Planning Commissioners Journal columnist Lisa Hollingsworth-Segedy explains how storytelling can help planners and planning commissioners better connect with local residents. The end result: a more productive planning process, with increased citizen "buy in." 

In this 9 minute audio, Lisa talks about three important lessons she's learned about storytelling.

Note: this audio supplements Lisa's article in the Summer 2011 issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal

A conversation with Richard McCarthy of the national Farmers Market Coalition about the role farmers markets can play in our communities, and some of the issue they face.

Part of the Planning Commissioners Journal Route 50 trip.

Charles Brzuchalski ("C.B.") staffs the Missouri State Prison Development Commission, formed to plan for redevelopment of the prison site. Joined by Janice and Jefferson City Senior Planner Eric Barron, C.B. took us on a two hour walk around the site. Needless to say, there are a host of challenges in redeveloping the prison -- but even greater opportunities.

I'm setting out three audio clips from my conversations with Charles Brzuchalski (total of 17 minutes). In the first C.B. provides an overview of the planning process and challenges for the site. In the second he talks about some of the inmates in Housing Unit No. 4. In the third C.B. discusses two well-known female inmates.

I attended a meeting of the O'Fallon (Illinois) Planning Commission on Wednesday evening. It included a controversial development project. But the tone for the meeting was set at the outset.

Taking just a few minutes, Gene McCoskey (second from the right), the Planning Commission Chair provided those attending the Planning Commission meeting with an orientation of the meeting -- including brief introductions, a review of how the meeting will be run, and what the planning commission's role is. These kind of opening remarks help set the tone for a civil and productive meeting.

Part of the Planning Commissioners Journal Route 50 trip.

Though she'd be too modest to admit it, the restoration of the 91 year old Park Theatre in the small Indiana town of North Vernon is due to the persistence of 80-year old Hulda Reichenbach.

Hulda also told me how they recovered for the restored theatre the painting of the Lion & the Girl, which hung in the old theatre. The painting is mounted at the top of the stairwell that leads into the theatre auditorium -- a dramatic work of art which I'm sure catches everyone's eye, young and old.

For more on Hulda and the Park Theatre restoration, go to our Route 50 travel blog: www.rte50.com -- and use the category "Indiana" to locate the segment.

America's principal meridians helped shape the nation's land pattern, while simplifying land title and transfers. John Shankland, who has developed the principal meridian project web site, speaks with Wayne Senville, Editor of the Planning Commissioners Journal, about the history of principal meridians (7 minutes).

Part of the Planning Commissioners Journal's U.S. Route 50 trip.

 

A conversation with Ginny Sullivan and Jim Sayer of Adventure Cycling about the new Underground Railroad Bike Route. With Wayne Senville, Editor of the Planning Comm'rs Journal. Recorded March 29, 2009.

One of the enjoyable things about travelling is when you spot something that looks a bit puzzling. And you wonder, "what the heck is going on."

As I was rounding a bend on Route 50 entering Athens, Ohio on Tuesday, a spotted a tent and a big crowd of people along the roadway on the left. I quickly decided to pull off the exit and backtrack a bit to find out what was going on.

Turns out it was a fascinating hour-long detour. I happened on the ground breaking ceremonies for a 68,000 square foot, 2 story doctor-owned outpatient clinic, the Holzer Clinic, on the outskirts of Athens.

I spoke briefly with Todd Fowler -- the Holzer Clinic's administrator -- to find out more about the project. Just a quick 2 minute interview.

What kind of impact will these doctor-owned clinics have on our communities, and on our existing hospitals? I don't have the answers.

This detour was part of my trip on Route 50 for the Planning Commissioners Journal.

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) undoubtedly has more expertise in the field of planning for the exterior security of buildings than any other agency in America. They've released a National Capital Urban Design & Security Plan that, as it name indicates, seeks to incorporate  better design into structures and their settings while still meeting vital security objectives.

Among the success stories is the now completed new security for the Washington Monument.

What follows are some brief excerpts of a conversation I had on Friday, June 1st with staff of NCPC. The principal speaker you'll hear is Elizabeth Miller, the project manager for this. She has a background in both planning and landscape architecture. You'll also hear some comments from Patricia Gallagher who is Executive Director of the Commission.

Two things I think you'll find of special interest in the audio:
-- the fact that NCPC was taking a hard look at design & security before 9/11 (as a result of the Oklahoma City bombing) and was just about to lease a major report when the attack on NYC and the Pentagon occurred.
-- the concerns NCPC staff have about whether we're all giving enough thought to probabilities in design for security; in other words, whether we're spending too much money in protecting facilities and areas where the likelihood of any terrorist attack is exceedingly remote.

Part of the Planning Comm'rs Journal Route 50 trip.

Richard Reinhard is the Deputy Executive Director for Planning & Development at Downtown DC. Downtown DC is one of the largest BIDs in the country. For those not familiar with the acronymn BID, it stands for Business Improvement District.

The DC BID focuses on a wide range of services -- from maintenance & beautification to providing support services for the homeless. They've also initiated a bus circulator service, and manage special events, such as the Cherry Blossom festival.

The BID is financed by assessments on property owners within the district. The DC BID has an annual budget of about $10 million.

In the following short excerpt from a conversation I had with Richard on Friday, June 1st, he'll explain some of the basics of just what a BID is, and what functions the Downtown DC BID is involved with.

This visit was part of the Planning Commissioners Journal's cross country trip on U.S. 50.

That's something residents of the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. want to be able to do. What it means is simple: being able to stay in your home, in your neighborood, for as long as possible as you grow older.

Excerpts from a conversation with Geoff Lewis, president of the nonprofit Capitol Hill Village.

Part of the Planning Commissioners Journal Route 50 trip.

On Wednesday I headed over to the offices of the Maryland Environmental Trust just outside of Annapolis (note the "time is running out" tax reminder clock on their web site!).

My goal was to find out more about this quasi-independent state agency which holds donated conservation easements across the state. One of the easements they hold is in Grasonville, along the Route 50 corridor (more on this in a separate post).

Listen to a 6 minute excerpt from a conversation I had with Nick Williams, the Trust's director. He briefly touches on some of the challenges in holding long-term easements.

Part of the Planning Commissioners Journal Route 50 trip.

Wayne Senville, Editor of the Planning Commissioners Journal talks with Ocean City, Maryland, planning director Jesse Houston while driving through the town on Monday, May 28th. Ocean City is Maryland's largest beach resort -- a long, narrow strip of land more than 150 blocks long, but along most of its length, no more than two blocks wide.

This is the first stop in Wayne's cross-country trip on U.S. Route 50.

The excerpts you'll hear include Jesse talking about:

1. the most significant issue facing Ocean City
2. how planners are considering design in new development
3. the unusual way in which Ocean City estimates its population
4. housing issues facing seasonal employees, especially young people

A conversation with Tom Lewis about the early history of the national highway system. Lewis, a professor at Skidmore College, is the author of Divided Highways: Building the Interstate Highways, Transforming American Life.

In our discussion (16 minutes), Lewis talks about one of the most important, yet little known, figures in the history of transportation in American: Thomas Harold MacDonald -- also known as "The Chief." We also discuss some of the key players in the development of the national road system, including the League of American Wheelmen and the Highway Education Board. Lewis will even tell you how romance & dating factored into the development of roadways!

This conversation is part of the background for the Planning Commissioners Journal's trip along U.S. Route 50. For more details & to follow our trip.

Jordana Maisel is the Director of Outreach and Policy Studies at the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA), located at the University at Buffalo. Her current research includes projects on the effectiveness of universal design, and policy and planning issues related to inclusive housing design.

Betsey Krumholz, General Manager of the Planning Commissioners Journal, interviews Ms. Maisel about her article, "Visitability": A Major "No-Step" Towards Inclusive Housing, published in the Spring 2007 isssue of the Journal.

The discussion focuses on the benefits of providing housing that is more easily accessible to individuals with disabilities, seniors, and others -- and on advocacy strategies to promote "visitable" housing.

-- 12 minutes in length