Planning 101 Webinar Series
Local Government Academy is pleased to partner with the Southwest Section of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association to offer “Planning 101” a webinar series on core functions of planning staff and officials at the municipal and county level. The webinars emphasize best practices, consistency with the Municipalities Planning Code, and adding value to efforts to improve your community.
The sessions will be worthy of AICP CM credits, and informative for lay planning and zoning officials, elected and appointed officials, municipal planners, and community development professionals.
Registration Fee: $10 for CM Credits; Free for all otherwise
TYPE OF SESSION
Presentation of best practices, Q&A
TARGET AUDIENCE
Professional and citizen planners, beginner to intermediate skill level
Schedule/Format: Live Lunch & Learn (12:30 -1:30 PM) webinar Fourth Wednesday May – August 2026
REGISTER BELOW:
Is it a plan review commission or a planning commission? Just what is a planning commission supposed to do? This webinar will discuss basic powers and duties and will challenge county and municipal planning commissions to put more attention to planning – preparing and implementing a comprehensive plan and keeping leaders informed of emerging issues impacting the community. The webinar will also stress how to keep active members, work effectively, and become a “go-to” group for the elected officials. The target audience includes planning commission members and planning and zoning staff that support them.
PRESENTER #1
Denny Puko, Owner, Denny Puko, Planning Consultant LLC
PRESENTER #2
Zachary Norwood, Local Government Planning Specialist, PA Department of Community & Economic Development
A zoning hearing board has roles in zoning administration that are not always well understood. This webinar will clarify a zoning hearing board’s specific legal duties and powers. It will give extra attention to variances and special exceptions, and the board’s role in relation to the zoning officer and elected officials. The webinar will give tips for hearings, such as rules of evidence, order of speakers, use of executive sessions, and rendering defensible decisions, including voting. The target audience includes zoning hearing board members and planning and zoning staff that support them.
PRESENTER #1
Denny Puko, Owner, Denny Puko, Planning Consultant LLC
PRESENTER #2
Emily J. Mueller, Esq., Attorney, GRB Law
PRESENTER #3
Joy Ruff, AICP, Executive Director, Local Government Academy
Your municipality just received an application for development. What permits or approvals are needed? Who is involved in review? Who makes the decisions? What are the timelines? What does an effective review process look like? These and other questions will be answered in a webinar on the review process for zoning and land development applications in accord with the Municipalities Planning Code. The webinar is designed for professional planners and ordinance administrative staff, and for citizen members of review boards.
PRESENTER #1
Denny Puko, Owner, Denny Puko, Planning Consultant LLC
PRESENTER #2
RJ Susko, Senior Planner, OHM Advisors
Does your planning department or commission feel ineffective, reactive, overwhelmed? Are work tasks constantly changing, unmotivating? Strategic planning will help refresh your planning agency. It will help the organization set priorities, focus resources, and make a greater impact in its work. The webinar will outline the steps for strategic planning and keys to success, whether for a well-staffed planning department or a volunteer commission. Participants will also learn how to apply strategic plan principles in comprehensive plans and other planning work.
PRESENTER #1
Denny Puko, Owner, Denny Puko, Planning Consultant LLC
PRESENTER #2
Jeff Raykes, DEd., AICP, Managing Principal, Stuart Group Consulting