The Sustainable Communities Division provides resources, information, and best practices to support planners in creating sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities. Through its forums for dialogue, collaboration, advocacy and professional development, the SCD engages planners in innovatively addressing the evolving ecological, social, and economic factors that shape our communities.

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WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING?

Sustainable Community Planning is a dynamic process by which public, private, and community based stakeholders plan to meet the needs of current and future generations. It does so in a manner that meets economic, environmental and social needs as mutually supportive outcomes; reflects the community’s unique history and assets; and evolves as the character of the community changes, priorities shift, and new challenges and aspirations are defined.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Building on previous efforts to push a strong sustainability agenda within the APA (including the APA’s “Planning for Sustainability Policy Guide” in 2000), we aim to do essentially three things.

  1. SHOWCASE REAL SUSTAINABILITY
    Sustainability practice and sustainability concepts are constantly evolving—and they go far beyond New Urbanism and Smart Growth. We want to be a forum for planners to talk about how they are addressing sustainability challenges in their own communities across disciplines and political boundaries. We want to showcase those communities and those leaders who are at the leading edge of sustainability.

  2. ADVOCATE WITHIN APA
    We are the only APA member group focused solely on sustainability issues. We want to be the voice within APA for planners (whether current or prospective APA members) who are interested in sustainability issues. We want the APA to put sustainability issues at the forefront of its agenda, working with other organizations, community leaders, and the business community to advance the cause of sustainability.

  3. COMMUNICATE
    We will engage planners across the country in the ongoing conversation about what “sustainability” in planning really means, and establish and maintain in people’s minds what “sustainable community planning” is and is not. We will work to develop new ways of communicating with our members and others, to provide access to resources, to communicate with each other, and to coordinate with organizations outside of APA’s structure. We’ll work with APA staff, APA Chapters, and other APA Divisions to promote our message.

 

WHY HAVE WE FORMED?

Planning for sustainability is the defining challenge of the 21st century. Individual planners, firms, nonprofits, and agencies across the country are using the principles of sustainability to address emerging issues such as climate change and food security, and also as a new lens through which to view perennial challenges such as water management, housing equity, and environmental justice.

We think planners should be leading the charge for sustainability. And we think the APA and its members—from city halls to the halls of Congress—should be pushing a serious and far-reaching sustainability agenda.

PRIORITY OBJECTIVES

  1. PEOPLE

    • Actively engage and empower our membership

    • Increase and diversify our volunteer base

    • Mentor students and emerging professionals to create new leaders

  2. EDUCATION

    • Build on, expand and diversify SCD’s educational offerings

    • Spur action by providing relevant content to address timely issues

    • Maximize the channels through which we communicate

  3. LEADERSHIP

    • Elevate our resilience and climate action leadership

    • Interweave equity into all programs and initiatives

  4. PARTNERSHIP

    • Foster partnerships with outside organizations and other divisions to amplify outreach and influence

You can contact us at apascd@gmail.com, or via social media.

Division Operations

BYLAWS

MEETINGS

Annual Meeting, February 21, 2024

  • Work Plan 2023-2024

Building Sustainable Communities through Action and Equity

As planners, it is our responsibility to serve each and every member of our communities equitably and treat all persons with human dignity and respect. This is an essential element of truly sustainable communities. It is particularly important for us to advocate for those who do not have a voice or are otherwise unable to participate in the process of community building—one that is equitable for all.

SCD Statement

More Division News

SCD MEMBER SURVEYS

  • 2024 SCD Member Survey: Coming Soon!

  • 2017 SCD Member Survey: There were a total of 64 responses with detailed feedback about how we’re doing as a division. (Note, this survey was conducted prior to the change in APA membership policy that resulted in a large number of new student members joining the division. A separate outreach effort to these new members is expected in the future).

  • 2015 SCD Member Survey: 122 individuals completed the survey. Overall, the survey results show that there is a desire for hands-on tools such as model codes and guides, as well as training opportunities such as webinars.