Recorded TAPA Sessions

On Friday, November 18th 2022, the Middle Tennessee section of TAPA hosted a Planning Commission and BZA training session. The training session consisted of two sessions. The first session was "How to construction a proper record of action for Planning Commissions & BZAs" with Andrew Mills. The second was "Legal Aspects and Best Practices for Planning Commissions & BZAs" with Sam Edwards. Watch this session here.

On Monday, June 13th the State of Franklin Section of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association had a hybrid in-person/virtual training session with planning commissioners and BZA members across the state. Topics include Planning and Private Property Rights, Ethics for Planning Commissioners and BZA Members, a brief introduction to TAPA, and the Legislative Session Final Summary. As this is for Planning Commissioners and BZA members, CM-Credits were not applied for. Watch this session here.

TAPA hosted a lunch and learn webinar to review APA’s new One Path to AICP certification process in January. This webinar covered the new timeline, which no longer requires experience to take the AICP, and provide guidance to national and state resources. As this is an informative session about the AICP process, no CM credits will be earned from watching it. Watch this session here.

On November 5th, the Middle Tennessee Section of TAPA hosted a Planning Commission and BZA Training session. The training session consisted of three parts covering plats and surveying, vesting, and health equity. Each of the three sections is worth 1.25 CMs. Watch this session here.

This webinar covers Public Chapter 332. The presenter has asked us to keep this webinar private. However, if you wish to watch it, please email Chapter President Lynn Tully at Lynn.Tully@tn.gov

On June 23rd, the State of Franklin Section of TAPA held a planning commissioner and BZA training session for both in-person and virtual learning. The topics covered are planning and private property rights, annexation law in Tennessee, and the Local Government Planning Advisory Committee: Regional Planning Oversight. PDFs of the slides are available for download at the link below.  While this session was for planning commissioners and BZA members, it can be helpful to professional planners as well. CM-credits were not applied for. Watch this session here.

In this webinar, Lisa Charron from the University of Wisconsin will discuss tools and best practices for incorporating healthy eating and active living in comprehensive plans. She will explain the rationale behind, development of, and best use cases for her Healthy Rural Community Design Scorecard for Comprehensive Plans. In addition, she will facilitate conversations about how the Scorecard--or other "planning for health" tools--could be used in Tennessee communities. This is a 1 CM session. Watch the session here.

Bill de St. Aubin, AIA, CEO of Sizemore Group, will share the firm’s experience in town planning and design with equitable outcomes. The work ranges from a ULI national award winning town plan for Smyrna, Georgia to the Atlanta Beltline redevelopment corridor and College Park’s Six West Development, a $1.5B mixed-use project connected to the world’s busiest airport. In each case study, Sizemore Group and the cities they served used innovative P3 planning, design, and development solutions to result in a more equitable outcome. This is a 1 CM session. Watch the session here.

Presented by TAPA's Legal Advisor Sam Edwards, this 1.5 CM legal session deals with the statutory powers and common mistakes by planning commissions and board of zoning appeals. Watch the session here.

TDOT's Bryan Bartnik and Troy Ebbert present this session on access management and curb cuts. This session is 1.0 CM. Watch the session here.

The panelists will share examples of how they have used data -- both quantitative and qualitative -- to analyze the impact of design on the safety and comfort of people walking, bicycling, and accessing public spaces. They will also offer solutions to enhancing safety and access, with a focus on equity. This is a 2.0 CM session. Watch this presentation on-demand here.

TAPA’s Chapter Legislative Consultant will present an overview of the last legislative session and will discuss bills that may be introduced in the legislature this coming session that could potentially affect aspects of planning, zoning and growth policy. Additionally, an analysis of case law that affects planning will be presented including both federal and state cases. This is a 2.0 CM session. Watch this presentation on-demand here.

In this session, we will review recent real-life situations that put planners in an awkward position. Participants will think through the ethical rules that should guide their choices in these situations and review the procedural steps of an ethics complaint. Bring your copy of the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, while we brush up on rules about Confidential Information, Endorsements, Personal Property, Professional Misrepresentation, Public Engagement, Running for Office, and Social Equity. This is a 2.0 CM presentation. Watch this presentation on-demand here

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Deborah Fisher, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government: Ms. Fisher will provide an overview of the open records and open meeting laws governing the State of Tennessee. She will review best practices related to government transparency and will also provide an overview of how virtual meetings have been implemented across the state along with lessons learned in this new meeting format. 

10:15 AM to 12:00 PM: Leslie Meehan, Tennessee Department of Health: As planners, most of us enter our profession with the deeply rooted goal of helping shape vibrant, livable communities that welcome all people. However, this aim too often gets sidetracked through the demand of navigating regulations, codes, and policies. How can we find a middle ground between these two, and is there even a way to balance them? This session will be a moderated dialogue where we’ll cover the planning moments that make us most proud, and the times that left us unsure of how to proceed. This discussion will be rooted in the recognition of our drive to be ethical practitioners and will include a discussion on how ethics manifests in everyday practice. 

This is a 4.0 CM credit session.

Watch this presentation on-demand here.