Entering its 18th year in 2021, the Fundamentals of Planning and Zoning Chancellor’s Certificate has educated hundreds of members of the St. Louis planning community. Fundamentals of Planning and Zoning is taught by a team of senior practitioners, who have extensive knowledge and experience in local government planning in Missouri, Illinois and across the nation. Course modules cover planning practices, processes and topics that are crucial for local government success. 

Course modules cover planning practices, processes and topics that are crucial for local government success. The Certificate consists of seven modules that include lecture and discussion. You will earn a noncredit UMSL Chancellor’s Certificate in Fundamentals of Planning & Zoning by participating in six of the seven modules in this year.

Here are the details about this year's program:

When: Thursdays, Oct. 14–Dec. 2, 2021 (no class on Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving holiday) | 6-9 p.m.

Where: JC Penney Conference Center, 202 JCP, on the UMSL main campus.

This program is designed for:

• Municipal and county planning and zoning commissioners
• Elected officials including mayors and city council members
• Municipal staff interested in planning and zoning
• Citizens seeking to become involved in local planning and decision-making processes

Registration Fee

• $75 per individual module
• $400 if you register for all seven modules

Instructors: Planning & Zoning course instructors are professional, practicing planners in the St. Louis region and members of the American Planning Association–St. Louis Metropolitan Section as well as the national and state APA.

Partnership: Offered by UMSL Public Policy Administration, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, and the American Planning Association–St. Louis Metropolitan Section.

Course Modules: These modules cover the fundamentals of planning and zoning and critical components in the work of the planning and zoning commission. You may register for the full course (seven modules) or take individual modules of your choice.

Note, hours from this course WILL NOT carry over to next year's program. To receive the chancellor's certificate, you MUST attend the six modules during this year.

Also note, the classes take place at the designated times. They will NOT be available for view after the class is over.

Please also note our Cancellation policy

• Module 1 | Planning and Placemaking | Oct. 14

Why is good planning important to the future of the St. Louis region? This session will illustrate the impact of planning and zoning decisions made at the municipal and county levels on developing and maintaining healthy, sustainable communities. It will demonstrate the importance of creating a sense of place and will explore the history of planning and emerging planning trends. Following the presentation from the trainer, there will be a Q&A panel featuring planners with diverse perspectives on the profession.

Trainer: Matt Wetli, AICP, Principal, Development Strategies

Panelists: Paul Hubbman, AICP, East-West Gateway | Brian Hurd, Rise | Emily Fultz, City of Edwardsville

• Module 2 | Developing a Comprehensive Plan | Oct. 21

Learn about the major components of the comprehensive plan including the requirements of state statutes and local ordinances. Understand the comprehensive planning process, the steps for developing a comprehensive plan, the commission’s responsibilities, and how they vary from city to city. Learn about the inclusion of historic and other types of special districts.

Trainer: Jess Henry, AICP, Project Manager, Rise STL

• Module 3 | Zoning | Oct. 28

Review the basics of zoning structure, format and process. Learn about updating and drafting effective and unified zoning codes, the plan/code relationship and administering exceptions. Other topics include best practices when writing zoning codes, code regulation of commercial and residential development, legal limitations to sign regulations, and governmental roles and responsibilities in zoning.

Trainer: Paul Langdon, AICP, Vice President of Development, Covington Realty Partners

• Module 4 | Site Plan Review | Nov. 4

Understand the implications of different site plan/preliminary plat choices and the variables that have an impact on development. Plan review can bring maximum benefit to a community's transportation, engineering, economics, environment and visual appearance. Examples of site plans, preliminary plats and record plats will be provided and discussed.

Trainer: Dan R. Lang, PCED, BREC | Charles Senzee, Planning Manager, City of Wentzville

• Module 5 | Ethics and Effective Public Hearings | Nov. 11

Address ethical considerations in the duties of commissioners, elected officials and staff, including conflicts of interest and responsibility to the community and petitioners. Learn about the appropriate role and conduct of commissioners, staff and attorneys in maintaining objectivity and decorum in public hearings and meetings. Discuss fact-finding and conflict resolution.

Trainer: Jason Jaggi, AICP, Director of Community Development, City of Creve Coeur

•  Module 6| Legalities of Planning and Zoning | Nov. 18

Learn about legal aspects of planning and zoning. Gain insight on adoption and use of planning and zoning tools, the scope of and limitations on regulatory authority, and the procedures involved in zoning reviews, appeals and public hearings.

Trainers: Dan Vogel, Founding Shareholder, Cunningham, Vogel & Rost, PC, and Kendall Reeves, Cunningham, Vogel, and Rost, P.C. | Lyndee Rodamaker, Attorney/Legal counsel to to local governments, Cunningham, Vogel & Rost, PC

• No Class — Thanksgiving holiday, Nov. 25

•  Module 7 | Implementing a Comprehensive Plan | Dec. 2

Discover how a municipality, village or county can use a comprehensive plan as a tool to manage and guide land use in the community, and how the plan is implemented with zoning and other ordinances to create the community that was envisioned in development of the plan.

Trainer: Stephen Ibendahl, AICP, Principal, i5 Group | David Bookless, AICP, City of Arnold, Director of Community Development

Cancellation policy

For those who register for the Entire Session, cancellations received five business days prior to the first date of the program will be refunded, less a $25 processing fee.

For those who register for Individual Modules, cancellations received five business days prior to the date of the module that you wish to cancel will be refunded, less a $25 processing fee.

If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute, but we ask that you notify us of this change at mcpec@umsl.edu.

Unless you cancel as per the guidelines noted above, even if you do not attend class, you will be billed for the registration fee once you register.

For those registering for the Entire Session, if payment is not received at least two days before the first class, we reserve the right to cancel your registration.

For those registering for Individual Modules, if payment is not received at least two days before the module date, we reserve the right to cancel your registration.