Professional Development
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Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration

Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration (MAPC)

The Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration is a joint venture of the Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia Chapters along with the Chesapeake Bay Program, Maryland Department of Planning, Rural Planning Caucus of Virginia and West Virginia University's Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic. The intent is to address topics that may be of interest to people involved in planning at all levels across multiple regions.

The Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration was formed in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 to help bring planners together across geographical borders who might be dealing with similar issues. The Collaboration has grown from its initial eight members and welcomes participation from any interested persons or organizations in sharing ideas and effective planning tools to the mid-Atlantic region.

Have ideas for a future webinar or wish to become more involved in the MAPC? Please reach out to one of the contacts below:

APA Delaware Chapter - Joshua Thomas

APA Maryland Chapter - Andrew Gray

APA North Carolina Chapter - Ben Howell

APA Pennsylvania Chapter - Scott Duncanson

APA Virginia Chapter - Andrew Hopewell

APA West Virginia Chapter - Katie See

Chesapeake Bay Program - Jackie Pickford

Maryland Department of Planning - Joseph Griffiths

Rural Planning Caucus of Virginia - Will Cockrell

WVU, Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic - Jesse Richardson

MAPC Webinar Series

APA Virginia is thrilled to help in hosting webinars in the MAPC Webinar Series. Please see the 2026 schedule below. Additional details will be provided closer to the webinar dates.

  • January 8, 2026 - BIG ENERGY - an overview of big energy land uses impacting the Mid-Atlantic region. Presenters from Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia will all share some of the "big energy" topics currently being contemplated in their states. (1.5 CM - #9324272)
  • February 12, 2026 - ZONING FOR AGRITOURISM - A VIEW FROM THE TRENCHES - an exploration of zoning for agritourism from the viewpoints of a land use planner and an agritourism operator with insights into how to effectively engage stakeholders in the planning process and the pitfalls to avoid in regulating agritourism activities. (1.5 CM - #9324276)
  • March 12, 2026 - LAND USE DECISIONS FOR HEALTHY LANDSCAPES - an overview of how the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was recently updated with a revised Healthy Landscapes goal and outcomes related to land use planning and what planners should know about these changes and what new or updated data and tools are available to support communities goals and future planning. (1.5 CM - #9325504)
  • April 9, 2026 - WHATS THAT NOISE? - presenting best practices and examples of how to revamp a noise ordinance to address the new noisemaker - data centers. Noise ordinances and zoning regulations can help address the impacts of these new industrial uses, particularly in proximity to residential areas, schools, libraries, parks and other areas where a little peace and quiet goes a long way. (1 CM - #9326939)
  • May 14, 2026 - CITIZEN PLANNING ACADEMIES - hear about academies in Baltimore, MD; Englewood, CO; and Sacramento, CA and their experiences with citizen planning academies. REGISTER HERE
  • June 11, 2026 - PLANNING FOR SMALL FARMS, LOCAL FOOD AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE - hear from the American Farmland Trust about key issues facing the region’s farms and actions communities can and have taken to sustain them as well as about a new resource developed to build resilience through planning, zoning and other tools to support thriving farms and bolster local economies.
  • July 9, 2026 - Potential DATA CENTERS
  • August 13, 2026 - Potential HAZARD MITIGATION & RESILIENCE
  • September 10, 2026 - Potential YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN PLANNING
  • October 8, 2026 - No webinar planned
  • November 12, 2026 - ETHICS
  • December 10, 2026 - TBD

Past Webinars of the MAPC

Prior presentations in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Collaboration's webinar series are available through the Collaboration's YouTube page. Offerings may be available for CM credits - review the comments section for the CM event number and the duration of the credits' validity.

Recently in the MAPC Webinar Series: