Attendees enjoying the annual Planning Michigan conference on October 4-6, 2023. Photo Credit: Meridian Photography

Our **Paul Montagno, AICP** behind the CWA booth at the Planning Michigan Conference on October 4-6, 2023.

Planning and Municipal professionals gathered together last week for the Michigan Association of Planners’ annual conference, Planning Michigan 2023. Several of the staff of both Carlisle | Wortman Associates and Code Enforcement Services were in attendance as well as presenters and award recipients!

Conducted annually, the Planning Michigan conference provides resources and guidance via ideal planning practices for planners, planning commissioners, community development, zoning and elected officials.

Here’s an overview of the event

Benjamin Carlisle, AICP moderated a session about preparing for the AICP certification exam. Presenters shared tips and tools for success to help new planners with study strategies. They also reviewed the American Planning Association’s AICP Exam Tips to parse out what policy guides, reading lists, and exam prep material are most valuable.

Paul Montagno, AICP participated in the annual Joint MAP Board / Government Relations Committee / Law Committee meeting, as chair of the Government Relations Committee. The Government Relations Committee does research and writes policy/white papers based on the annual direction of the MAP Board of directors. The Law Committee monitors legislative activity, reacts to proposed legislation, and drafts potential legislation based on the organization’s policies. The two committees and the MAP Board meet annually at the conference to discuss and inform the Board’s policy agenda.

Mike Auerbach, AICP and Craig Strong with Code Enforcement Services gave a presentation about battery energy storage (BESS) technology and its role in enhancing electric grid reliability, potential local impacts (positive and negative), and zoning considerations where BESS facilities have been proposed.

Michelle Marin was a member of a student group who were awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student Award for their capstone project “Preserving Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing in Detroit: A Case Study of Oakman Boulevard Community along the Joe Louis Greenway.” Their project provided one of the first assessments of the Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) property dynamics in a neighborhood along the Joe Louis Greenway (JLG) in Detroit.

We are also proud to announce clients who were award recipients

Michelle Aniol, Community Development Manager, City of Dexter won the Planning Champion Award for her work educating and advocating for good design, building up instead of out, and connections to regional park and trail systems strengthen the economic vibrancy throughout her career at the City.

Peter Psarouthakis, Supervisor, Sharon Township won the Outstanding Community Administrator Award. Throughout his career, Peter guided the Township through new code updates due to changes in state law and case law, facilitated a contentious process to allow marijuana growing and processing facilities, and spearheaded initiatives to improve traffic safety.

Donna Tinberg, Planning Commission Chair, City of Northville won the Helen S. Willis Outstanding Commissioner Award. During her time as a Planning Commission member up to her current position of Planning Commission Chair, Donna has assisted the city of Northville by advocating for residential participation and ensuring predictability throughout the planning process all while strictly adhering to state and municipal law.

Carlisle | Wortman associates and Code Enforcement Services were active attendees at Planning Michigan 2023

Here’s an overview of the event

We are also proud to announce clients who were award recipients