MPCA Event: Maryland Planning Commissioners Association Conference

The MPCA Conference offers Planning Commissioners, Board of Appeals members and anyone interested in citizen planning an opportunity to learn, share experiences and exchange ideas.

The 35th annual conference topics will include (but not limited to) Citizen and Professional Planner Collaboration, Cultivating New Commissioners, A Better Maryland State Development Plan, Ethics, and the Open Meetings Act.

Conference Overview

Preliminary Agenda (subject to change)

Thursday, October 25

Registration Opens
8 a.m. in the Hotel Lobby

Planning Commissioner and Board of Appeals Training
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The first day of the conference includes the Planning Commissioner Training Course* that satisfies the requirements of the law. This course is a must for new commissioners and board members. The training is free and is beneficial for experienced commissioners as well as those interested in learning more about citizen planning. Anyone wishing to take the free training only and not attend the conference are welcome to register. The class will begin at 10 a.m.
*The training is free but registration is required:
Register for the training course at this link

Open Meetings Act Training
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Presented by the Academy of Excellence.

Panel Discussion: Thirty Years of New Urbanism
1:50 to 2:00 p.m.

Tours of Kentlands, The Crown and the RIO Washingtonian Center
A tour of these three examples of thoughtful mixed-use planning in Gaithersburg will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Thursday Evening Reception and Dinner
6 p.m.
Start the conference at the Reception and Dinner. This is included in the fee for attendees.

Friday, October 26

The specifics of the Friday conference program will be announced but we expect that the following session topics will be covered. As is the tradition of the MPCA conference, it promises a full day of back-to-back sessions packed with useful information on timely topics including:

• • A Better Maryland: The new state development plan
  • Nuts and Bolts for Planning Commissioners
  • Planning Commissioner ethics
  • Cultivating new commissioners
  • Resources for Reinvestment and Revitalization
  • Citizen and Professional Planners: A Vital Partnership

Preliminary Agenda (subject to change)

See you at the conference!

Click here to find out more about conference pricing, registration, and policies.