Georgia Planning Association Holds Conference in Dunwoody
For Immediate Release: March 12, 2012
Contact: Corey Hull, GPA VP of Programs: 229-300-0922
On March 21, more than 150 people will gather at the Georgia Planning Association’s (GPA) 2012 Spring Conference at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia in Dunwoody, Georgia. This will mark GPA’s debut in the City of Dunwoody, one of Georgia’s youngest cities and a perfect case study for the evolving urban form of metro Atlanta’s suburban communities.
GPA is a 1,000-plus member organization of professionals and officials who serve Georgia’s communities at all levels of government, the private sector and not-for-profit organizations. GPA’s mission is to promote and assist with the sustainable management of physical, economic, and human resources within Georgia, helping communities foster sensible land use practices and helping land developers produce more effective and contextually-sensitive designs.
“We are pleased to serve as host of this year’s GPA Conference because, as a City, we put great value on the expertise and skill involved in successful planning and development,” said Mayor of Dunwoody Mike Davis. “Since our inception three years ago, the City of Dunwoody has grounded itself in strategic planning that is centered on community goals, needs and future growth. Planning and communication will continue to play a critical role for all of our residents who are active participants in our City’s evolution. We are glad the GPA is here in our City to continue its important education and professional development efforts.”
The one-day conference is an annual training event for GPA members and other participants, providing education about the latest issues and advances in legal matters, development trends and professional practice. In addition to four classroom sessions, this year’s event will feature two mobile workshops exposing participants to different examples of development in and around Dunwoody. There will also be a keynote session featuring Doug Hooker, the new Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, and a presentation from Jason Jordan of the American Planning Association concerning national trends and issues facing community planning. Critical topics for this year’s event include discussions about the effectiveness of Community Improvement District tax policies and the impact of Georgia’s new plans for water resource management.
With roots back to just after the Civil War, Dunwoody was incorporated in 2008 after a citizen-led effort and today utilizes the third-party operated a public-private partnership form of government for many municipal services, including the Community Development Department (i.e. planning, zoning, inspections, permitting, GIS, code compliance, and city engineering) function. In hosting this year’s GPA Spring Conference, Dunwoody will provide participants with an opportunity to learn about how the young city is working to redevelop aging commercial centers and craft its identity as a new municipality with strong residential neighborhoods and some of the largest concentrations of office space in the United States. City leaders will participate in the conference both to introduce Dunwoody to the planning community and to learn what planners from other communities have to say about their hometown.
~
GPA, is the Georgia Chapter of the American Planning Association, provides resources and services to planners and communities for more than three decades. GPA has been an advocate for good planning and a respected source of training and information over the years. Through conferences, professional development forums, partnerships with other organizations, the Community Planning Institute (CPI) and other means, GPA has sought to promote the most efficient, effective and sustainable development of Georgia and its communities.