2014 Orange County Citizen Planner Academy 

Course Series Objective
This series of classes is designed to educate the public about the planning and land development process in our community.  Knowledge can empower those who graduate from the Citizen Planner Academy to make a difference as active participants who help shape decisions about development, neighborhoods, and public projects in a manner that considers long-term impacts, while meeting the needs of current residents and visitors.

The Academy is open to all Orange County citizens; however, registration is required.  Classes can be taken in any order (Sustainability 101 and Planning Basics are not pre-requisites, but highly recommended). Professional planners from the public and private sector will present information and use interactive exercises to help participants apply the principles taught during class. Emphasis will be placed on the important role of citizens and the types of data needed to make sustainable decisions about development.

A textbook is available for loan or purchase.  Those who attend the Planning Basics course and two Special Topics courses will be recognized as a graduate of the Citizen Planner Academy.

Core Classes
Sustainability 101 ~ This class will cover the concepts of sustainability, with a special focus on how they are being applied today to address our long-term water, waste management, and energy needs.  Classes may be offered at on-site locations where students can see the principles of sustainability in action while they learn their role in making Orange County...Our Home for Life.

Planning Basics ~ Participants will learn an overview of community planning principles and become educated about the land development process in Orange County.  Subjects covered include: Background and Definitions; Sustainability and Why it Matters; the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map; and Zoning.  This class will use InfoMAP and student input to work through the steps in the planning process.  The class will conclude with a role-playing exercise that works through the steps of the planning process.

Special Topics
Shaping the Urban Form ~ Urban design gives a “sense of place” and character to groups of buildings, streetscapes, public spaces, neighborhoods and cities. This class will help explain how the arrangement and design of buildings, open spaces and public amenities contribute towards creating a sustainable, functional and attractive built environment. A walking tour and design exercises will illustrate the practical application of many concepts discussed in class.

Community Place Making ~ Learn how to build a community’s capacity for revitalization, and how small area studies and a visioning process may be used to implement changes to the built environment. This class will use neighborhood planning scenarios to help students identify strategies which could be used to overcome challenges and move toward the creation of prosperous, livable and healthy places.

Mobility Planning ~ Our system should provide multiple choices for getting to and from where we live, work and recreate. This class will cover some major concepts of transportation planning, provide information about the local system and highlight the special field of Context –Sensitive design. At the end of the session, participants will engage in an exercise that demonstrates the relationship between land use and the transportation system.

Capital Projects & Infrastructure Planning (New this year!!) ~ Learn about the budgeting process in Orange County and the tools which can be used to finance and maintain all the major projects that contribute to our quality of life. Topics covered will include types of taxes, impact fees, special district designations and other adequate public facility requirements. Examples of typical and major public projects will be used to explain the concepts covered in class. 
 

Schedule of Classes

• Planning Basics ~ Saturday, March 15th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801
   
• *Sustainability 101 ~ Wednesday, March 19th ~ 5:30 to 8:30pm
  Orange County Landfill, 5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
  *For security reasons, please be prepared to stay the entire length of class.

• Shaping the Urban Form ~ Saturday, April 26th ~ 9am to 12pm
  DRMP Headquarters (Baldwin Park), 941 Lake Baldwin Lane, Orlando, FL 32814
  
  
• Community Place Making ~ Saturday, June 28th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801
     
• Planning Basics ~ Saturday, August 23rd ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801

• *Sustainability 101 ~ Thursday, September 11th ~ 5:30 to 8:30pm
  Orange County Landfill, 5901 Young Pine Road, Orlando, FL 32829
  *For security reasons, please be prepared to stay the entire length of class.

• Mobility Planning ~ Saturday, September 20th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Location TBD
    
• Capital Projects & Infrastructure Planning ~ Saturday, November 15th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801

Sign-in begins a half hour before class starts and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, please call Orange County Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division at 407-836-5606, or email us at: ocneighborhoods@ocfl.net.

Register Now!