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CONNECTICUT PLANNING Winter 2020 A publication of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association ct.planning.org Public Participation in the 2020s page 4 Story Maps as Conversations Video for Public Engagement Podcasts Peer to Peer Participation Plus: Public Notification Requirements Chapter News PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Connecticut Chapter of APA – Officers & Directors appy New Year! The Chapter is off to a Rebecca Augur, AICP Hbusy start with several transitions to update President you on. I would like first to extend our shared gratitude to Michael Piscitelli for his exceptional Michael Piscitelli, AICP Past President leadership as CCAPA President over the last three years. Mike’s utmost professionalism and initia- Abby Kenyon, AICP tive elevated the stature of our organization and Secretary profession, and I hope to continue to build upon Khara Dodds, AICP his good work in my term as President. Mike Treasurer remains on the Executive Board as Immediate Past President, so we John Guszkowski, AICP, LEED-AP, ENV-SP can still take advantage of his passion for our state and dedication to Government Relations Comm. Co-Chair our chapter. I’d also like to extend thanks and appreciation to Alan Weiner, Jenna Montesano, JD Government Relations Comm. Co-Chair who is stepping down from Chairing the Member Services Committee. Alan’s decades of work on behalf of all of us as Chapter members is Steve Sadlowski, AICP nothing short of impressive. Emily Hul- Professional Development Officer tquist will be stepping in to chair the Stay tuned for what Jeanne Davies, AICP Member Services Committee, while she looks to be an ambitious Program Committee Chair continues to lead the Chapter’s efforts to implementation agenda Emily Hultquist, AICP explore opportunities for establishing a Membership Committee Chair planning education program in our state. under our three strategic We also welcome Jenna Montesano Amanda Kennedy, AICP themes of creating the next as our new Government Relations Com- Communications Committee Chair/ generation of planners, CT Planning Magazine mittee Co-Chair. The Committee and facilitating the digital Co-Chair John Guszkowski along with Patrice L. Carson, AICP previous Co-Chair Amanda Kennedy transition in planning, and Member at Large (now Communications Committee advocating for planning in Marek Kozikowski, AICP Chair) have established strong relation- statewide governance. Member at Large ships with our legislators over the past Robert Phillips, AICP few years that have enabled the Chapter and planners to have greater Member at Large influence over planning law and practice in Connecticut. The Executive Board recently held its annual retreat to formulate Don Poland, PhD, AICP its 2020 work plan. Stay tuned for what looks to be an ambitious Member at Large implementation agenda under our three strategic themes of creating Jonathan Reiner, AICP the next generation of planners, facilitating the digital transition in Member at Large (continued on page 3) Christopher J. Smith, Esq. Member at Large On the cover: Manchester Community College (Matthew Robinson); New London Watershed Demian Sorrentino, AICP, C.S.S. Workshop (Amanda Kennedy), NVCOG Story Map, Manchester Planning on YouTube. Member at Large Click on the names above to send CONNECTICUT PLANNING email, or visit our website for is published quarterly by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association. Contributions additional information about CCAPA are encouraged. Submissions must include the name and contact information of the contributor. Mate- leadership. rial may be edited to conform to space or style requirements. Please address submissions to Executive Editor Amanda Kennedy, AICP (contact information below). Amanda E. Kennedy, AICP Layout/Advertising: Deputy Director/Director of Special Projects Jeffrey H. Mills Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments J.M. Communications Ph: (860) 889-2324 Ph: (860) 454-8922 [email protected] [email protected] Page 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, cont’d FROM THE EDITOR planning, and advocating for planning in statewide his issue is about inno- governance. In addition, we discussed ways to oper- T vation in planning, but ationalize diversity, equity and inclusion as important inspiration for it came from a overarching goals that impact almost all facets of our source not known for its out- work. Anyone who is interested in helping out in any of-the-box thinking: the Federal of these areas is welcome to get in touch with me. Highway Administration, which Finally, as we enter this new decade, it’s a great in November 2019 sponsored a time to reflect on how the tools of our trade have training course in New London changed and how they might continue to evolve on “Virtual Public Involve- during the 2020s. It’s clear in my travels around the ment” that staff from a number of Connecticut’s state and region that communities are demanding Councils of Governments and nearby towns were more information and access to decision-makers; able to attend. At the training, we heard from plan- however, the means of gaining that access have ners from across the country who are broadening radically changed. This issue highlights where we public participation and improving the quality of are headed with community engagement tools and public outreach processes by using social media and techniques to help ensure that we are as inclusive as other technologies like video and virtual reality. We we can be in planning for all. all know what these new media are, and consume I look forward to working with you all over the them daily, but still unclear is how to use them re- coming year, and welcome your thoughts, concerns sponsibly, given our ethical and legal obligations to and assistance. Please feel free to reach out at any the communities planners serve, and the reality of time at (203) 271-1773 or [email protected]. the time constraints that most planners operate un- — Rebecca Augur der. This issue mines some of Connecticut’s best for guidance. One message that came through to me from the FHWA training is that these practices are no longer optional — the public has come to expect URBAN DESIGN & COMMUNITY PLANNING We all know what the new media are, and ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING consume them daily, but still unclear is how to COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT use them responsibly, given our ethical and legal MOBILITY PLANNING obligations to the communities planners serve, and the reality of the time constraints that most planners operate under. a level of transparency and consultation that goes beyond the occasional public meeting or notice in the newspaper. Some of the topics we’d like to address in future issues of Connecticut Planning are the carrots and sticks associated with affordable housing, the chal- lenges of planning in small towns, cultivating the next generation of planners, and non-traditional agriculture. Drop me a note ([email protected]) if you’d like to contribute, or have a tip on some- Hartford, CT thing great going on that Connecticut planners New York, NY | Cherry Hill, NJ should know more about. www.fhiplan.com @fhiplan fhiplan — Amanda Kennedy, AICP Innovative Planning BETTER COMMUNITIES Page 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE 2020s Public Participation in the 2020s by Marcy Miller, AICP, Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. n all professions, it is important to use current and relevant data, technologies, and best Ipractices. In community planning, this can translate to using the latest socioeconomic forecasts to build a regional land use model. In traffic or air quality modeling, the most current and best software can be employed to get the most realistic forecasts. In public and community involvement, the same rules of innovative engagement apply. What are current best practices in ple, places, cultures, and how we com- community engagement? In an effort municate. Learning about these tools and to shed light on this topic, this CCA- techniques helps us be better planners, PA publication explores many emerging providing relevant and effective services techniques and practices and highlights to our clients and communities. examples where they have been used with Tools such as mapping, video, and success. social media, if done well, can offer addi- The articles in this issue have one tional transparency to a project or study feature in common. They all provide process. They are dynamic tools with a guidance on innovative ways to success- broader reach. The key to implementing fully engage the public — scratch that, to innovative outreach techniques is under- better engage the public. As dedicated standing the stakeholder audience and professionals, we must continue to evolve looking for methodologies that will be our practices to be compatible with peo- inclusive and comprehensive to reach and hear from many voices. Throughout this issue, you may con- How to Do Social Media Well: A Primer clude that the primary benefit of these tools is that they are more effective than 1) Be nimble: New content (e.g. relevant news articles) needs to be added as it becomes many past and present methods. Like the available. Content generation and approval processes need to be flexible and quick. broader U.S., Connecticut is changing 2) Be responsive: The sites need to be checked each day for comments and questions. A short demographically, and different people quick response such as, “Interesting comment! Thanks for following the project,” helps the post absorb information differently. Yes, some stay in feeds better than a long explanation 3-4 days later. Respond later if appropriate. still prefer face-to-face information shar- ing at meetings, but others don’t have 3) Know your platforms and audiences: Who are you trying to reach in your project the time, transportation, or willingness area, and what are the best platforms to do so? Facebook Twitter, Instagram, YouTube (and to travel to an off-site location at a static tomorrow’s social media platform) all attract different audiences and call for unique methods of time.

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