WRT was pleased to play an active role in the American Planning Association's annual conference, held April 9-12 in Boston. On Saturday David Rouse was one of two trainers for APA's new Planning the Urban Forest workshop, which teaches planners how to integrate urban forest values, issues, and priorities into local planning processes. David also moderated a panel on Sustainable Comprehensive Planning and Systems, which highlighted the system-based approach to the Albany 2030 Comprehensive Plan being developed by WRT in collaboration with the City of Albany.
On Sunday John Fernsler moderated a panel called When Public Participation Goes Terribly Wrong, a light-hearted look at what to do when the unexpected happens despite the best-laid plans. John moderated a second panel on Improving Community Design Without Form-Based Codes, which explored alternative approaches to incorporating desired urban design characteristics into development regulations and standards. Also on Sunday, Mami Hara was part of a panel on the City of Philadelphia Water Department's green infrastructure approach to addressing stormwater management and combined sewer overflow issues. Mami was WRT Principal-in-Charge of WRT's work on GreenPlan Philadelphia and is assisting the Water Department with their green infrastructure programs.
At the annual awards luncheon on Monday, WRT was honored to receive APA’s inaugural National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Firm. WRT maintained a booth throughout the conference highlighting the "many hats" we wear as planners and designers. We enjoyed visiting Boston, seeing old friends, and making new ones. We look forward to having just as much fun at the 2012 National Planning Conference in Los Angeles!
