LEHIGH VALLEY
GOVERNMENT ACADEMY
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) has offered the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI) courses in community planning and land use regulations since 2014. These courses are targeted to planning commissioners, zoning hearing board members, zoning administrators, elected officials and others with an interest or involvement in planning. Over 300 people from the public, non-profit and private sectors have graduated from at least one of the courses since 2014. Included among them are 79 people who earned the distinction of being named a Certified Citizen Planner for attending three courses, ushering in a new era of community land use leadership.
For the 2022 courses, the LVPC conference room has been reconfigured to allow social distancing. Each class will be limited to 18 students.
2022 UPCOMING COURSES
ZONING ADMINISTRATION
5:30-9:00 PM: April 4, 11, 18
Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
Participants learn the basic principles and procedures to effectively carry out their work administering municipal zoning. The course covers the rationale and technical aspects of zoning and how to build effective relationships with everyone involved in zoning administration. Hands-on experiences and practice exercises are built into each session. Attendees learn how to conduct effective and fair zoning hearings in a mock zoning hearing session.
Who should go?
Municipal zoning hearing board and planning commission members, zoning officials and municipal elected officials.
What will we learn?
Principles of zoning; Key zoning terms; The concept of the zoning administration team; Zoning officer duties; Enforcement notice procedures; Key issues related to variances, special exceptions and nonconforming uses; How to conduct a zoning hearing
How much?
Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees
Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.
Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE
SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
5:30-9:00 PM: May 3, 10, 17
Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
This course explores the work of planning commissions in the subdivision and land development review process, from pre-application meetings through project completion. It is organized into three major sections: principles of subdivision and land development regulation and ordinance requirements, subdivision and land development review procedures and design and technical standards of subdivision and land development. Participants will get hands-on experience reviewing plans and designing alternative solutions.
Who should go?
Municipal zoning hearing board and planning commission members, municipal elected officials, municipal engineers, municipal planners, attorneys, real estate professionals, land surveyors, landscape architects, geologists and others who deal with subdivision and land development ordinances.
What will we learn?
Participants will learn the key provisions of the PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) governing subdivision and land development regulation, including approving and denying plans; the three-stage procedure for reviewing applications; project completion and follow-up; density and open space criteria; how to coordinate review comments from other agencies; role of performance and maintenance guarantees in project implementation.
How much?
Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees
Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.
Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE
COMMUNITY PLANNING
5:30-9:00 PM: September 7, 14, 21
Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
This is a course to teach planning commissioners, local officials and others how to carry out their responsibilities under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), the statute that endows municipalities with the authority to plan. For those who don’t know or fully understand the provisions of the MPC, this course will teach them how instrumental it is in giving a jurisdiction the ability to make critical decisions involving land use, which can shape their community’s quality of life.
Who should go?
Municipal zoning hearing board and planning commission members, municipal elected officials, primary municipal support staff (managers and secretaries), prospective students of city and regional planning and engaged community members who wish to understand the zoning and subdivision approval processes.
What will we learn?
Participants will learn the essence of planning; where it fits in the framework of local government; how planning commissioners relate to the governing body, zoning hearing board and zoning officers; how municipalities can work with adjacent municipalities to foster multimunicipal planning; the role of the county planning agency; how to interpret the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) and the importance of the 30-day or 45-day review time clock; the purpose of a comprehensive plan; how to implement a plan through zoning, subdivision and land development regulations; other means of land use control; what constitutes an effective planning commission; land use and development considerations unique to the region.
How much?
Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees
Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.
Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE
ZONING
5:30-9:00 PM: October 6, 13, 20
Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109
This is a “nuts and bolts” course that deals with probably the most complex and provocative topic in local planning. The course reviews how zoning evolved in the United States and how many of the original concepts still form the basis of the way zoning is practiced in Pennsylvania in 2022. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to: review zoning ordinance provisions, make decisions about how an area should be zoned through mapping exercises, conduct a build-out analysis to learn the potential impact of the zoning ordinance, discuss methods for handling problem land uses and situations, consider ethical issues using case studies.
Who should go?
Planning commission and municipal zoning hearing board members, municipal elected officials, municipal engineers, municipal planners, attorneys, real estate professionals, others who deal with zoning ordinances and anyone interested in zoning.
What will we learn?
Participants will learn the relationship of the zoning ordinance to the comprehensive plan and the importance of consistency between the two; zoning terminology; key issues encountered in drafting the zoning ordinance
and the zoning map; ordinance adoption and amendment procedures as set forth in the Municipalities Planning Code; zoning ordinance administration; the use of Municipalities Planning Code authority to undertake and enable joint municipal zoning, planned residential development, traditional neighborhood development and other non-traditional zoning tools.
How much?
Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees
Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.
Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Local Technical Assistance Program
Citizen Planner Certificate
Complete three courses at the Lehigh Valley Government Academy and you will be awarded the “Citizen Planner Certificate”. Certificates will be awarded during a ceremony at a Lehigh Valley Planning Commission meeting.
Citizen Planner Alumni
Judith Acosta*
Minal Amin
Matt Assad
Makala Ashmar*
Gary Behler
Leroy Bickert
Robert Blanchfield
Becky Bradley
Michael Bryant*
Justin Burker*
David Calhoun
Brian Carl
Deb Chesney
Joy Cohen
Norman Daniel
Malissa Davis
Charles "Chuck" Deprill
Dawn Didra*
Diane Donaher
Mike Donchez
Thomas Eighmy
Mark Ernst
Jeffrey Fox*
John Gallagher
Prabodh "Sunny" Ghai
Ashley Godshall
Zach Graves*
Wanda Gruber*
Hannah Haubert
Ian Heck
Don Heiney
Tim Helmer
Brian Hite*
Gabe Hurtado*
George Kinney
Donna Kohut
Michael Kolba Jr.
Michael Lilly
Thomas Long
Teresa Mackey
Matt Malozi
Shawn Martell
Eric McAfee
Rob Melosky
Aubrie Miller
Sandy Nicolo*
Dharam "Paul" Nohar
Robert Nolter
Ngozi Obi
Tracy Oscavich
Pamela Pearson*
Joseph Peterson
Lance Prator*
Michael Prendeville
Vincent Quinn
Geoff Reese
Selma Ritter
Sue Rockwell
Robert Scott
Lori B. Seese
Jillian Seitz
Cameran Smith
Louis Stellato
J. Scott Stenroos
Brent Stringfellow
Louis Stellato
Lynn Tammaro
Alan Tope
Vince Tranguch*
Elena Tucci
Karin Vangeli
John von Kerczek
Duane Wagner
Kyle Walbert
Michael Werst
David Wilson
Donna Wright*
Emma Yeh
Keith Zehner
* Denotes PMPEI Outstanding Education Achievement Award