{"id":6067,"date":"2019-04-30T14:15:21","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T18:15:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/?p=6067"},"modified":"2026-03-19T11:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T15:59:47","slug":"montgomery-planning-shares-creative-visions-in-san-francisco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2019\/04\/montgomery-planning-shares-creative-visions-in-san-francisco\/","title":{"rendered":"Montgomery Planning Shares Creative Visions in San Francisco"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five sessions at the American Planning Association\u2019s national conference highlight county plans for parks, bikes, traffic safety, placemaking and community resilience<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPlanning Connects Us\u201d was the theme of the American Planning Association\u2019s national conference<\/a>, held from April 13 through April 16, 2019 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. At the event, Montgomery Planning staff connected with planners from across the country in discussing shared concerns over equity, placemaking, traffic safety and other hot topics.<\/p>\n

We continue to be out front on many important issues, as revealed in our five sessions at the conference. Staff received great feedback from many of the attendees who traveled to the City on the Bay to learn about the planning profession\u2019s latest trends and tools. Here\u2019s recap of our sessions:<\/p>\n

\"Access<\/a>

View presentation<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Access and Experiences, Not Acres<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Chris McGovern of Montgomery Planning\u2019s Information Technology and Innovation Division and landscape architect Christina Sassaki of Montgomery Parks explained the cutting-edge Energized Public Spaces Functional Master Plan<\/a> and Park Rx Program for improving health through outdoor activities. They showed how the plan relies on data-driven analyses to consider walking access to amenities compared to the populations served. The intent is to provide a balance of public spaces for social gatherings, active recreation and contemplative relaxation.<\/p>\n

\"GENERATING<\/a>

View presentation<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Countywide Bicycle Plans \u2013 Riding the Momentum<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In this session, Montgomery Planning\u2019s David Anspacher, who led Montgomery County\u2019s Bicycle Master Plan<\/a>, and Peter Gray from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association<\/a> joined planners from Silicon Valley to highlight their approaches to suburban bicycle planning. Making the vision a reality requires collaboration with local employers, developers, community members and advocates, and the session highlighted the contributions needed to make the cultural shift from cars to bikes.<\/p>\n

\"Enhancing<\/a>

View presentation<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Enhancing Community Resilience Through Comprehensive Planning<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Deputy Director Tanya Stern and her former colleagues at the DC Office of Planning<\/a> discussed the creation of new resilience policies as part of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cycle<\/a> underway. The city is vulnerable to natural and human-made hazards, and chronic stresses, such as access to affordable housing. Many of the strategies covered in this session will be part of Montgomery County\u2019s General Plan Update to upgrade the planning framework for the county.<\/p>\n

\"From<\/a>

View presentation<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

From Parking Lots to Places<\/h4>\n

This session focused on the power and possibilities of the collaborative placemaking process in transforming suburban parking lots and strip malls into exciting, people-oriented places. Area 2 Chief Planner Carrie Sanders and planner Atul Sharma related their experiences in creating memorable places in Montgomery County through events such as the 2018 White Flint Placemaking Festival<\/a>. They showed how placemaking can be used to reinforce community identity, inspire innovation in design and planning, and improve the quality of development.<\/p>\n

\"Vision<\/a>

View presentation<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Vision Zero: Suburban Challenges, Suburban Solutions<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This session presented strategies for applying Vision Zero policies to suburban communities, where traveling quickly over long distances has been prioritized in the past. David Anspacher and Jessica McVary from Montgomery Planning and Andrew Tsai from Montgomery Parks drew on their planning experiences to improve safety and eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries. They discussed ways of implementing short-term solutions to address immediate safety concerns and long-range community improvements through the Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan<\/a> and the Capital Crescent Trail Crossing at Little Falls Parkway.<\/p>\n

For more information about the sessions at the APA\u2019s 2019 National Conference, consult the organization\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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