You could be an Orange County Citizen Planner

The Orange County Citizen Planner Academy is a series of classes that are meant to educate County residents about the process behind planning and land development. The idea is that those who graduate from the Academy are then empowered to act as active policy shapers and decision makers that could have long-term impact on the communities they live in.

The Academy is open to all Orange County residents, but they must register first. Classes can be taken in any order and textbooks are available for loan or purchase.

Participants who attend Planning Basics and two Special Topics courses are considered graduates of the Citizen Planner Academy.

Possible courses include:

Core Classes
Planning Basics: Participants will learn an overview of community planning principles and become educated about the land development process in Orange County.  Subjects covered include: Background and Definitions; Sustainability and Why it Matters; the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map; and Zoning.  This class will use InfoMAP and student input to work through the steps in the planning process.  The class will conclude with a role-playing exercise that works through the steps of the planning process.

Sustainability: This class will cover the concepts of sustainability, with a special focus on how they are being applied today to address our long-term water, waste management, and energy needs.  Classes may be offered at on-site locations where students can see the principles of sustainability in action while they learn their role in making Orange County…Our Home for Life.

Special Topics
Urban Design: Urban design gives a “sense of place” and character to groups of buildings, streetscapes, public spaces, neighborhoods and cities. This class will help explain how the arrangement and design of buildings, open spaces and public amenities contribute towards creating a sustainable, functional and attractive built environment. A walking tour and design exercises will illustrate the practical application of many concepts discussed in class.

Transportation Planning: Our system should provide multiple choices for getting to and from where we live, work and recreate. This class will cover some major concepts of transportation planning, provide information about the local system and highlight the special field of Context –Sensitive design. At the end of the session, participants will engage in an exercise that demonstrates the relationship between land use and the transportation system.

Code Enforcment (New this year!): Join Code Enforcement staff in a discussion about how they progressively enforce regulations that promote the common good. Learn how you can help with achieving their goal of establishing partnerships with citizens and interest groups in maintaining and revitalizing Orange County communities.

CPTED (New this year!): Learn about the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach to deterring criminal behavior through design. Participants will learn CPTED strategies to help prevent criminal acts. CPTED principles of design can even be as simple as learning the strategic use of vegetation, lighting, and marking territory.

Schedule of Classes – those in red have already passed

• Planning Basics ~ Saturday, March 28th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801
  

• Urban Design (Baldwin Park Tour) ~ Saturday, April 25th ~ 9am to 12pm
  DRMP Headquarters, 941 Lake Baldwin Lane, Orlando, FL 32814

• Sustainability ~ Saturday, May 30th ~ 9am to 12pm
  UF/IFAS Extension., 6021 Conway Rd, Orlando, FL 32812
  
• Transportation Planning ~ Saturday, June 27th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801
  
• *Code Enforcement ~ Saturday, July 25th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801

• *CPTED ~ Saturday, August 22nd ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801

• Sustainability ~ Saturday, September 26th ~ 9am to 12pm
  UF/IFAS Extension., 6021 Conway Rd, Orlando, FL 32812

• Planning Basics ~ Saturday, October 24th ~ 9am to 12pm
  Internal Operations Center, 450 East South Street, Orlando, FL 32801