APA California - Northern

Check out some great planning reads on your Friday commute home or over the weekend.

The Northern News Team is excited to share this week's Friday round-up of planning news from around Northern California.

APA California - Northern Section is proud to present Darcy Kremin, AICP, as the 2024 Distinguished Planner. Darcy is a Senior Principal Planner with Environmental Science Associates in Oakland where she specializes in managing major water-related projects. A well-known and accomplished leader in the field of environmental planning, Darcy has over 25 years of experience and has served a variety of nonprofit, private, and public sector clients. Throughout her career, Darcy has dedicated herself to service in the field, serving as the Director for the Northern Section, as Co-Chair for the Chapter conference in Oakland, as a member of the California Planning Foundation Board, and as Chair of the Walnut Creek Design Review Commission. Darcy holds a B.A. in Geography/Environmental Studies and Political Science from UCLA and an M.A. in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University. As a planning pioneer, Darcy is a tremendous mentor to young and emerging planners providing guidance as a supervisor, project manager, and leader in the field. Darcy is the embodiment of the definition of resilience and we are honored to have her as a friend of the Northern Section! Congratulations!

APA California - Northern Section is proud to present Omar Masry, AICP as the 2024 recipient of the Mid-Career Planner Award. Omar is currently a Multi-Family Lending Project Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, where he works on the financing of large-scale new affordable housing in San Francisco. He previously worked as a Senior Analyst for the San Francisco Planning Department on short-term rental policy, analysis, and enforcement; and as a wireless planner throughout the Bay Area. We are proud to salute this veteran and planner for his service to the planning profession. Congratulations! There's still time to get your tickets to our upcoming 2024 Awards Gala to celebrate deserving winners like Omar. You can find out more about how to attend on September 12th by following the link - bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24

APA California - Northern Section would like to recognize Carlina Rose, MUP as the recipient of the 2024 Emerging Planner Award. Carlina recently graduated with her Masters in Urban Planning from San Jose State University and has embarked on a new journey as an Environmental Health and Safety Consultant at DKK Safety and Environmental. We applaud Carlina as among the vanguard in a new generation of planners, giving back to her community as Secretary of the Community Bike Collective in Santa Cruz County and currently serving as the Northern Section’s Regional Activity Coordinator for Monterey Bay. There's still time to get your tickets to our upcoming 2024 Awards Gala to celebrate deserving winners like Carlina. You can find out more about how to attend on September 12th by following the link - bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24

?? Free Ticket Alert! ?? Want to attend the upcoming APA California - Northern Section Awards Gala on September 12th? We're giving one lucky individual the chance to attend the gala on us. Read on to find out how you can get a free ticket. The instructions are simple. Just respond directly to this post stating that you would like to attend the gala to be entered. You must do so by 11:59 PM Pacific Time to be considered. One individual will be chosen at random. Please be sure to check your personal availability to attend the event should you be selected. Details are in the graphic and below. September 12, 2024 6:30pm Foundry SF 1425 Folsom Street Don't need a free ticket? Check out the eventbrite page to get your ticket today: bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24

APA California - Northern Section awards this year's Resilience and Sustainability Excellence Award to the team of The Trust for Public Land, WRT, Environmental Science Associates, and Trout Unlimited. This award recognizes this team for Reimagine San Geronimo: A Vision Framework. Join us in celebrating this great achievement. Reimagine San Geronimo envisions the San Geronimo Commons to be protected in perpetuity as conserved land and public open space. Any future uses of the property should prioritize habitat restoration and ecological health, create meaningful connections for wildlife and people, integrate compatible passive and recreational activities, and provide opportunities to engage with and interpret nature. As the vision is being implemented, the property is evolving into a place for Marin County residents and visitors to come together in community, and to act as natural stewards of the land. The project was guided by three key principles. “Protect” prioritizes fire resilience, safe access to schools, protection of open spaces and habitat, and preserving rural valley character. “Connect” prioritizes public access for all, connecting people with nature, integrating open space preserves, and promoting sense of community. “Restore” prioritizes restoration of streams and salmonids, enhancing habitat and wildlife corridors, promoting climate resilience, and sustaining and enhancing biodiversity. The Vision Framework guides future land use actions with the primary goals of habitat conservation and restoration compatible with public use and opportunities for creating memorable experiences and deeper connections with nature. Get your tickets to attend the 2024 Awards Gala to celebrate our deserving winners and their outstanding work in our field as exemplified by this dynamic team - bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24

Summer's not over yet! Check out these planning reads to stay engaged with the industry in Northern California.

Join us in recognizing this year's winners of the APA California - Northern Section Urban Design Merit Award, County of Sonoma and Dyett & Bhatia. This award recognizes their contributions to the completion of the Sonoma Developmental Center Specific Plan. Established in 1891 in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) was the oldest facility established the State of California created specifically to serve the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, and was sited at its current location for its picturesque, therapeutic setting. Up until about 10 years ago, the center hosted 3,500 resident clients and was Sonoma Valley’s largest employer. In 2018, the State of California closed the center, and relocated clients to smaller, community-based care facilities. Redevelopment of the shuttered SDC campus became a statewide priority, and the State Legislature outlined the State’s goals for the site in Government Code Section 14670.10.5 that called for preparation of an economically-viable Specific Plan that prioritized housing, including affordable housing and housing for people with developmental disabilities. The State legislation also outlined a unique State partnership with Sonoma County that allowed the County, together with the community, to envision reuse of the SDC site, consistent with the State’s goals. Get your tickets to attend the 2024 Awards Gala to celebrate our deserving winners and their outstanding work in our field as exemplified by this dynamic team - bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24

This year we recognize the City of San José and Fehr & Peers work in creating the San José Downtown Transportation Plan with the APA California Northern Section Transportation Planning Merit Award. Congratulations to this winning team for their advancement of transportation planning efforts in their community. The San José Downtown Transportation Plan (DTP) is a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving mobility and transportation throughout Downtown San José. By 2040, downtown San José is expected to have over 60,000 new residents, 100,000 new workers, 15,000 new students, and many new visitors. The DTP emphasizes creating a resilient transportation system to address this growth. It will enhance public infrastructure to support a diverse range of mobility options, including walking, biking, public transit, and emerging mobility solutions like ride-hailing and autonomous vehicles. The DTP envisions a Downtown that is accessible, safe, and vibrant, catering to the needs of all residents, workers, and visitors, with a particular focus on sustainable and equitable transportation solutions. Get your tickets to attend the 2024 Awards Gala to celebrate our deserving winners and their outstanding work in our field as exemplified by this dynamic team - bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24