trolley!) tour led by town planners, and discussions on the successes and challenges of revitalization. See firsthand how Leonardtown has enhanced its waterfront park, attracted new businesses, and set the stage for future development.

The day wraps up at the winery—where you can unwind, enjoy a glass of wine, and continue the conversation. Don't miss this opportunity to experience and learn from Leonardtown’s transformation!

Guest Host: HMDR Division.

Communities have long used landscaping codes to reduce water consumption, but a few stand-out cities have crafted codes that pair water-wise goals with fire-wise principles. Join experts for an hour-long webinar exploring how these double-duty landscaping codes can reduce fire risk and encourage water conservation in your community.

CM Credit: 1.5

Planning Webcast Series:

CM #9309088

Guest Host: Urban Design and Preservation Divisoin.

Across the United States, a shift is underway to reimagine auto-oriented landscapes, leading to a surge in collaborative projects to improve connectivity and revitalize public spaces within auto-centric areas. This year's Student Planning and Design Competition focused on the Colfax and Federal Interchange site in Denver, Colorado. Situated adjacent to Empower Field at Mile High on the east and multifamily neighborhoods to the west, the site presents a unique opportunity to explore sensitive and strategic infill solutions. Join us post-conference to discuss the student work and the broader response to sprawl repair.

CM 1.5

Register

CM #9309087

Guest Host: APA Food Systems Division + Public Schools and Communities Division.

Join our virtual cafeteria with the APA Public Schools and Communities Division and APA Food Systems Division to learn more about the intersections between school planning and food systems planning through a panel of school food planning practitioners. Panelists will reflect on their current work, how they arrived at their focus area in this field, challenges ahead, and example projects. They will also reflect on the how and why planners might engage at the intersection of schools and food. This session will also highlight how APA Divisions’ cross-collaboration can open new avenues of opportunity and learning to reach planners’ professional goals. Participants will gain insight into the various roles planners take on at the intersection of food systems and public schools, how school food planning supports jurisdictional priorities, and how planners can create opportunities for thriving public schools and food systems.

CM 1.5

Registration for the Spring 2025 AICP Certification Cycle opens April 1, at 9:00 AM CST and closes April 30, at 3:00 PM CST.

CM: #9303639

Guest Host: APA Technology Division

As planners increasingly embrace digital tools, understanding the workings behind the web has become crucial. Just as “Code is the new concrete,” planners who understand the “infrastructure” of websites can more effectively engage with digital platforms to serve their communities.

This webinar, Planning Webcast: Web Skills for Planners, will provide an essential foundation in web skills, equipping participants to evaluate, design, deploy, and maintain websites. Participants will gain insights into everything from user-friendly design principles to back-end fundamentals, collaboration with web developers , or key no-code platforms. The session will also highlight web tools like Google Sites, Wix, and AI-driven resources that simplify coding and optimize functionality. With knowledge of these tools, planners can confidently navigate and harness the potential of web technology to enhance their planning efforts.

A Q&A will follow. The goal of this webinar is to equip planners with essential web skills and knowledge, enabling them to effectively evaluate, design, deploy, and maintain websites. Participants will also learn how to collaborate with web developers and utilize online tools to enhance their planning efforts through websites.

CM 1.5

Registration for the Spring 2025 AICP Certification Cycle opens April 1, at 9:00 AM CST and closes April 30, at 3:00 PM CST.

Apply for in person study session here: https://apamaryland.org/professional-development

Fellows Nomination Q&A at NPC

March 29, 2025, at Noon (DST). Please see NPC Program for more details.

Dear APA Maryland Membership,

Conscious Baltimore, is a new chapter of the global Conscious Cities movement—a grass-roots collective fostering healthy built environments to enhance the quality of life in our communities. 

For this year’s Conscious Cities Festival, the Conscious Baltimore chapter and the International Arts + Mind Lab are working together to facilitate an enriching and compelling conversation which will aim to answer the question: How can we shape the built environment with greater intention and how might that look in Baltimore, Maryland?

Please join us for this free talk, titled Shaping Intentional and Equitable Spaces in Baltimore and Beyond, at 2pm on Friday, March 21st, at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library (Creative Arts Center, 2nd Floor). You may register online. Additionally, we would appreciate your help in getting the word out about this event; please share the attached flyer with anyone who you think might  be interested.

Thank you, and I hope to see you next month!

Sincerely,

Megan Oliver, Conscious Baltimore Chapter Fellow

The Conscious Cities movement is supported by the work of The Centre for Conscious Design and its Fellows. Conscious Cities events have been happening all around the world since 2016, if you would like to explore past events and watch recordings of talks please visit the CCD’s Video Library. 

FAICP - eligible members and nominators are encouraged to join the Fellows Q&A Sessions held at the following dates and times: 

• January 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Please register at the following link.

• March 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Please register at the following link.

• June 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM. Please register at the following link. 

For prior nominees who may have specific questions or concerns to be addressed personally, we encourage you to email Fellows@planning.org.

More information on FAICP can be found here.

Additionally, we are continuing to gauge interest in an April AICP Study Session. Please contact our Professional Development Officer, Andrew Gray, AICP at contact@apamaryland.org if you are interested. This event will take place at Towson University.

APA will host virtual office hours that explain the three steps to AICP certification on the following dates:

• Wednesday., February 12, 2025, Noon to 1:00 PM CST (Register Here)

• Monday, March 10, 2025, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM CST (Register Here)

The deadline to submit an application for the AICP Certification Diversity Scholarship is Friday, February 28, 2025. Fifty applicants will be chosen randomly. Don't miss out!on can be found

Monthly Executive Committee Meeting (online)

APA will host virtual office hours that explain the three steps to AICP certification on the following dates:

• Wednesday., February 12, 2025, Noon to 1:00 PM CST (Register Here)

• Monday, March 10, 2025, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM CST (Register Here)

Attend this webinar to hear from planners in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and their perspectives on how the topic of affordable housing is being addressed in 6 states across the mid-Atlantic.

More information coming soon.

Last Updated 1/12/2025

Monthly online Executive Committee Meeting

The American Planning Association will be hosting a New Year, New You, New Exam Prep Materials webinar on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 11:00 AM to Noon CST. According to APA, “this meeting will discuss One Path to AICP as well as focus on exam prep. Speakers include Jordan Yin, AICP (volunteer who orchestrated the new content outline videos and slides) and Andy Cross, AICP (PDO of the IL Chapter). Questions will follow.”

For more exam prep information, please visit the AICP Accreditation information on the APA Maryland webpage here.

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

This webinar will explore land use and zoning’s impact on equity and affordable housing. The focus will be a case study of the process known as Cville Plans Together, and how Charlottesville, Virginia moved from controversy around the events of 2017 to plan for and implement regulations that support the development of more equitable housing options in the city. This webinar is presented in partnership with the Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Smart Growth Network.

Find out more and register for this free webinar via the link below.

Agriculture is one of the biggest industries and largest land uses in the MidAtlantic region. In this webinar, planners will learn about the impacts of a changing climate on agriculture and proven resilience strategies to help the agricultural community mitigate impacts and adapt to future conditions. Case studies will help attendees understand how planners can have a role in supporting climate smart agriculture and fostering a resilient, sustainable and innovative future for agricultural communities.