In late August, 45 residents from around Hillsborough County took part in the first 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 long range planning and becoming a Planning Commissioner.

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.

Academy participant Melanie Higgins from Quest Ecology Inc. said, “I was pleased with the content and quality of the Academy.  I’ll share the materials with my colleagues…the Planning Commission is a shining star in Hillsborough County government.”   

Terri Stella-Vega of Riverview who also participated in the academy said, “It was a lot of information in such a short time but I now have resources at my fingertips and a better understanding of the role of the Planning Commission, and the Comprehensive Plan, in my community.”

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 an attorney with Gray Robinson, Paula Harvey, AICP, Manager of the County’s Zoning Division of Planning and Growth Management Department, 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 responded positively to this course.  The participants graduated with a keen understanding of how comprehensive planning works in our communities and are now better prepared to be an active part of planning for thier future.”  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.”