This is only the second time the Citizens Planning Academy has been offered. Last year, more than 40 people took advantage of the training and learned about the many challenges and opportunities of planning for growth and redevelopment. This year, there will be quite a few course enhancements with the curriculum, including:

• Florida’s planning requirements
• The constitutional and legal framework for planning
• The role of the planning official
• Engaging the public in planning
• Land development regulation and zoning
• Planning implementation

Gene Boles, FAICP - Director of the University of Florida’s Center for Building Better Communities – is the lead instructor. Mr. Boles will provide each participant with a comprehensive notebook and CD of the training materials. This year, we are fortunate to have a second core instructor – V. Gail Easley, FAICP. Ms. Easley specializes in land development codes and has consulted with more than 50 local governments. Both core instructors are distinguished planning professionals, including having been recognized by their peers as Fellows in the American Institute of Certified Planners. There will be lots of opportunities to interact with the instructors.

The Academy will run from 1:00 to 5:00 PM Thursday, August 21^st and from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday, August 22^nd. The cost is $30.00.

To attend, please contact Barbara Leiby at 813-272-5940 or leibyb@plancom.org to reserve your place; or direct mail your reservation to The Planning Commission, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. 18th FL, Tampa, FL 33602.

VIEW PLANNING ACADEMY INFORMATION FORM (PDF)