Welcome

LAW

Parkonomics: Exploring the Economics of Our Shared Public Open Spaces | 1 CM
"Parkonomics" examines the economic impact of public parks and our shared open spaces through empathetic and neuroeconomic theory. It highlights their direct and indirect benefits, from job creation to public health. Emphasizing access over privatization, it explores emerging funding mechanisms to sustain parks as essential public goods with broad economic, environmental, and social value.
Presenters
Jonathon Geels FASLA, The Troyer Group
Bryan Tanner, St. Joseph County

AI for Planning
Description coming soon!
Philip Roth, AICP, American Structurepoint

9:40 am

Link Trail Mobile Tour

ETHICS

TITLE | 1 CM
When challenged with the corridor and neighborhood restoration, planners often look back at past projects through the lens of change. At what time did the roadway get expanded? What buildings were razed? What people were impacted? What stories can be told? We played the game of aerial detective historic research archivist and storyteller story documenter. In outlining the best outcomes for the future it's necessary to understand the past what led us to this place and what perspective we can offer future generations through our work period this session will examine the importance of placing current projects within a historical framework to right past injustices and more importantly not repeat the path by understanding the needs of current people and future people to have access to high quality and meaningful public spaces. This session will examine the work of neighborhood and corridor restoration through the lens of the AICP code of ethics what must we do to provide justice through our work. We will look at projects in Detroit, MI, Dearborn, MI. Minneapolis, MN, and Michigan City, IN.
Paul Lippens, AICP, Principal Urban Designer, Michilliana Market Lead
Alex McKeag, CNU, Urban Designer, Toole Design Group

Understanding Senate Enrolled Act 1 and its Impact on Municipal Government is the First Step towards a Balanced Approach to Adequately Funding Cities and Towns
Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 1 poses a major challenge for Indiana's cities and towns, affecting their capacity to fund vital services. This session, led by Aim President and Mishawaka Mayor David Wood, will provide a critical overview of SEA 1 and its implications for municipal governments. Mayor Wood will outline the act's key provisions, discuss its impact on communities where over 70% of Indiana's residents live, and explore the steps needed to make SEA 1's provisions workable for the state's economic hubs.
David Wood, Mayor of Mishawaka, Aim President

Working with Renewable Energy Land Uses Roundtable
Indiana has experienced an influx in the development of large-scale renewable energy projects over the past year. County planners and other planning professionals play key role in helping boards, community members and petitioners navigate the complex landscape of large-scale renewable energy planning and decision-making in Indiana. This panel and roundtable, moderated by Purdue Extension as part of Indiana R-STEP, provides a collaborative forum for planners to learn from each others experiences. The panel will share best practices, resources, challenges and successful strategies in ordinance development, permitting and enforcement. A panel of county planners will share on each topic before opening up to a facilitated dialogue between participants.
Ty Adley, AICP, City of Plymouth
Tamara Ogle, Purdue University
Kara Salazar, AICP, Purdue University
Liz Stitzel, AICP, Clinton County

Sustainability & Resilience

Planning for Resilience with Pragmatism | 1 CM
In many communities the idea of climate action planning, or sustainability, or resilience is met with skepticism or outright opposition. As planners we can still integrate resilience into our plans and projects by using different language that resonates with people. We can have conversations that get them to identify what has changed and why that matters, or what they are concerned about. Sometimes "green in my pocket" is also sustainable, but the language has to be around the financial pillar of sustainability for an idea to progress. This session will provide examples of approaches and climate resilience options that can be built into every day planning without stirring people up.
Rose Scovel AICP, REA
Jenny Hamel, SmithGroup

Power, Projects & Planners: A discussion on electricity, large loads and community preparedness. | 1 CM
• Purpose: Equip planners with insight into large energy load development and utility coordination • Relevance: How policy, utility infrastructure, and energy development intersect with planning decisions
Dave Lewallen, CEO Marshall County REMC
Rachel Huser, Senior Manager of Economic Development, Wabash Valley Power Alliance
Brent Reyher, Senior Manager of Strategic Electrification, Wabash Valley Power Alliance

2:10 pm - 4:20 pm

This session is offered especially for our citizen planners: members of Plan Commissions, Boards of Zoning Appeals and local Legislative Bodies. APA-IN’s FUNdamentals I training, based on Indiana Planning Law, is typically a day-long activity; this mini training offers highlights of that basic training, including responsibilities, decision criteria and ethics. The session will also include time for Q & A. No CM credit is offered for this session.

Registration is included for all attendees. To attend only this session click the register button below. 

REGISTER

Law 

Training Resources for Citizen Planners | 1 CM
As a follow up to the spring conference's session on BZA meeting horror stories and the lack of training resources, we propose a session where we share some of our own rural development related horror stories, give an overview of resources available from the Indiana Ag Law Foundation for training citizen planners, and ask the audience for feedback about what other rural/ag training resources might be useful.
Presenters
John Shoup, Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation
Brianna Schroeder, Janzen Schroeder Ag Law LLC
Josh Trenary, Indiana Pork

SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE

Balancing Progress & Public Concern: Planning for Renewable Energy | 1 CM
As renewable energy projects expand across the midwest, planners face the dual challenge of advancing sustainable infrastructure while addressing public concerns. This session will explore the core elements of renewable energy planning, highlight common considerations in plan reviews, and examine the public response to these projects. Special attention will be given to how planners are adapting their approaches to better engage communities and respond to feedback.
Presenters
Kyle Mucha, AICP, McKenna
Jim McManus, AICP, McKenna

Passenger Rail as a Regional Planning Strategy - Midwest Connect
Passenger Rail Service has experienced increased attention at the Federal level over the past decade. The Federal Railroad Administration is taking a comprehensive approach to service planning and development. In Indiana, there are four projects moving through the Corridor Identification and Development program. These projects represent an opportunity to improve connectivity throughout the state and tie into the network of Midwest passenger rail service. The session will provide insight into the planning process and complexities related to intercity passenger rail.
Paul Spoelhof, AICP, City of Fort Wayne
Jack Daniel, AIA, Martin Riley

Ethics

The Room where it Happens Professional Ethics in the Real World | 1 CM
This presentation offers valuable insights for both new and seasoned planning professionals, highlighting that administrative ethical standards are not just theoretical, but a critical, practical skill. The session combines lecture with interactive, real-world case studies to provide a comprehensive look at ethical situations in land use planning.
Donald Lopp, AICP, Beacon Street Consulting