What is a charrette you ask? Here is your chance to participate in three exciting New Urbanist events this month, to learn all about charrettes, a participatory design and planning process that is fast becoming the preferred method among New Urbanist developers and consultants, and local governments.
First, on Tuesday October 14 from 3 to 4:30 pm, a nation-wide tele-conference will be held on the topic of charrettes. This intensive, interactive, 90-minute "virtual seminar" will provide practical guidelines and creative insights on how to organize and conduct a charrette - a collaborative public planning forum for resolving conflicts, reaching solutions, and improving communities through smart growth. Participants will learn how to: Build citizen trust and gain consensus on the most difficult issues, such as density, traffc and mixed uses; Get projects approved faster, with greater public support and higher market visibility; Create smart growth plans and test their economic and market feasibility; Keep the planning process on track and prevent it from being derailed or hijacked by a single or special interest; and resolve issues early in order to avoid costly changes later..
Visit http://www.newurbannews.com/audio_charrette.html for more details. The Lancaster County Planning Commission has organized a gathering for this event. Participants will meet at the East Hempfield Township Building, 1700 Nissley Road, Landisville, PA. Call 717/ 299- 8333 for reservations.
A full charrette will be held for the revitalization of downtown Coatesville, Chester County, during the week of October 21- 27. The Knight Program in Community Building, based at the University of Miami, will hold its annual charrette to study and design 80 acres in the center of Coatesville for potential redevelopment. Residents are invited to participate in this effort, and the general public may also view the efforts of the planners and designers. For more information on the Knight Program and the Coatesville charrette, visit http://www.arc.miami.edu/knight/Events/2003%20other.htm.
A final event will take place on Tuesday, October 28, when ANUPA will hold its regular quarterly meeting, on the topic of charrettes. ANUPA board member Jennifer Hurley will lead attendees through the details of preparing for and conducting a successful public charrette. The meeting will be held at the Chester County Historical Society, 225 High Street, West Chester, beginning at 6:30 and running until 9:00 pm (Phone 610/ 692- 4800). Light refreshments will be provided.
Mark your calendars for these three events! For more information, read the article on charrettes on the ANUPA website, at http://www.anupa.org/charrette.php, and also visit the websites of the National Charrette Institute at www.CharretteInstitute.org, and www.CharretteCenter.com.
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