Welcome & Opening Session

Sustainability & Resilience

SESSION: Historic Districts & Economic Impact | 1 CM
The speakers will present information on incentives within historic districts for economic development and redevelopment efforts.
Kurt West Garner, KW Garner Consulting & Design
Dylan Fisher, The Wheatley Group

Law

Lessons Learned: Recent Indiana legal challenges by billboard interests that targeted local sign regulations | 1 CM
More than one Central Indiana city has had its sign regulations (particularly regarding billboards) challenged recently. This session will share the stories about what precipitated the legal challenges by billboard interests, the approach to defending those challenges and the outcomes/lessons learned. 
Matthew C. Branic, Esq., Krieg DeVault LLP
Megan Vukusich, Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development
Kevin G. Buchheit, AICP, Krieg DeVault LLP

If YOU Don't Train Them, You Can't Blame Them!| 1 CM
Local communities get new citizen planner appointments annually. What are you doing to give them the background they need to make decisions? In this session, learn how to successfully onboard a new citizen planner, and to develop a regular culture of in-house training.
Topics: Career Development, Community Engagement, Government
Presenters
K.K. Gerhart-Fritz, FAICP, The Planning Workshop, Inc.

Heat Health: A 5-year Pre- & Post-occupancy Analysis of Thermal Streetscape Performance | 1 CM
A public streetscape revitalization project in metro Detroit was thermally scanned by drone pre- and 5-years post-construction for a period of six years to assess thermal performance. Novel visualizations and process, combined with subsequent rural, suburban, and urban analyses reveal the disproportionate impact of inequitable public infrastructure to incentivize transformation.
Topics: Health, Sustainability and Resilience, Urban Design
Presenters
Keenan Gibbons, ASLA, LEED GA, FAA Part 107, SmithGroup

Integrating Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design for Successful Town and Gown Projects – a Greencastle Indiana and DePauw University case study;| 1 CM
This session explores how integrating planning, landscape architecture, and urban design enhances town-gown projects in small cities, particularly those with liberal arts colleges. It emphasizes balancing diverse needs through collaborative design, public engagement, and sustainable practices. Participants will learn how this interdisciplinary approach fosters vibrant, inclusive communities and gain tools for implementing it in their own projects.
Topics: Community Engagement, Mixed Land Uses, Urban Design
Presenters
Aaron Kowalski AICP, MKSK
Brett Weidl PLA, MKSK

Sustainability & Resilience

Creating Vibrant and Sustainable Downtowns in the U.S.: A Case Study Approach | 1 CM
As cities across the U.S. seek to create vibrant, economically thriving, and sustainable downtowns, urban planners must implement strategies that attract people while ensuring long-term environmental and social resilience. This session explores key principles of downtown revitalization, including mixed-use development, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, transit-oriented design, adaptive reuse of buildings, and placemaking techniques. Attendees will gain insights into successful case studies, policy tools, and innovative design solutions that foster active, inclusive, and ecologically responsible urban cores. Whether you're a planner, architect, policymaker, or community advocate, this session will provide actionable strategies to transform downtowns into dynamic, livable hubs.
Topic: Community Engagement, Community Revitalization, Mixed Land Uses, Residential Land Use, Smart Cities, Sustainability and Resilience, Urban Design
Sajjad NaseriRahele Hatami

Using Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning to Serve ALL Residents in Your Community | 1 CM
This session showcases how Jennings County and Madison, Indiana, utilized bicycle and pedestrian plans to improve community health by creating active transportation routes. Learn how these plans connect residents to key destinations, leverage funding, and contribute to interconnected trail networks. Participants will also explore Indiana's new statewide GIS map of community plans and provide input.
Topics: Transportation
Presenters
Pete Fritz FAICP, PLA, Indiana Department of Health
Bob Greene, Heritage Trail Conservancy
Jeff Walker MPH, RDN, Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP)

Ethics 

Ethics in Jeopardy! | 1 CM
In today's political climate you might think that ethics are in jeopardy, but the APA is still very much committed to its code of Ethics. How well do you know the Code? In this session you'll partner up with some of your planning colleagues to test your knowledge of the code against the other planners in the room.
Topics: American Planning Association, Career Development, Ethics
Presenters
Chad Reischl, AICP, City of Jeffersonville
Shawn Klein, AICP, St. Joseph County Area Plan Commission

Equity

Centering Community Organizing in the Planning Process | 1 CM
This session details the 2024-2025 Home Place Subarea Plan, focusing on the challenge of engaging a diverse community with limited communication channels. It highlights the grassroots organizing tactics used to gather input and shape a shared vision for the recently incorporated Carmel neighborhood. Attendees will learn replicable strategies for effective community engagement.
Topics: Community Engagement, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Planning Methods and Tools
Kevin Wright, Yard & Company
Adrienne Keeling, City of Carmel, Indiana
Robin Scobell, SePRO Corporation

Sustainability & Resilience

Collaborating to Provide Renewable Energy Planning Education and Technical Assistance | 1 CM
Indiana R-STEP is a collaborative effort led by Purdue Extension and funded by the U.S. Department of energy to provide research, education and technical assistance in support of communities making data-driven utility-scale renewable energy planning decisions.  In this session, Tamara Ogle, Purdue Extension and Ty Adley, APA-IN, will share about the efforts of this collaborative and how communities can access this work.  They will also share how a multi-disciplinary team can better support communities facing complex land use issues.  
Topics: Community Engagement, Government, Sustainability and Resilience
Presenters
Tamara Ogle, Purdue Extension
Ty Adley, AICP