Planning

I went to a East End Planning and Design Conference last week sponsored by the Long Island Section of the American Planning Association's NY Metro Chapter and the Peconic Chapter of the AIA. The attendees were a varied group of planners, architects and town administrators. It was divided into three sessions:

1. Comprehensive Plans - the moderator and panelists discussed the direction in which the east end towns are headed, either by unplanned growth or as a result of decisions made by town codes, and the sustainability and impact of the changes that are taken place.
2. Downtown Revitalization - the moderator and panelists were representing the Towns of Southampton, Riverhead and the Village of Greenport. Discussion centered on projects underway that included master plans, LWRPs, and building and park development. It was very interesting to see how the three different municipalities approach these issues.
   
3. Architectural Guidelines - what impact does architecture have on a community, its traditions and how should they be reviewed, evaluated and implemented.

It's nice to get out of the office and think about the big issues for a change!