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An update from the Anthony James Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental
Solutions (CUES) at Florida Atlantic University
August 2007
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| IN THIS ISSUE: |
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| CUES Sponsors Another Successful Land Use Institute |
 More that 120 attorneys from 32 states and the District of Columbia gathered at the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco August 16-18 for the 23rd annual Land Use Institute. This program, organized and chaired by CUES Senior Fellow Frank Schnidman, was also simultaneously video web cast. In two and one-half days of morning plenary sessions and afternoons of two sets of 3 concurrent sessions, participants covered more than 1,600 pages of course materials and not only got an update on recent cases and local, state and federal regulatory activity, but also had detailed sessions on, among other topics, “Climate Change and the Role of the Local Land Use Attorney,” “Teardowns and Mansionization,” and “Making Affordable Housing Work.” The Legacy Presentation, “Successful Land Development: Practices, Policies and Strategies,” was given by the late Sir Desmond Heap, Comptroller and City Solicitor to the Corporation of London 1947 -1973. The Annual Richard F. Babcock Faculty Keynote Address, “A Judge’s Perspective on Land Use Litigation,” was given by the Honorable Glenn T. Harrell, Jr., Judge, Court of Appeals of Maryland.
Additional information about the Land Use Institute can be found at www.ali-aba.org by searching the topic: land use. An MP3 CD-ROM of the program, including PDFs of course materials can also be ordered, as well as just the two-volume course materials.
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| CUES Scans Regional Visions for Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida |
Florida is facing new and exciting challenges as it adds almost 10 million more people over the next 25 years. From its large metropolitan areas to its rural inlands, Florida’s regions will all be affected by growth-related changes that many regions in the state are already experiencing. It is critical to manage population growth effectively to be prosperous in the new global economy, while maintaining the quality of life that Floridians enjoy. As requested by the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, CUES reviewed visioning projects throughout the State of Florida to identify key issues of primary concern as defined by Florida’s 11 regional planning councils and other key sources.
Scans were done on visioning projects, updated regional strategic plans, economic plans, and documents containing goals and objectives for a community, county, or region and categorized according to regions of the state. Each regional scan is a compilation of summary statements and key vision statements and/or goals that address various issues in three key areas: environment, economy, and quality of life. The regional visions are being used by the Century Commission as the basis for developing a statewide vision for Florida. To review the report, see http://www.floridaindicators.org/pdf/FinalFLVISION82.pdf.
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| CUES Assists Palm Beach County with Economic Development Planning |
Since early 2005, CUES Director Jim Murley, Associate Director Marie York and Research Associate Mary Beth Hartman have been providing assistance to the Palm Beach County (PBC) Economic Development Office (EDO) and Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP) Steering Committee. CUES helped facilitate the PBC Economic Summit and assisted in drafting the Strategic Economic Development Plan that was adopted by the Board of Commissioners May 2007. The Plan sets the economic development goals, objectives, outcomes and work plans for Palm Beach County for the next five years.
During 2007-2008, CUES will continue to assist the PBC EDO, OEDP and Board of County Commissioners, as part of its educational, research and community-outreach mission, in monitoring the implementation and assessment of the effectiveness of the PBC Strategic Economic Development Plan. CUES will assist in creating a monitoring and assessment strategy as well as analyzing the feasibility of adopting an indicator system for the County and has produced the first quarterly update on the progress of the Plan’s projects. In addition, in partnership with the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University, CUES will provide an analysis of the net fiscal contributions of the Strategic Economic Development Plan. The Plan and Quarterly Report can be assessed at the EDO website: www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/edo/.
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| Did you miss CUES North Lectures? View Them Online! |
New York Times reporter Andrew Revkin spoke on the FAU Jupiter Campus on sustainability, climate change and the North Pole. Cynthia Barnett, a reporter for Florida Trend magazine and the author of a new book, Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S. also spoke on the FAU Jupiter Campus and her talk can be accessed at the link above. Both lectures were co-sponsored by the Abacoa Project, a CUES initiative. They were both filmed for St. Lucie County’s local access channel and are now part of a video on demand lecture series and can be viewed online at: www.stlucieco.gov/slctv/lecture_hall_OnDemand.htm.
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| News and Notes |
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Jim Murley, Director, and Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, Senior Fellow, participated in a process that resulted in the publication of a new Urban Land Institute (ULI) research report entitled, Ten Principles for Coastal Development. Director Murley served as chair and Dr. Puszkin-Chevlin served as an environmental specialist during the three-day meeting where experts shared ideas and inspirations. The publication can be purchased at www.uli.org.
Marie L. York, AICP, Associate Director for Northern Campuses, made a presentation, entitled “Smart Growth and Sustainability” on July 30th for the Marshall Fellows of the Pine Jog Environmental Center. The Marshall Fellows visit Abacoa each year to learn about the environmental impacts of land development. Ms. York presents alternative sustainable solutions that reduce emissions and enhance quality of life. Ms. York designed the weeklong program for the Fellows several years and each year continues to provide the perspective on human settlement patterns.
In July, Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, Senior Research Fellow, spent two weeks at the Global Summit for Urban Innovation, a international meeting of urban scholars, government leaders and multi-disciplinary professionals sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation Center in Bellagio, Italy. The month-long Urban Summit, organized in collaboration with Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, the Regional Plan Association, and the Brookings Institute, addressed critical topics relevant to 21st century urban development in the United States and developing nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Center for Sustainable Urban Development at Columbia University engaged Dr. Puszkin-Chevlin to provide synthesis of meeting discussions and recommendations on the meeting tracks devoted to the Adaptation to Climate Change and Financing Water, Sanitation and Housing in the developing global south. Key issues that emerged from the meetings included: a) the disconnect between capital market financing and small scale project programs, b) the science gap between global climate models and appropriate adaptation at the local level; and c) the role of universities in training urban planners and policy makers for the unique challenges the 21st century urban environment engenders. The conference proceedings, which are being compiled in a book and documentary video, are intended to define priorities and develop innovative solutions among policy leaders. It will also serve to frame the discussion of philanthropic funding of urban development for the Rockefeller Foundation and similar large non-profit organizations.
Marie L. York, AICP, Associate Director for Northern Campuses, was invited by the Florida League of Cities to create a three-hour pre-conference session for the League’s annual meeting in Orlando in August. The session, entitled “Hands-on Design Training for Public Officials,” gave participants an overview of the format of the award-winning Design Institute at Abacoa, which Ms. York directs. The session included a presentation by Dr. Chuck Bohl of the University of Miami School of Architecture on Place Making and a demonstration of Smart Streets by transportation experts Joel Mann and Raj Mohabeer of Glatting Jackson. Jeff Perlman, former Mayor of Delray Beach and graduate of the Design Institute at Abacoa, gave the public official’s perspective of implementation of Design Institute recommendations in fulfilling the sustainable vision of his City. The session was moderated by new urbanist developer, Lester Abberger of Tallahassee.
CUES staff and the chair of FAU’s Department of Urban & Regional Planning met with Dr. Jeroen Aerts and his colleague Anne Walraven from the University of Amsterdam’s Institute of Environmental Studies on August 3rd to discuss mutual interests in climate change policy research. Dr. Aerts had been meeting with peers in London, Tokyo, Hamburg, and New York as well as South Florida. Dr. Aerts’ research is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Water and Transport.
As a result of the meeting, CUES agreed to collaborate with Dr. Aerts on an exchange of students/researchers across institutions, and co-organizing a symposium on the effects of long term climate change on large urban areas.
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| Don’t miss these important events! |
2007 Florida Chapter, American Planning Association Conference
“Planning a Delicate Balance” is the theme for this year’s annual FAPA conference to be held September 5-8, 2007, at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando. For more information, visit http://www.floridaplanning.org/conference/index.asp.
Green Building: Lessons from Those Who are Actually Doing It!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Sheraton Suites Plantation
311 N. University Drive
Plantation
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Green Building is the buzz, but we are behind the curve in Florida. Join the Broward Section of the American Planning Association (BAPA) for a fun evening of food, drinks and mingling as we hear from a developer and a contractor about their exciting green projects and learn from what they are doing successfully. Space is limited to 100, so please RSVP to TWARDBenjamin@crafla.org. This event is free for BAPA members and $10 for non-members.
"Getting to GREEN," the 2nd Annual Campus & Community Sustainability Conference
October 14 – October 16, 2007
This conference, hosted by the Florida State University Sustainable Campus and Community Committee and the Sustainable Council of Florida, will provide an opportunity for individuals from campuses, government, businesses and communities to come together to share their experiences and challenges related to creating sustainability and a green culture. Presentations will focus on matters relating to Florida's economy, environment, and quality of life. For more information, see http://www.sustainablefloridaconference.org/index.php.
Treasure Coast Green Conference: Working Together for a Sustainable Future
8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Thursday, October 18, 2007, Port St. Lucie Community Center
This conference is designed to inspire the Treasure Coast to take a creative, comprehensive approach to development that works with the natural environment, enhances regional economies, and results in healthy, resource-efficient communities. Planners and developers will share green success stories, the latest trends in green development, and current incentives and opportunities. The program will provide multiple opportunities for participants to exchange ideas and suggest ways to meet the challenges of building sustainable communities. For more information, see http://www.stlucieco.gov/erd/green_conference.htm.
5th Annual Institute: Alliance for Human Services
This conference will take place on October 26, 2007, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The Annual Institute features acclaimed speakers and session presenters specializing in health and human services issues. The Annual Institute provides an opportunity for Miami Dade County human services providers, business leaders, governmental agencies, residents, not for profit agencies and faith-based organizations to gather, discuss and receive valuable information and innovative solutions. For more information, contact Jose Marcano at 305.646.7138.
Rail~Volution 2007
Join transit-industry professionals, real-estate developers, community leaders, and elected officials to share ideas and attitudes about how rail transit and transit-oriented development are changing the shape of urban America. The event will take place from October 31-November 4, 2007, in Miami Beach. For more information, visit www.railvolution.com.
South Florida Symposium for Building a Housing Affordability and Economic Development Research Agenda
CUES and the Economic Development Research Institute are co-sponsoring this one-day conference to be held on November 8, 2007, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. For details contact Fabio Naranjo at 954.762.5262 or naranjo1@fau.edu.
SAVE THE DATE!
November 19, 2007 will mark the celebration of the Center’s 35th Anniversary! Planned events include a panel discussion with authors from a brand new book on Growth Management in Florida, the opening of the John M. DeGrove Library, and a reception featuring current Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary, Tom Pelham. More details to come…
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