What’s up with Planning Directors in Chicagoland?

Bio: Planning Director, Village of Tinley Park, IL (2007-present); Community Development Director, City of Howell, MI (2005-2007); Downtown Development Director, City of Howell, MI (2003-2005); Senior Planner, McKenna Associates, Northville, MI (2002-2005); Director, Old Town Commercial Association, Lansing, MI (1999-2001); and Planner, Land Information Access Association, Traverse City, MI (1996-1999)

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Kansas State University (1994); Master of Regional and Community Planning, Kansas State University (1996)

Key Publications: Co-author, Building A Sense of Place: A Cooperative Guide to Discovering and Preserving Community Character (1999).

Past Assignments: Re-Inventing Your Transportation Network, IL-City Manager's Association, February, 2013.

Bio: Planning Director City of Michigan City, Indiana 2012 to Present, Planning Director City of Valparaiso, Indiana 2004 to 2012, Assistant Director of Planning City of Elkhart, Indiana 1999 to 2004, Indiana Chapter of American Planning Association Northern Region Representative 2003-Present

Education: B.S. Geography, Central Michigan University Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Michigan State University

Bio: Mr. Cover is the Director of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development consisting of the Planning Division, the Economic Development Division, the Building Inspections Division, and the Community Development and Housing Divisions. Departmental responsibilities include creating and implementing economic development strategies, all development review and permitting, long range comprehensive planning, zoning and variance review and processing, small area planning, transportation planning, housing and CDBG programming, historic preservation, GIS services, and construction and zoning inspections. The Department is re-evaluating the City’s development review processes and will be preparing recommendations on how to make them more efficient and customer friendly. Mr. Cover is also responsible for the initiation and monitoring of major planning initiatives such as the Downtown Master Plan, creating and implementing strategic economic development strategies such as the Capital East District, rewriting the Zoning Code, and preparing the City’s first Transportation Master Plan. In addition, the Department plans to update the John Nolen Plan and create a new City Design Plan.

Education: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA - 1981, Master of Architecture, Master of City Planning Georggia Institute of Technology, 1978, Bachelor of Science (Architecture) Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris France, 1977-1978, Study Abroad Program

Other Publications: "Connect Atlanta Plan" - the City of Atlanta's first Transportation Master Plan that set policies, goals and a viable implementation component that identified a new funding source to implement the plan. "Atlanta Strategic Action Plan Update" - A plan that sets policies, goals, future growth and implementation strategies up to the year 2030. "Chattahoochee Hill Country Overlay Zone Master Plan" - TDR Ordinance and Mandatory Conservation Subdivision Ordinance. "Focus Fulton - Comprehensive Plan," a 20-year plan establishing policies, goals, future growth and implementation strategy for Fulton County. "General Development Plan - Anne Arundel," a 20-year plan setting policies, goals, future growth and implementation strategy for Fulton County. "Conflict-Public vs. Private Sector," Journal of Maryland Planning; editorial on how public and private sector planners differ in philosophies and how differences can be eliminated. "Greenway Master Plan - Carroll County, Maryland," plan setting policies and goals for implementation of greenway system for Carroll County, Maryland. "Comprehensive Plan - Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania," 10-year plan setting policies and goals for Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania. "Comprehensive Plan - City of Annapolis, Maryland," a 10-year plan setting policies and goals for the City of Annapolis, Maryland. "Inner West Street Corridor Study and Design Guidelines," development regulations and design guidelines for future development in Inner West Street, Annapolis, Maryland. "Government Walk," urban design plan to promote future development in Atlanta's South central Business District. "Ponce de Leon Corridor" developer's guide to promote future development on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. "Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District Preservation and Revitalization Program" project report.

Past Assignments: Mr. Cover has been a regular speaker at APA, CNU and other planning related conferences throughout his career. He has also spoken at local planning conferences in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern and Mid-West regions. Mr. Cover has led many planning and development workshops in his private sector experience as well.

Bio: Director of Community and Economic Development, City of Evanston, Illinois 2010 - present Director of Planning, Prince William County, Virginia 2002 - 2010 Director of Planning, Spotsylvania County, Virginia 1995 - 2002 Director of Community and Economic Affairs, City of Gulf Shores, Alabama 1985 - 1989

Education: University of Virginia, MS Urban and Environmental Planning, 1988 Virginia Commonwealth University, BS Recreation Resource Management, 1977

Bio: Director of Economic Development and Planning for the Village of Park Forest, IL for the past eight years. Prior to coming to Park Forest, held a similar position in the Village of Matteson, IL. Also worked for the City of Georgetown TX for 13 years as a planner.

Education: A.B. from Mount Holyoke College M.U.P. from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Bio: Community Development Director, Village of Downers Grove, Illinois. More than thirty years of planning experience for communities as a city planner or as a consultant across the upper Midwest. Also, current Planning and Zoning Commissioner, City of Naperville, Illinois; Member, DuPage County Community Development Commission Executive Committee; and, Member DuPage County HOME Advisory Group.

Education: M.A., Urban and Regional Planning, University if Iowa; B.S., Environmental Science, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Bio: •1988 to present - Planning Director, City of Champaign, Illinois. Responsible for leading an eleven person, two division department in achieving its mission to engage in responsible and responsive planning to enhance the quality of life in the community by promoting the wellness of existing neighborhoods, protecting property values by encouraging compatible development, and providing for the future growth and stability of the City of Champaign. •1997 to present – Adjunct Lecturer, University of Illinois Department of Urban and Regional Planning. •1984 to 88 – City Planner/Assistant Director of Community Development, City of Liberty, Missouri. •1981 to 84 – Associate Planner, Urban Planning Division, City of Iowa City, Iowa. •1979 to 81 – Planner/Program Analyst, Community Development Block Grant Division, City of Iowa City, Iowa.

Education: 1977 - Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning, Iowa State University. 1984 - Master of Arts in Public Affairs, University of Iowa.

Past Assignments: APA Illinois Chapter Conference "Does the New Normal Impact the Old Ethics?" APA Illinois Chapter Conference "Building a Sustainable Community" 2012 APA National Planning Conference "Managing Complex Relationships in Planning" 2011 APA National Planning Conference "Reinventing Planning Departments for Economic Survival" Tuesday's at APA "Sustaining Places"