Heart of Florida Section
Congratulations to our
2021 Award Winners!
Plan It!
City of Lake Alfred
Unified Land Development Code
The
City of Lake Alfred completed a total code rewrite. The
project was produced by City staff, Boswell & Dunlap LLP (City
Attorneys), and GAI Consultants - Community Solutions Group.
Reviewing contributors included the Central Florida Regional
Planning Council, CPH Engineering, and several state agencies.
The project took over two years with four guiding principles;
Simplicity, Flexibility, Responsibility, and Livability. Staff
wanted to focus on updating the complicated, outdated code with low
design standards while looking to the future providing for new
development types, protecting water supplies, and preserving the
character of the City. The update enhances the users experience by
creating a user friendly, readable document with graphics and
tables for clarification. Another goal was to streamline the review
process and create equity and flexibility in development
evaluations. The City added a Downtown Overlay in 2015 and wanted
to expand the development standard to implement the City’s vision
for a walkable and livable community. Staff recognized the need to
address current and future housing needs for a changing demographic
and new development types.
The updated code promotes and maintains Lake Alfred’s small-town
character and addresses future housing and water supply demands by
implementing WaterStar standards and requiring the use of Florida
Friendly landscaping concepts. The ULDC continues to protect
sensitive resources and promotes conservation especially in the
Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern.
Jan Johnson Public Involvement Award/Plan It!
City
of Lake Wales
Lake Wales Connected Plan
Lake Wales Connected is the City's revitalization plan for the core
of Lake Wales, covering Downtown and the adjacent Northwest
Neighborhood. It embodies the ideals of the American Planning
Associations utilizing extensive community engagement to establish
a visionary and implementable plan that exhibits sound planning
principles and application of best practices. Many cites and
towns have experienced a shift of vitality from their historic
cores, leaving behind areas in need of investment, infill and
activity to become more complete. The strategies and implementation
action steps in Lake Wales Connected are transferable to many other
communities and similar planning efforts. Although the plan was
completed just over a year ago, it is already proving to be
effective in stimulating important implementation activities.
The Lake Wales Connected planning process was designed to seek
input from many perspectives and engage public and private
stakeholders in defining a vision for the future. Business and
property owners, City staff, and interested residents were
among the many participants that contributed their input and
ideas. The centerpiece of public involvement was an open
“Designing in Public” charrette week in April 2019, which focused
on both the Downtown
and Northwest Neighborhood areas. The plan vision describes
five big ideas to guide future improvements: Design, Activate,
Connect, Populate, and Empower.
2021 Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony
Join us on Zoom for the Heart of Florida Section's Annual Meeting and
Awards Ceremony.When? April 16, 2021 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Where? Zoom
Who? Everyone!
What? Speaker Huiwei Shen, FDOT Chief Planner (1CM pending)
2020 Planning Awards Recap
2021 Planning Awards
RSVP to secretary.hof@gmail.com and watch your email for the Zoom link.
♥ For the "LOVE" of Planning ♥
Virtual Valentine's Social Hour
Join us on February 15 from 5:30-6:30 pm for a special Valentine's themed virtual social hour.
Show your "LOVE" of planning by joining your colleagues for a scavenger hunt and special Valentine's drink recipe you can make to sip along together.
Please RSVP to secretary.hof@gmail.com and check your email for the Zoom link and delicious drink recipe.
We'd love to see you!
2021 Awards Nominations
Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a healthy, happy, and safe 2021. Let's begin the year positively and recognize the amazing planning work accomplished in 2020 for our region.
Nominations for awards are now being accepted through March 1, 2021. Please submit your award nominations using this form to Stefanie von Paleske-Bush.
Save the date for April 16!
Enhanced AICP Certification Process
In addition to the new flexible process, a new enhanced platform for the AICP certification process is coming! We're excited to be rolling out this easier system for completing the steps to AICP certification. To ensure a smooth experience for applicants, we are shifting the December application window opening date to January 5, please see details below.
Certification Application
Application Window Opens: 1/5/2021 at 9:00am CST 
Application Deadline if submitting essays: 1/19/2021 at 3:00pm CST
Final Application Deadline: 4/2/2021 at 3:00pm CST
Certification Exam
Registration Opens: 1/5/2021 at 9:00am CST
Registration & Transfer Deadline: 4/30/2021 at 3:00pm CST
Test Window: 5/3/2021 – 5/17/2021
Planning Experience Essays
Expedited Essay Window Opens: 2/9/2021 at 9:00am CST
Expedited Essay Window Closes: 2/16/2021 at 3:00pm CST
Regular Essay Window Opens: 2/16/2021 at 3:01pm CST
Regular Essay Window Closes: 2/23/2021 at 3:00pm CST
Additional Communications
In addition to updating the information on our website and sending communications through our typical channels, we will send the following targeted emails to members who have already begun the certification process:
Approved Applicants: certification application (education and experience verification) and essays done – only need to test).
• Registration for the May 2021 AICP Certification Exam opens January 5 – April 30 https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76184703599
• Fees have been restructured and the cost to test is $220
• Test in person or safe alternative with online remote testing from home
• If testing remotely, refer to ProProctor User Guide for details of the last step in the process
Denied Essays: certification application (education and experience verification) done – need to resubmit essays and test.
• Access essays to revise February 9-16 at 3:00pm CT for expedited submissions and if denied – submit revised essays same cycle
• Regular submission window February 16 at 3:00pm CT – February 23 at 3:00pm CT https://planning.org/certification/essays/
• Only the denied criterion essay(s) needs to be revised
• Can register to test for the spring exam without essay approval – good news!
• Registration for the May 2021 AICP Certification Exam opens January 5 – April 30 https://planning.org/certification/register/
• Fees have been restructured – while it's more expensive to submit their essays, it's cheaper to test for the exam
• Test in person or safe alternative with online remote testing from home
• If testing remotely, refer to ProProctor User Guidefor details
Testers who Failed: certification applications (education and experience verification) and essays done – need to test again.
• Registration for the May 2021 AICP Certification Exam opens January 5 – April 30 https://planning.org/certification/register/
• Fees have been restructured and the cost to test is $220 – good news!
• Test in person or safe alternative with online remote testing from home
• If testing remotely, refer to ProProctor User Guidefor details
• Spin it so they know it's cheaper now to retest
Transfer Applicants: certification application (education and experience verification) and essays done – need to test
• Registration for the May 2021 AICP Certification Exam opens January 5 – April 30 https://planning.org/certification/register/
• Fees have been restructured and the cost to test is $220
• Test in person or safe alternative with online remote testing from home
• If testing remotely, refer to ProProctor User Guidefor details
• They need to register to complete the transfer process
• Receive a new Eligibility ID to get scheduled with Prometric
AICP Candidates who can test: Enrolled in program (Step 1) and now need to test (Step 2)
• Registration for the May 2021 AICP Certification Exam opens January 5 – April 30 https://planning.org/certification/register/
• Cost to take exam, $100
• Test in person or safe alternative with online remote testing from home
• If testing remotely, refer to ProProctor User Guide for details
• If they pass the exam (and thus completed Step 2), they can then submit their professional planning experience (Step 3). If experience is approved, they can submit their essays (Step 4)
AICP Candidates who passed November exam: Enrolled in program (Step 1) and passed exam (Step 2) – now need to submit planning experience (Step 3) and then essays (Step 4)
• The new window to submit planning experience (Step 3) is January 5 – January 19 for Candidates who plan to submit essays (Step 4) in February (and thus attempt to complete the AICP certification).
• The new window to submit planning experience (Step 3) is January 5 – April 2 for Candidates who do not plan to submit essays (Step 4) in February (and thus choose to complete their AICP certification sometime in the future)
• Cost is $0 to submit planning experience (Step 3) and $375 to submit essays (Step 4)
2021 AICP Certification Exam Diversity Scholarships
The American Planning Association is committed to providing opportunities for all to achieve excellence in planning by fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the organization and in the planning profession.
AICP scholarships help make the planning profession more diverse and accessible to those with financial need. Diversity is an inclusive concept which encompasses, but is not limited to race, ethnicity, class, gender, age sexuality, ability, educational attainment, spiritual beliefs, creed, culture, tribal affiliation, nationality, immigration status,, political beliefs, and veteran status.
Process
- Members who qualify should submit a brief letter describing how they identify with any of the diverse populations listed above
- Letters are due by November 23, 2020 to APA Florida Chapter Professional Development Officer (PDO) Allison Megrath (Allison.Megrath@kimley-horn.com)
- Selections will be made by Florida PDO and submitted to AICP Staff by November 30, 2020.
- If selected, AICP staff will send a confirmation email to the scholarship recipient that includes instructions on how to apply the scholarship code at checkout.
Selection
This scholarship is awarded with the intention to diversify the planning profession. Professional Development Officers (PDO) select individuals who self-identify with the underrepresented populations identified above through the process described below. The scholarship recipient selection rests with the PDO and is final and remains strictly confidential.
The Florida Chapter will be given four (4) scholarships. The slots are for the calendar year 2021 and cover both the May and November testing window.
Please note that the awarding of a scholarship does not guarantee essay approval or a passing exam score.
Find more information about applying for a scholarship and study resources here:
https://florida.planning.org/professional-growth/aicp-exam-preparation/reduced-aicp-exam-fee-scholarship/?cmp=hp
Members: Please pass this information along to anyone you know who may benefit from applying for a scholarship.
Our 2020 Award Recipients!
It doesn't seem like we'll be able to get together in person for this year's annual meeting and awards ceremony, so we would like to virtually announce our award winners. We are proud of everyone working hard to elevate the planning profession by doing excellent work. Congratulations to our award recipients! These projects are wonderful examples of how planners make a difference in our communities.
Plan It! Award of Excellence - Polk City Park and Recreation Master Plan, City of Polk City
Build It! Award of Excellence - Advent Health Fieldhouse at Chain of Lakes Park, City of Winter Haven
Jan Johnson Public Participation Award of Excellence - Disc Golf Course Service Learning Project for the Master Plan, Polk County Natural Resources
Service Award - Marisa Barmby, AICP is recognized for her years of service to the Heart of Florida Section of APA Florida from 2011-2019. Marisa served several roles on the HOF Executive Committee and her leadership in guiding and directing our section HOF has been much appreciated. Marisa continues to participate and offer her support to the HOF Executive Committee. Thank you, Marisa, for your dedication and commitment to HOF, its members, APA Florida, and the planning profession. We're proud of your contributions.
We'd also like to send a shout out to our Awards Committee for reviewing and evaluating the applications for our awards. Thank you for volunteering your time, knowledge, and leadership to this important program for HOF members.
Stay tuned for information about our virtual celebration!
FL APA Virtual Conference
Florida Planning Conference 2020
Don't forget to register for the first ever virtual Florida Planning Conference. Registration is open until this Friday, September 4. Take advantage of the reasonable rates for this year's conference and enjoy informative and enriching sessions, get your CM credits, and take part in fun, virtual activities with friends and colleagues throughout the conference.
The virtual conference portal allows you to build your own schedule of sessions, browse the virtual exhibitor hall, send messages and start chats and chat groups with friends and new acquaintances, as well as participate in all the social events during the conference, and more!! You won't want to miss it this year!
Get more information and register here: https://florida.planning.org/
Don't forget to follow the conference on social media on social media!
#FPC2020
Virtual Social Hour
Hello HOF Members!
Let's shake off the quarantine blues and meet each other, virtually, for a social hour and scavenger hunt! We
may not be able to gather in person to catch up and share news about what's going on in our lives, but we can still connect with each other and have a little fun.
Grab your favorite beverage and join us on Zoom May 15 @ 5:30
Check your email for the Zoom link!
HOF Annual Meeting POSTPONED
We have decided to use an abundance of caution for the sake of everyone's health and wellness and postpone the Annual Meeting on March 20, 2020.
Please watch your email and check back here for updates and information about rescheduling the meeting.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Your HOF Executive Committee
Heart of Florida Annual Meeting 2020
Save the Date!
The APA Florida Heart of Florida Section will hold its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on March 20, 2020 at 11:30 am
We are also asking for nominations for the should be submitted using the form: 2020 HOF Awards Application Form.
Avon Park Air Force Range Field Day
Heart of Florida Section Members participated in a field day at the Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR), in Avon Park, FL on January 28, 2020.
The day began with an overview of the mission and operations of the APAFR, from Buck McLaughlin, 598th Range Squadron Range Operations Officer. The APFR is the US Air Force's largest Primary Training Range east of the Mississippi River and offer public use opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing and other recreational activities. Range staff explained how these activities are coordinated with military training exercises and the efforts made to preserve the natural, Florida landscape and eco-system. The Central Florida Regional Planning has worked jointly with leaders at APAFR on a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) and Sentinal Landscape program to plan for compatible land uses within the flight path boundaries and specific training activities, while ensuring the environment is protected.
HOF members enjoyed a tour of the range, which included a visit to a mock village used to train military troops, airfields, and a designated campground on property. Range staff provided information about the numerous programs and public uses on property, answered questions from our members, and provided information about how to enjoy all that the APAFR has to offer the public. The day ended with a demonstration of night vision goggles, which emphasized the importance of dark-sky regulations.