Emerald Coast Section

Submit your short story to melissa@dunlapshipman.com by Thanksgiving to enter for the Christmas Social prizes. Top three stories will receive a prize for the best "What the Heck?!?" stories in our section.

Christmas Social will be announced shortly.

AICP CM Credits by Webinar

The Emerald Coast Section is offering four (4) webinars to AICP members for CM credits free to the first 25 AICP members to sign up.  If you need some CM credits and would like to view the list of webinars, click the link for the selected webinar to e-mail our Professional Development Officer, Tina Ekblad, to reserve your spot.

Please be sure to mention if you are registering just for you (i.e. 1 AICP member) or multiple.  Once you register, Tina will provide you with an access code for the webinar.  Below is a list of webinars:

Trends and Tools Responding to the Housing Crisis

Communities suffer from increased housing demand, competing state and local goals and policies, inadequate affordable and market-rate housing, changing mandates or housing laws, design quality issues, and multiple political and community interests. Panelists respond to California’s housing crisis and recent housing policy by sharing tools and strategies to navigate housing laws, expedite housing development, and provide opportunities for affordable housing and equity. The panel comprises planners and architects with extensive experience in developing and utilizing tools to navigate the ever-changing landscape of housing. They share unique insights on working in both the private and public sectors to develop affordable and market-rate housing solutions. Whether you work in the public or private sector, acquire tools and strategies that open opportunities for more accessible housing and products that serve a variety of individual income levels and community needs.

Let’s Talk About Privilege

The AICP Code of Ethics directs us to “seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration. We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs.” How do we as planners help our communities become more equitable and just? It's easy to say “don’t discriminate,” but how do we truly confront discrimination if we do not talk about its flip side, privilege. One side of discrimination is that someone is suffering from an unearned disadvantage. The flip side is privilege, when someone is benefitting from an unearned advantage. These are difficult conversations that can make people uncomfortable, uneasy, defensive, or elicit feelings of guilt. This session examines the role of planners in such conversations and how we can guide such conversations in constructive ways. Get strategies for avoiding pitfalls and observe activities that can help people understand their own and others’ lived experiences.

Data-Driven Innovations to Modernize Zoning for Equity

Discriminatory and outdated zoning regulations demand the attention of all practicing planners. Get insights on how to address housing policies and remake zoning laws to ensure more equitable communities for all. Experts share specific changes to statewide enabling acts and local zoning codes that encourage diverse, affordable housing options. An analysis of the first-in-the-nation Connecticut Zoning Atlas — mapping the entire state's zoning districts — demonstrates how accurate data can support necessary changes to enable more just and equitable communities.

Zoning laws help to lock in systemic racism through single-family-only zoning, bans on multifamily housing, and regulations that make developing housing more expensive. Glean new insights and approaches to overcoming zoning challenges and creating equitable communities for all.

Nature-Based Solutions for Hazard Mitigation and Community Resilience

Nature provides numerous benefits to the built environment, many of which are challenging, if not impossible, to replicate through hard infrastructure. When it comes to planning for hazards, these benefits can play a significant role in preparedness, response, and recovery. Planners and affiliated professionals who work with the built environment can encourage changes that harness natural processes to support community resilience. Luckily, they do not have to start from scratch—communities around the country are adopting context-sensitive nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of flooding, extreme heat, and other hazards. This course focuses on the connection between nature-based solutions and planning processes while providing resources, case examples, and recommendations for action. 

This is an interactive course that learners can complete at their own pace.  It includes links to additional resources. and once the course has been completed, learners are invited to join our Plan4Resilience group and continue the conversation with their peers.

NOTE:  Please e-mail our PDO: Tina Ekblad at tekblad@tekblad@stearnsweaver.com.  She will email you the access codes.  Please list the webinar you want to view.

The Emerald Coast Section of the American Planning Association Florida Chapter is comprised of local planners, architects, city and county officials, developers, engaged citizens and others interested in the planning professional within Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Washington and Holmes counties. The section is dedicated to promoting excellence in local planning through the provision of professional development and networking opportunities as well as educating  the community on the important role of planning. 

Randall Woodruff, AICP,  Section Chair

Contact Randall here.

The Emerald Coast Section consists of seven (7) counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, and Bay.  In 2022, the Section would like to share YOUR story with the Section.  If you would like to submit information on what is happening in your county or municipality, we will share it on our website.  Please contact the section secretary by emailing Melissa Ward with a summary.

AICP CM Credits by Webinar

The Emerald Coast Section is offering five (5) webinars to AICP members for CM credits free to the first 25 AICP members to sign up.  If you need some CM credits and would like to view the list of webinars, click the link for the selected webinar to e-mail our Professional Development Officer, Tina Ekblad, to reserve your spot.

Please be sure to mention if you are registering just for you (i.e. 1 AICP member) or multiple.

Once you register, Tina will provide you with an access code for the webinar.  Below is a list of webinars:

1. How to Play Well with Others (25 free spots/26 and up may purchase for $25 ea. viewer) Click here to register.
2. Deregulatory Trends in land Use (25 free spots/26 and up may purchase for $25 ea. viewer) Click here to register.
3. Economic Outlooks for Planning and Recovery (25 free spots/26 and up may purchase for $25 ea. viewer) Click here to register.
4. Infrastructure Policy Now (25 free spots/26 and up may purchase for $25 ea. viewer) Click here to register.
5. The Future of Zoning (25 free spots/26 and up may purchase for $25 ea. viewer) Click here to register.

NOTE: For those AICP members that need CEUs that click the links for the 5 webinars but the link does not pull up a new email, then your pop-ups are blocked.  Please e-mail or PDO Tina Ekblad at tekblad@m-da.com.  She will email you the access codes.  Please list the webinar you want to view.

Click here to learn more.

By Kristen Shell, AICP

Beyond any doubt Hurricane Michael was one of the worst storms in Florida history. The storm was devastating in terms of wind speeds and storm surge. While still early, the University of West Florida has estimated the economic impact of Hurricane Michael at $1.5 billion just based on timber industry losses in 11 counties and insured storm surge losses in Bay and Gulf Counties.

More than 1,300 people are currently living in FEMA housing in Bay County alone and the death toll due to this storm is 35 in Florida and 45 total. As many are aware, the Panhandle is home to several large military installations including Naval Air Station Pensacola, Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base and Tyndall Air Force Base. These military operations make up a large portion of our economy.

Tyndall, located on the eastern side of Panama City was devastated and the rebuilding of Tyndall is critical to that area’s economy, especially to the cities of Lynn Haven and Parker.

While the national news has focused on Mexico Beach, which sustained the worst damage, other areas where also affected heavily. Many people do not think about the City of Panama City when they hear “Panama City”, instead what comes to mind is the City of Panama City Beach which is a major tourism destination.

The City of Panama City, which was hit very hard by the storm, is a historical Florida downtown complimented by series of unique communities or places.  The city has a diverse population with a historical African-American community that was contemplating place-making based on cultural heritage. These places where and are special. Rebuilding will be long and arduous. Displacement is a real concern.

In general, planners I have spoken within the region feel that the disaster response and organization on the front end was good. The loss of life could have been much greater, and recovery of critical infrastructure has been remarkably fast for the most part.

Some of our Emerald Coast Section members did sustain property damage and lives have in general been turned upside down with schools out or changing, jobs also changing. As a community of planners we are just beginning to formulate how we can work together.

I am sure there will be political debates about how and where to rebuild. Panama City had a strong citizen based new urbanist movement underway before the storm. The Panhandle has lower new construction wind load standards than other areas of the state that I am sure will be debated.

In addition, resilience will no doubt move to the forefront of our conversations more so than it previously was. Right now, though, the focus is still on helping those displaced and getting critical services, such as schools, operational.

If you want to help, please consider a donation to an organization on the ground in the Panhandle or consider purchasing a Shore Up t-shirt, these shirts are a co-effort of the Walton County TDC and are made from 100% recycled materials with 100% of the profits going to hurricane victims. These shirts have been hugely successful and are one county’s way of helping its neighbor.