In August, 47 residents from around Hillsborough County took part in the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission Citizens Planning Academy.  This innovative two-day program on comprehensive planning was designed to educate citizens and those who might be interested in becoming Planning Commissioners.

The Citizens Planning Academy gave participants a chance to expand their understanding of comprehensive planning and see how it affects their everyday lives.  Some of the subject areas included Planning and Growth Management in Florida, the Role of the Planning Official, the Constitutional and Legal Framework for Planning, the Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Regulation, Plan Implementation and Making Planning Work.

The principal instructor was Gene Boles, AICP, Director of the Center for Building Better Communities, a community outreach center of the University of Florida Department of Urban and Regional Planning.  Mr. Boles has extensive public and private sector planning experience, including time as the Director of Hillsborough County’s Planning and Growth Management Department.

Other instructors included Mark Bentley, Esq. AICP; Gloria Moreda, AICP, Manager City of Tampa Land Development Coordination; Ray Chiaramonte, AICP, Assistant Executive Director of the Planning Commission; and Melissa Zornitta, AICP, Executive Planner with the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission Executive Director Robert B. Hunter, FAICP said, “Citizens really find this Academy worthwhile.  I have heard nothing but positive feedback.”  He went on to say, “We hope local jurisdictions will look favorably on Citizen Planning Academy graduates when considering future appointments to the Planning Commission.  In fact, some states require planning and zoning applicants to local government commissions to have taken the course or commit to taking it within 12 months of being appointed.  That could be a possibility here locally or statewide as an idea."