This month's planning term is...Human-Scale Design! Human-scale design = built for people. Think: shorter crossings, slower traffic and spaces that feel good to walk through. At Renaissance Planning Group, we design environments that match how people actually move and experience a place - not just how fast cars can get through it. When you think of Human-Scale Design, what place comes to mind? We'd love to hear! #urbanplanning #cityplanning #planningterm #urbanplanningterm #humanscaledesign #planningtermofthemonth

Walkable communities don’t happen by accident...they’re intentionally designed. When streets prioritize safe crossings, connected sidewalks, and nearby destinations, something shifts. Local businesses see more foot traffic, public health improves, and communities feel more connected. These aren’t side effects; they’re the whole point. Investing in walkability means creating places where people want to be, not just pass through. Renaissance Planning Group and RK&K (@WeAreRKK) are partnering with @WILMAPCO and regional stakeholders on a Sidewalk Gap Analysis for Cecil County Government, MD (@CecilCoGov) and New Castle County (DE) Government (@NCCDE). Using community input, field review, and AI-powered sidewalk data extracted from Ecopia AI's (@EcopiaAI) high-resolution imagery, the project identifies missing sidewalk connections and prioritizes investments to improve safety, accessibility, and walkability for all. Together, we’re turning data and local insight into actionable strategies that strengthen multimodal transportation across the region. Check out this article about our events: tinyurl.com/3rsvypeu #cityplanning #urbanplanning #walkablecommunities #walkablecities #safesidewalks

Great transportation plans don’t just sit on a shelf...they get built. In today’s competitive funding landscape, agencies that can demonstrate project delivery are the ones that secure and keep funding. It’s not just about ideas-it’s about execution. At Renaissance Planning Group, we go beyond planning. Through our Grants & Program Delivery practice, we help clients align projects with funding opportunities, craft compelling grant applications, and support implementation from start to finish-ensuring real, measurable outcomes. @PortTampaBay #PortTampaBay #PortTampaBayFlorida #TampaBayFlorida #TampaFL #PortInfrastructureDevelopment #CityPlanning #UrbanPlanning

We’re launching a new series: Planning Term of the Month! Each month we will highlight a concept commonly used in urban planning and explain what it means and why it matters for communities. #urbanplanning #cityplanning #cocreation #planningtermofthemonth #planning #urbandesign

Urban planning shapes how people move, live, and access opportunities, which is why community engagement is essential. At Renaissance Planning, we work with agencies to design engagement approaches that bring community perspectives into the planning process alongside technical analysis. Public workshops and outreach help ensure decisions about transportation, housing, safety, and public space reflect real-world needs and experiences. When communities are meaningfully involved, plans are more responsive, more implementable, and more likely to deliver lasting benefits. Good planning isn’t just about designing places; it’s about planning with people. #urbanplanning #cityplanning #communityengagement #cityplanner #urbandesign #outreach #publicworkshops

To celebrate engineer’s week and keep on the topic of freight, it’s important to know why freight and engineering work hand and hand! Moving goods safely and efficiently through communities takes more than good design - it takes understanding how places work. Freight planners look at the big picture, including land use, local needs, and how deliveries affect neighborhoods. Engineers focus on the details, making sure roads, intersections, and facilities are safe and built to handle freight traffic. At Renaissance Planning, we lead freight and goods movement planning in close collaboration with engineering partners. When planning and engineering are aligned, freight projects are more practical, safer, and better suited to the communities they serve, balancing mobility, livability, and long-term goals. #engineerweek2026 #engineering #urbanplanning #urbandesign #engineerweek

Last week, Renaissance's Becca Buthe attended the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Consortium for Scenario Planning Conference in Salt Lake City. It was a great chance to connect with planners and academics from across the country and to dive into real-life applications of scenario planning. A highlight was the site visit to the Daybreak community, where she learned more about the public-private partnership that helped drive the site’s remediation and long-term development. Becca is excited to bring these insights back to her work, including upcoming transit-oriented development and technical assistance projects with communities nationwide. #urbanplanning #saltlakecity #consortiumforscenarioplanningconference #cityplanning #scenarioplanning #evisionutah #WasatchFrontRegionalCouncil #universityofutah

Every community deserves streets that are safe, accessible, and built to support everyone who uses them. The City of Port Richey’s Safety Action Plan, now officially approved, is a testament to what happens when data, local insight, and collaboration come together with purpose. Working alongside TJKM Transportation Consultants and the City of Port Richey, Renaissance helped shape a plan rooted in community input and priorities, translating analysis into action under the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. Our role goes beyond planning. We help cities find clarity in complexity, align partners around shared goals, and create momentum for meaningful change. #UrbanPlanning #TheCityofPortRichey #SafetyActionPlan #TJKM #SS4A #SafeStreetsforAll #CityPlanning

October 10th is National Walk to a Park Day! We believe that everyone should have access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of their home to relax, play, and be with nature. Well-planned cities note the importance of these green spaces in our everyday life. Some of our staff here at Renaissance have shared their favorite parks – see photos & descriptions below! We’re curious - where is YOUR favorite park? 1. Nicole Estevez – Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, Florida 2. Amanda Chornoby – Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia 3. Meredith Beavers – Franklin Park in Washington, D.C. 4. Becca Buthe - Thompson Park in Easton, MD #NationalWalktoaParkDay #CityPlanning #UrbanPlanning #allaboutthejourney #10minutewalk #citiesthatwork#GreenSpaces #ParkPlanning

Renaissance’s Amanda Chornoby, AICP will be speaking at the Florida Puerto Rico District ITE's (@FLPRITE ) 'Winter Workshop' hosted by the Greater Tampa Section ITE! This year's workshop theme is "Logistics Unlocked: The Future of Freight Transportation." Amanda will be speaking on Thursday, January 30th during Session 2 (10:30AM – 12PM) about “How to Manage Increased Freight Needs While Preserving Streets and Communities.” We hope to see you there! #GreaterTampaSectionofITE #FloridaPuertoRicoDistrictofITE

The final @EPA Local Foods, Local Places Technical Assistance workshop is happening this week, January 15th and Thursday the 16th! These workshops have taken place in Ringgold, GA with @AsaEslocker & Amanda Chornoby, AICP, and Wellston, OH with Amanda Chornoby, AICP & Stephen Johnson. The last public workshops are this week in Turner Station (Baltimore), MD where Renaissance Planning is partnered with Jason Espie at Revive Strategies. Each of these workshops are focused on increasing community accessibility to healthy, nutrient-rich, fresh food and produce. These workshops are a collaborative effort between @EPA Office of Revitalization & Superfund Program, @USDA, and @ARCgov (ARC). We are thankful to the communities that have hosted us so far, and we are thrilled for your future! hashtag#LocalFoodsLocalPlaces hashtag#USEPA hashtag#EPA hashtag#EnvironmentalProtectionAgency hashtag#RinggoldGA hashtag#RinggoldGeorgia hashtag#WellstonOH hashtag#WellstonOhio hashtag#TurnerStationMD hashtag#TurnerStationMaryland hashtag#USDA hashtag#TurnerStationConservationTeams

Check out the special edition newsletter on the @EPACommunities @US_GSAR9 Nogales Downtown Revitalization Study. Learn more about the survey results, the site visits to Nogales and San Luis, resources from the community workshops, and more.⤵️ mailchi.mp/dba9a89f823c/proj…

Today, Renaissance is proud to celebrate #WorldTownPlanningDay alongside @APA_Planning and many other international planning professionals. World Town Planning Day is recognized in 30 countries each November, and it celebrates how thoughtful, inclusive planning improves the lives of people and benefits society at large, creating places to live, work, and play together – indeed, creating #CITIESTHATWORK! Make sure to get out there today & enjoy your town, your neighborhood, or your local urban hub, and envision how planners have helped improve your community and your world! 📷 planning.org/wtpd/

3️⃣ Heard initial feedback from @CitiesThatWork on 2-day community workshops for Downtown Revitalization Study. Final report before end of the year. 4️⃣ @ArizonaDEQ announcement of new Environmental Strategic Plan w/ @gobiernosonora to jointly address cross-border issues.

This past week Amanda Chornoby, AICP and Asa Eslocker spent time in the City of #Nogales, Arizona with The Planning Center to lead two community Environmental Protection Agency (@EPA) and @USGSA Technical Assistance Community workshops to support revitalization in downtown Nogales. The Downtown Revitalization Study is designed to help the community leverage the anticipated federal investment at the DeConcini Port of Entry. For more information and to stay informed visit: lnkd.in/e97bjR8m

Why Does Accessibility Matter in Transportation? We are proud to share that Dan Hardy P.E., PTP, past principal and senior advisor with Renaissance, has co-authored an important @ITEhq article that provides valuable insights from his decades of experience with enhancing the effectiveness of transportation systems. By shifting the focus from mobility to accessibility, the article “Why Accessibility Matters to Transportation Professionals” highlights how planners can foster equity, optimize land use, and prioritize projects that truly connect people with opportunities. The article can be found on the ITE website’s resources hub and should be read by any transportation planner or engineer wanting to make impactful and much-needed improvements to create more inclusive and efficient transportation systems. Way to go, Dan! Check out the article here: tinyurl.com/3ea3ehm2

We’re proud to celebrate the @RRRegion who invited our @AsaEslocker to deliver the Keynote at their Annual Meeting in Fauquier County! His talk on the #PowerOfStorytelling in #RegionalPlanning shared how narratives can inspire planning across VA. Big thanks for a great event!

Join us to celebrate the transformative work of Restoration Housing! For their 10-year anniversary, our @AsaEslocker takes the stage as the Keynote Speaker for their Preserve Luncheon event on Sept. 19, highlighting their #DecadeOfDifference. More Here: tinyurl.com/2pv65zsk

Renaissance is proud to have worked alongside the @EPA to advance their Smart Growth Strategies for Transportation Electrification. Read all about it here: tinyurl.com/2zhep8nr #EPA #SmartGrowthStrategies #TransportationElectrification #GonzalesLA #CleanCitiesCoalition

Join Jennifer A. Stults, AICP CTP, CPM, FCCM, Tina Demostene AICP, and Mindy Heath AICP, at this year's Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (@APAFlorida) conference in Tampa! Click on the link for more information! lnkd.in/e8e7E796 #FPC2024