Welcome & Opening Session

Equity

Developing and Implementing APA Indiana’s First Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Plan | 1 CM
This proposed session will outline the process of developing the APA-IN chapter’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Plan, adopted by the board of directors in 2022. Session presenters will provide historical background on the purpose and formation of the chapter’s DEI Committee, the committee’s role in developing the strategic plan, and early successful steps in meeting plan goals. The DEI Strategic Plan is centered on three goals, each supported by several strategies. This session represents one of these strategies, specifically utilizing professional conferences to reach APA-IN membership to both inform and elevate diversity, equity, and inclusion within planning discourse.
Topics: American Planning Association, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Taylor Firestine, Health by Design
Dominique Edwards

Sustainability & Resilience

Community EV Charging Plan. Lessons Learned | 1 CM
ms consultants, inc. has created one of the first city-level plan for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure for Greenfield, IN. As EVs are turning from an uncertain trend to a palpable future reality, it is important for communities to think how to integrate EV charging into their communities safely. With Ford and GM (Chevy) committing to produce 100 % battery electric vehicles by 2030 and 2035 respectively, most government vehicles will eventually switch to EVs. The government can play a major role in addressing gaps that the market won't fill in and provide equitable access to charging for renters, non-single-family residents, and people who live in old houses with outdated electric panel/wiring and missing a garage. Also, since EV charging station capabilities and design is evolving, it is important to update local zoning ordinances to add the use and any applicable development standards and think through the permitting process. This session will briefly go over the EV market trends nationally and in Indiana, explain what role the government can play in EV charging, and focus on providing planners with the resources to prepare for this new technology enter their communities.
Topics: Energy, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Health, Infrastructure, Land Uses and Activities, Plans, Sustainability and Resilience, Transportation, Zoning and Ordinances
Oksana Polhuy, AICP, ms consultants, inc.
Joyce Parton, LEED AP, CIEP, ms consultants, inc.

Generational Insights for Local Planning | 1 CM
We currently have at least 4 generations that are involved in local planning: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers. Whether we interact as staff, planning officials or citizens, it is helpful to understand the differences, so we can be more effective in the office or in the community, with local planning efforts. This session will include a brief background on the generations, each represented on our panel by an Indiana Planner. This session will discuss generational differences that could impact local planning. Attendees will help come up with strategies that include appropriate approaches for engaging each generation.
Topics: Career Development, Demographics, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Presenters
K.K. Gerhart-Fritz, FAICP, The Planning Workshop, Inc.
Martin Spink, American Structurepoint
Rachel Christenson, AICP, HWC Engineering
Cynthia Bowen, FAICP, Rundell Ernstberger Associates, LLC
Pete Fritz, FAICP, Indiana Department of Health

Scalability Matters: Upping your Analysis Game for Better Decisions | 1 CM
The concept of scale is an important consideration in planning and urban design. Along the urban transect of hamlets, villages, cities, and regions, planners often focus on analysis at the human scale while we grapple with datasets that quickly expand in scope. This session will teach participants to use the lens of scale to explore design principles, dimension values, and demographic characteristics that inform decision-making to create walkable urbanism and equitable neighborhoods. From density calculations to design vehicles, from trade areas to transportation hubs, scale impacts how we understand settlement patterns. Mastery of relationships between physical spaces, time, and behavior can help planners make actionable decisions that are better suited to the communities they serve. Presenters will explore case studies from LaPorte, Indiana and other Midwestern communities to demonstrate how these concepts can be applied in nonmotorized planning, market analysis and neighborhood development.
Topics: Land Uses and Activities, Planning Methods and Tools, Transportation
Presenters
M. Paul Lippens, AICP, NCI, McKenna
Adam Cook, CNU-A, NCI, McKenna

Equity

Spirit Lake Tribal Land (Devils Lake Sioux Tribe) Visioning | 1 CM

A Service Learning project with the Spirit Lake Nation in Land Use Vision Planning.
Topics: American Planning Association, Community Engagement, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Natural Resources and Environment
Presenters
Matthew Kirkwood, ASLA, APA, University of Notre Dame

Conquering the Fear of Change: Creating a New Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance in Putnam County | 1 CM
Fifteen years ago, Putnam County planning was paralyzed when a proposed zoning ordinance was rejected, reflecting deep divides between the County and its towns. Today, a unified vision for the future thrives. Discover how Putnam County embraced innovative collaboration, leading to a sustainable development plan adopted by both the County and several of its towns. This session delves into the strategies used to bridge divides, overcome skepticism, and ultimately achieve shared goals. Learn from inspiring case studies of overcoming opposition, fostering trust, and building consensus. Leave with actionable insights on replicating Putnam County's success in your own community.
Topics: Community Engagement, Government, Zoning and Ordinances
Presenters
Bryan Stumpf, AICP, Civic Blueprint
Lisa Zeiner, Putnam County
Adam Peaper, AICP, HWC Engineering

Law 

Co-Existing as an Attorney and a Planner and What you can Learn from this Viewpoint | 1 CM
Frequently conflicts emerge between attorneys and planners in the recommendations that they make for their communities and elected officials. Hear from someone who started his career as a planner, then went to law school and became an attorney, and has since worked in both professions. Our speaker will discuss how he himself is often conflicted in his own recommendations because of his dual backgrounds. This session is designed to give you practical tips to better deal with your City Attorney’s concerns while also achieving desired outcomes for your community. Understand the perspective that your City Attorney is coming from and how to create a better line of communication that will have your City Attorney singing your praises!
Presenter
David Baird, JD, AICP, American Structurepoint

New Ideas for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety | 1 CM
Planning and creating safe places for people who walk and bike to everyday destinations is an increasingly important issue to citizens across Indiana. This session will explore new and emerging trends that Indiana planners can use to plan, create, and fund safe routes to everyday destinations for walking and bicycling in their communities. Hear statewide experts discuss new guidance (including the newly revised MUTCD) for implementing safe walking and biking networks that planners can use now to create safer, healthier, and more active communities.
Topics: Community Revitalization, Economic Development, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Government, Health, Infrastructure, Land Uses and Activities, Natural Resources and Environment, Open Space and Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, Planning Methods and Tools, Plans, Transportation, Urban Design
Presenters
Pete Fritz, FAICP, PLA, Indiana Department of Health
Laura Slusher, P.E., Transportation Safety with Purdue Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)
Brandon Burgoa, Indiana Department of Transportation

Working to help people and place thrive: Far Eastside Indianapolis | 1 CM
This session will provide a quick overview of the history and disinvestment within the Indianapolis Far Eastside Community. We will also discuss ways grassroots organizations, community centers and city county councilors have advocated for resident voice regarding zoning, eminent domain, development and public transit.
Topics: Community Engagement, Economic Development, Food Systems
Presenters
Cheria Caldwell, CAFE

Innovation Mile Master Plan | 1 CM
Between March 2022 and October 2023, The City of Noblesville, supported by consultant WSP, developed the Innovation Mile Master Plan (IMMP). The plan was significantly influenced by City departmental priorities and aligns closely with Mayor Chris Jensen’s vision for a mixed-use district that could propel the city into an innovative and sustainable future. Specifically, Innovation Mile defines a framework for a “dynamic business and technology hub that will serve as an anchor for revolutionary thinking and a gateway for innovation, leveraging and catalyzing long-term growth opportunities and reinvestment.” The plan document itself uses five innovative strategies that work in unison to form the overall district configuration: land use, mobility, smart district, sustainability, and placemaking. The plan development also heavily involved all city departments including several that would not normally be included in plan development like Public Safety and Street Departments. Innovation Mile has the potential to transform the social and economic fabric of the City of Noblesville for years to come. The success of this project is deeply rooted in taking a holistic approach to district planning that considers future emphasis areas such as technology trends, sustainability, and resilience. The economic success of Innovation Mile will be attributed to a clearly established and documented collective vision, shovel-ready sites to locate within and by maximizing a businesses speed-to-market potential. A major emphasis was placed on early stakeholder engagement which helped guide the project in a direction that aligned with city priorities and ultimately led to the update of area zoning to allow for this visionary development to occur as of right. Though the plan was not adopted until October 2023, the City has already secured 2 investments in the area to kick off the implementation of the plan including a $28 million dollar investment by Indiana Joint Replacement Institute in a new state-of-the-art surgery center, medical office, and training/research and development center and the Noblesville Event Center as the future home of the Indiana Pacers G-league team.
Topics: Economic Development, Land Uses and Activities, Plans
Denise Aschleman, AICP, CFM, City of Noblesville
Andrew Murray, City of Noblesville
Dan Silverman, AICP, WSP
Jim Hellmann, PE, City of Noblesville

ethics

What is….. Ethics!
Welcome to the classic ethics presentation for aspiring AICP planners and seasoned veterans of AICP in learning about ethics. Where the session provides general education regarding the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Brought to you by APA-IN presented by Philip Roth, AICP and Ty Adley AICP. This is Ethics! *This information is not a substitute for the legal advice of your attorney.
Ty Adley, Marshall County Plan Commission
Philip Roth, AICP, American Structurepoint

Union City: A Successful town in two states
Union City is a unique municipality in the Midwest. It is in two states, Indiana and Ohio. It is a municipality that is not very well known to most Hoosiers and students in the MURP program at Ball State are working on a comprehensive plan for Union City.
Topics: Community Engagement, Demographics, Parks and Recreation
Presenters
Jerome Zirnheld, Ball State University Student

AICP Training