Are you a professional planner or just interested in urban areas?

[michaelskis]

After looking at the lack of responses regarding AICP Certification Maintenance, I was wondering were all the professional planners are?

I know that there are at least a few others out there who are professional planners, but I am wondering where they are and if they have input in this section of the forum board. Speak up and let me know if you work for a government or municipality or if you are

[Recchia]

Regional Planning Agency/MPO Planner

[convulso]

landscape arch major, but considering a change to urban planning - mainly because i like to be idealistic and then have my ideals trampled.

seriously - i feel that policy is more influential in guiding the long-term formation of coherent urban spaces than individual, site-specific designs. even though i know that planners are at the mercy of many forces beyond their control, i think the profession has a better shot at making cities livable than the related design-oriented professions.

anyway, i recognize some of the planners' professional jargon, but i'm not a planner. i guess i'm not really an 'armchair' planner either, since i'm in a design program...

as for what aspect of planning i'm interested in...well, i have a lot to learn...but policy is the big interest for me right now. it's weird, because i love the aesthetic aspect of design - i.e., the domain of architects, and in a perfect world, i'd want to remain in the design field. but i am convinced that the way a building (or an outdoor space) looks and feels has finally, in this country at least, become less important a factor in shaping and bettering our culture than consolidating a legal environment that preserves and guarantees that cities have good skeletons...infrastructures...nuts & bolts...whatever you want to call it. and that means fighting with (and generally losing to) developers and their backers.

life has to be livable in a city before you can enjoy (or critique) its aesthetics - you have to be able to get from point to point, buy necessities, live in an area that affords you a fair shot at engaging in civic life, find work, etc. - and i think planning, with all its contradictions and systemic weaknesses, is the best chance i have to help solve those fundamental problems. my mind can easily be changed as i learn, though.

[Choirboy622]

Armchair planner. I have a degree in political science, and I know enough to be dangerous!

[lammius]

I'm on the dark side

[Southron]

Armchair planner. I have a degree in political science, and I know enough to be dangerous!

[teshadoh]

I was an armchair planner when I worked closely to planners. I worked in an MPO & city government. At those places I was involved to an extent in bicycle / pedestrian planning, some transportation modeling, & some population projections. But those days are over & sadly my interest has seriously waned.

[Spartan]

After looking at the lack of responses regarding AICP Certification Maintenance, I was wondering were all the professional planners are?

I know that there are at least a few others out there who are professional planners, but I am wondering where they are and if they have input in this section of the forum board. Speak up and let me know if you work for a government or municipality or if you are

[lammius]

Spartan, cool to see someone with similar interests. I work in transportation planning, with some experience in land use as well. We do lots of corridor studies, intermodal transit studies, freight, TDM/TSM, ITS, development access and circulation, etc etc etc. for clients all over the country, though I work almost exclusively in the Northeast for now. What kinds of transportation issues are you dealing with?

[ainulindale]

I'm not an urban planner, I couldn't even be considered an armchair urban planner I'm simply interested in cities.

[wolverine]

At this point, an armchair planner, but I'm going to grad school this fall for masters in urban planning.

I really really really.... hope I'm making the right decision. I have a bachelors in architecture and already have a comfortable job in architecture, but I feel planning might be more interesting. I don't know, I'm giving a lot up. I hope all you planners enjoy your jobs!

[Michi]

You will not have any problems, wolverine. Adding planning to architecture will only make you more marketable, and your options will be much more wide open.

[ShapeShifter]

Armchair planner. Im an undergrad planning student, planning on getting a masters in either architecture or real estate. One day I want to be a real estate developer but I'll end up working as a planning cosultant at least for a little while. Im pretty much interested in all aspects of planning but transportation planning is pretty boring to me.

[Ronald]

Currently working towards my bachelor's degree in human geography and urban planning, and I'm planning on getting my master's degree in urban planning (with a specialisation in transportation planning) afterwards.

My situation might be a bit different than most here: I'm studying in the Netherlands (Bachelor: University of Utrecht, Masters: University of Amsterdam probably). I will relocate to the US after graduation though. I really hope I could work for an MPO, ideally in transporation planning.

[totheskies]

I'm definitely NOT an urban planner. More like an opera singer here, but I'm passionate about cities and urban issues.

[nrschmid]

Land use planner/urban designer with some studio work in architecture, going back to school in a few years for a masters in landscape architecture.

[The Dude]

Professional Planner for a private consulting firm.

I work on various projects ranging from site design, stormwater management, to comprehensive plans.

I'm mainly interested in urban infill, protecting rural and natural areas and creating truly urban, walkable environments.

[Twoaday]

I'd say I'm an armchair planner. Though having many planners as friends has enlightened me to the ins and outs of the process. Further I'm an avid follower of city government...

[RON-E]

im an armchair planner. i have a deep interest in city planning since i was 13 and got my first sim city game on the nintendo classic. this catapulted me into the world of city planning, and i have been in love with it ever since.

i want to go to school to become a city planner and work in the city of nashville to help further the city, but money is a big issue. it costs a lot to go to a good city planning program.

[aboutmetro]

At AMPO, I came across this info about 2008 workshops - link here. It was all about the need to combine land use planning and transportation planning. I'm new to planning as a profession from the government side, so I was a little shocked and horrified. I think as a citizen, I just assume this has been happening logically.... As a development (master planned communities, subdivisions, retail sites) planner on the private side, I was often dismayed at some of the 'planning' that went on in communities... but this explains A Lot.

So I'm curious, for you prof planners and armchair planners, do your communities local transportation plans and land use plans jibe?

[lala67]

professional planner here. Now working for a transit agency, but have worked in local government & the private sector. I specialize in alternative transportation, park planning and design, and redevelopment. I've often referred to myself as a design-based planner. Definitely prefer it to modeling/counting. I admit I do enjoy writing policy though ;-)

My degree is in Geography, if there were a decent urban design program here I'd probably consider going for a masters.

[KalisPeter]

I am also find planner who is interested in urban areas. So, please try to help me.