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Commissions and Boards

APA is committed to helping planning commissioners and board members learn the techniques needed to make better communities.

Web Resources for You

Become an expert in a day: Use this web page as your gateway to becoming a better commission. Accelerate your learning options with flexible and affordable membership and subscription options.

Learn about APA membership and subscriptions

APA Can Help Your Commission Build a Better Community

ConnectGreat planning commissions make great communities happen! Connect your planning commission with APA and they'll connect to a nationwide community dedicated to good planning. APA gives commissioners tested tools — publications, training events, networking opportunities, and other targeted resources — that will help their communities anticipate and plan for tomorrow.

Learn more about APA's many resources for local commissioners and enroll your commissioners as APA Planning Board Members or APA Affiliates.


With APA's help, your commission can meet the challenges of growth and change

Planning magazine

Planning coverAPA's flagship magazine shows how creative planning programs and innovative techniques help create vibrant, sustainable communities. APA members may access articles from back issues of Planning published since 2002. Planning commissioner affiliates' access begins with more recent issues.

Read the full issue(membership or subscription required)

Join APA or subscribe

Training for Commissioners

National Planning Conference

Every annual conference contains a special track of sessions and workshops for planning commissioners and officials.    

APA Audio/Web Conferences

We recommend the following courses for commissioners: Ethics and Food Systems Planning, Zoning for Small-Scale Businesses, Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning, and 2013 Planning Law Review.

APA Chapters

Many APA Chapters offer convenient local training in your state or area. Find out what kind of training is being offered by chapters around the country.

Streaming Education

Online training, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Seven current products provide commissioner training on everything from "Design Review for Officials" to "Informed Decisions: A Guide to Gathering Facts and Evidence." These are now for individual use; group options will become available later.

Planning Board Briefs

Planning Board Briefs is APA's specialty e-newsletter for planning board members and affiliates.

Learn more

Books and Reports

Additional training resources for planning commissioners are available in a variety of topics and formats at APAPlanningBooks.com. Use the menu to search specific areas of the catalog or search by keyword.

Browse the bookstore

Browse for commissioner resources

The Commissioner

The Commissioner coverThis quarterly newsletter provides practical features and tips to help you make critical decisions in the best interest of your community.

Read The Commissioner right from your desktop. Recent issues in pdf format are available free to APA planning board members, affiliates, and subscribers.

Read The Commissioner online(membership or subscription required)

Join APA or subscribe

Current Planning Commission Profile

"Apart from the city council, it's the most important body in the city" says John Lettelleir, AICP, referring to the City of Frisco, Texas, Planning and Zoning Commission.

Read more commission profiles

Current Commissioner's Voice

A Guide to Urban Planning in Texas Communities, first published in 1978, is an extensive collection of articles that cover all aspects of planning in Texas.

Read more commissioners' voices

Current Resource Finder

Recommended articles, books, and other resources featured in each issue of The Commissioner. Neighborhood planning is the topic for Summer 2013.

Resources on additional topics

Product Focus

New Edition! The Planning Commissioners Guide

The Planning Commissioners Guide coverNew commissioners learning the ropes and seasoned board members looking for a refresher will get the guidance they need in this new release from APA Planners Press. Eight detailed chapters cover the basics of preparing for commission meeting, reviewing a development plan, gathering public input, and steering clear of ethical dilemmas. There's even a glossary of planning terms and a list of training resources.

Shortcuts

APA provides many more web resources for planning commission and boards. Use this index to find additional documents.

Learn more

Banner photo: Hillsborough (Florida) City-County Planning Commission. Photo by Dean Salls.