Happy 20 Years to the Community Planning Institute!

From the Department of Community Affairs, we’re excited to share some important reflections as we celebrate two decades of the Community Planning Institute (CPI).

Dr. Jerry Weitz, FAICP

First, we’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Jerry Weitz, FAICP, and the Georgia Planning Association (GPA). Your commitment to advancing community planning has been instrumental in shaping Georgia’s communities. GPA has been providing vital training for planning commissioners across Georgia long before the inception of CPI.

Thanks to the GPA’s trust and generous seed funding of $10,000, we were able to house the Planning Commissioner training within DCA. Together with our critical partners—including the Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers (now Georgia Association of Regional Commissions), the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning Program, and the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government—we developed a comprehensive curriculum that addresses the needs of our local planning commissioners.

Over the years, the Community Planning Institute has served a diverse audience. While our primary focus has been local planning commissioners, we’ve welcomed members of boards of appeals, elected officials, professional planners, zoning administrators, and anyone passionate about building strong, vibrant communities.

From Carrollton to Helen, from Jekyll Island to Macon, Community Planning Institute has reached every corner of Georgia. With the Georgia Planning Association, we’ve hosted over 40 events covering essential planning topics, including Hazard Mitigation, Community Resilience, and Water Resources Management. Our flexibility has allowed us to adapt to the evolving needs of our communities.

Our impact speaks volumes: more than 2,000 elected and appointed officials have participated in CPI trainings, collectively benefiting from nearly 30,000 hours of instruction. With an average of 45 attendees per event, our sessions often fill to capacity within days of their announcement, and we consistently maintain an active waitlist.

CPI has included valuable topics such as:

• Rules for Local Comprehensive Planning
• Using Your Plan Effectively
• Water Quality and Land Use Decisions
• Best Practices in Community Engagement
• Regulatory Tools for Implementation
• Utilizing CDBG Funds to Implement Your Comprehensive Plan
• Keeping Your Main Street Vibrant

In summary, the Community Planning Institute has made a lasting impact on hundreds of Georgia communities and enhanced planning practices. On behalf of the State of Georgia, we’d like to express our deepest gratitude to the GPA—especially Dr. Jerry Weitz, FAICP, whose vision and leadership have been pivotal in our collaborative efforts.

Please view this special retrospective from Dr. Jerry Weitz.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to CPI’s success over the past 20 years. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the decades to come!