Advanced Academy

2009 Advanced Academy Sessions

Plenary Sessions

Keynote Address: Sustainable Communities for the New Economy - Suzanne Schulz, Planning Director, City of Grand Rapids

Neighborhood Stablization: Foreclosure, Housing and
The Economy Post-Discussion Q & A Responses
This panel session will focus on strategies and efforts communities are taking to stabilize neighborhoods and improve the local economy. Collaborative efforts between community foundations, local units of government and educational institutions will be examined.
Moderator: Richard Wooten, Wayne County Extension Director, MSUE. Panelists: Kevin Vettraino - Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Kathy Grant - MSU Extension Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program, and Constance Costner - MSU Extension Children, Youth, Families and Communities Division

Case Lase and Legislative Update
Learn about the most important changes in land use law that affect every community in Michigan.
Presenter: Mark Wyckoff, FAICP, Planning and Zoning Center at MSU

Concurrent Sessions
This year’s Academy provides three tracks of sessions to best suit your community’s needs and interests: Development Review, New Economy and Green Development. In an effort to "go green" and prevent wasted paper, presentation materials and handouts will be uploaded to our website prior to the event so that individuals can print out materials for sessions they want to attend. Session materials are available at the bottom of this page.

Development Review Track

A1: Site Plan Review for Utility Scale Wind Energy Systems
Explore the process a local planning commission should follow and require to be shown on wind energy farm site plans. Review the state wind energy guidelines and walk through their application. Examine site plan examples and review major issues.
Presenters: Dean Solomon and Kurt Schindler, MSUE Land Use Educators

B1: Site Plan Standards and Review for Home and Small Business Renewable Energy
More and more homes and small businesses are proposing alternative energy systems on their property. Learn about wind, solar, bio-fuel (including wood) alternative energy, and requirements for a plot plan or site plan. Review issues of concern, and what type of ordinance standards can help lesson those concerns. Discussion will also focus on encouraging use of alternative energy systems. Presenters: Dean Solomon and Kurt Schindler, MSUE Land Use Educators

New Economy Track

A2: Best Practice Case Studies in the New Economy
While much research has been conducted in defining the New Economy and the changes it brings, communities remain uncertain in how they can position themselves for success in this new paradigm. Based on on-going research of 50 high performing New Economy communities nationwide, this session provides best practice lessons that are instructive for any size community.
Presenter: Dave Ivan, Central Regional Director, MSUE

B2: Creating a Local Strategic Growth Plan for the New Economy
Communities face economic development challenges in the New Economy that many master
plans do not address. Learn how to assess your community’s strategic assets and leverage those assets by preparing a strategic growth plan to create a global identity and proactively compete in the New Economy.
Presenter: Brad Neumann, Land Policy Educator, MSUE - St. Joseph County

Green Development Track

A3: Growing Green: Human Scale Communities
One way to reach sustainability is to think about communities from the human perspective, at a human scale. Learn about human scale design leading to pedestrian-oriented, human interaction in your community. This session will explore the science and tools of designing human scale communities. Presenter: Glenn Pape, MSUE Regional Land Use Educator

B3: Making Green Places through Adaptive Reuse and Historic Preservation
Preservationists assert that the greenest building is the one that's already been built. This session demonstrates how sustainable, environmentally sound and culturally attractive places can be created and maintained using the techniques of adaptive re-use and historic preservation. Urban, small town and rural places will be showcased.
Presenter: Mary Ann Heidemann, MSUE Regional Land Use Educator

Session Materials (Click the links below to open document. Please print and bring with you for sessions you will attend.)