A New Model for Comprehensive Planning

Jim Pashek , Paul Gilbert, and other members at Pashek Associates have been developing, with representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), a new model for community comprehensive planning.

The goal is to truly focus on the key issues of a community or region and to craft a clear, step by step response to those needs.  An important component of this model is identifying the community’s capacity to implement the strategies.  Gone are the spreadsheets with hundreds of recommendations, replaced with realistic strategies that can be done in response to issues the community really cares about.

Jim and Paul have had the privilege to work with Zelienople and Harmony Boroughs in their successful implementation of this new model of comprehensive planning, followed by a plan for Heidelberg, Carnegie, and Scott.  DCED believes that this new model of Implementable Comprehensive Planning will have a much greater chance in effecting change in communities.  No longer is the Comprehensive Plan the goal.  Now communities can expect specific strategies to solving their unique problems as the outcome of their planning.

To spread the word about this new model for planning the Western Section of American Planning Association of Pennsylvania sponsored two workshops, one in Latrobe and the other in Carnegie, PA.  The sessions, led by Denny Puko (DCED) and Jim Pashek were very well received.  DCED then sponsored similar workshops near Philadelphia, Scranton, State College, and Meadville.

We have just learned that the Workshop will be shared with a national audience with a presentation at the APA conference in Chicago on April 13-17, 2013.  If you are planning to go to the conference next spring, make sure you stop in and say hello to Jim and Denny.  They will be speaking on Wednesday, April 17.

ThinkBike Workshop Brings Dutch and Pittsburgh's Bicycling Advocates Together

On June 21^st and 22^nd Pashek Associates staff member Mike Kotyk attended the ThinkBike workshop at Carnegie Mellon University.  This workshop, organized by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Office in partnership with the Royal Netherlands Embassy, brought together Dutch bicycle transportation experts, Pittsburgh transportation planners, engineers, advocates and cyclists to plan and discuss how Oakland’s Fifth and Forbes Avenue corridor can become more bicycle-friendly.

During the two-day workshop, participants were split into two teams which surveyed the existing conditions of the corridor and then provided constructive recommendations and solutions on how to make this busy corridor more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.  The team’s outcomes and recommendations were then presented to the public, decision makers, cyclists and other interested parties at the closing session on the evening of June 22^nd.

About ThinkBike

Through a multi-city initiative, Dutch experts and companies are increasing bicycle use in the U.S. and Canada. Toronto was the first Canadian city to host such an event, while Chicago was the first U.S. city to host a bike workshop, followed by Washington, D.C., Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. For more information on ThinkBike, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/ThinkBike or www.dutchcycling.nl.

Here are few links to some media exposure on ThinkBike Pittsburgh:  

Post Gazette: Dutch Workshops Offer Biking Advice

KDKA: Dutch Consultants to Help Oakland Become More Bike Friendly

NPR: Dutch Bicycling Experts to Weigh in on Improving Bike Infrastructure in Oakland

Pashek Associates at National Charrette Institute Training

Jim Pashek just completed the second of two certificate trainings managed by the National Charrette Institute (NCI).  This second training, held in beautiful Vancouver, BC, focused on the logistics of planning and running the NCI charrette process.  Bill Lennertz, Executive Director of NCI indicated that this was the “masters” class for those who really want to get into the nuts and bolts of how to set up a room, manage challenging public meeting participants and build in successful elements of a great charrette.

Bill Lennertz, Executive Director of NCI, in Vancouver BC leading a 

charrette management training on September 30, 2011

Marcy McInelly, founder of Urbsworks and charrette consultant shared her experiences in a very useful debrief of a major charrette held in Colorado recently.  It was really helpful to learn what worked and what did not.  They realized that the charrette activities were better suited for five days or more to ensure quality feedback loops and room to shift gears mid-course if needed.

The challenge for many of our clients and colleagues is the attempt to use parts of the NCI charrette process without understanding the implications of shortening or eliminating portions of the process.  Typical charrette processes involve about 50% of the work leading up to the charrette week and an important amount devoted to post-charrette work.

If you are interested or would like to know more about building a charrette process, the common pitfalls and the elements of successful charrettes, send Jim an email at jpashek@pashekla.com.