APA Central Coast

AEP Fall Kick-off BBQ
2024-10-05 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Leadbetter Beach, 801 Shoreline Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States

Legislative Listening Session
2024-10-08 17:30 - 18:30 | CA
Another amazing event coming up! Join us October 8th! Space at the in-person locations is limited, so please register as soon as possible to secure a spot! Here are the details for registering:
🙋 In-Person Attendees 🙋
→ SLO, at PlaceWorks, 762 Higuera St., Suite 201, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legislative-listening-session-san-luis-obispo-tickets-1008968290317?aff=oddtdtcreator
→ Santa Barbara, at RRM Design Group, 10 E. Figueroa St. #200, Santa Barbara, CA 93101:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legislative-listening-session-santa-barbara-tickets-1008977909087?aff=oddtdtcreator
→ Ventura, at Rincon Consultants, 260 Knoll Dr., Ventura, CA 93003: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legislative-listening-session-ventura-tickets-1008992954087?aff=oddtdtcreator
🖥️ Virtual Attendees 🖥️
→ On Zoom: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legislative-listening-session-virtual-tickets-1008998931967?aff=oddtdtcreator
1 Law CM credit will be offered for attending this event. https://planning.org/events/eventsingle/9296144/
Questions? Email our Legislative Officer Amy Sinsheimer at amysinsheim@gmail.com

Landscape, Fire, & Fuel Modification - A Hot Topic
2024-10-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Pacific Coast Land Design, 461 East Main Street, Ventura, CA, 93001, United States

AEP Fall BBQ
2024-10-19 11:30 - 14:30 | Cuesta Canyon County Park, Racoon Group Area, 2400 Loomis Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, United States

AICP Prep Session
2024-11-21 12:00 - 13:00 | CA
Join the APA Central Coast for an informative discussion on how to best prepare for the AICP Exam. Our panelists will share their experiences, including the resources they found most helpful, and tips for tackling the more challenging aspects of the exam. RSVP HERE!
View PDF of flyer.

AEP & APA Holiday Party
2024-12-04 17:30 - 19:30 | Brass Bear, Uptown, 3302 McCaw Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105, United States
The holiday season is here! Join your fellow APA and AEP members for an evening of merriment and networking at our Santa Barbara holiday party, hosted at Brass Bear Uptown (3302 McCaw Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93105). Please RSVP HERE.

2025 Planning Award Nominations
2025-01-22 08:00 - 2025-03-03 17:00 | CA
The Central Coast Section of APACA is requesting planning award nominations for the 2025 Central Coast Planning Awards! The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 3, 2025. Submit a planning award nomination by reviewing the 2025 CCAPA Central Coast Nomination Application on the section website for more information or click here or below. APA California Awards Program Policies and nomination categories may be obtained at the APACA website at: www.apacalifornia.org under Planning Awards. Projects should be located within the tri-county Central Coast section and/or the firm or agency should be located within the tri-county area.
To nominate, please use the following form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5qbI0UyfgCzsEKwKcMghH4eldCoDBQ4R3bBOH6PRwFRticA/viewform

2025 Planning Academy
2025-04-30 12:00 - 2025-05-21 13:00 | CA
The Central Coast Section is excited to announce the 2025 Planning Academy, which is a series of four, one-hour sessions that will take place from April 30th
to May 21st on Wednesdays from 12-1pm via Zoom. The Planning Academy will focus on active transportation, planning and zoning for fire disasters, housing legislation and development, and community outreach and diversity. CM credits pending.
The Academy will feature speakers that are leading the industry in the respective topics. The cost of admission is $40 for non-members and is free for APA members. We will be holding these meetings on Zoom, and a link will be shared upon registration. For updates, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. We’re looking forward to kicking off the 2025 Planning Academy, and hope that you can join us!
Dates and Times: Wednesdays, April 30, May 7, May 14, and May 21 from 12-1 pm.

Content and Session Descriptions:

April 30: Designing for the Future of Transportation. Moderator: Rachel Hollander, AICP (RRM Design Group). Speakers: Michael Becker (SBCAG) & Hillary Blackerby (SB MTD).
May 7: Outreach, Diversity & Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. Moderator: Megan Musolf (City of Carpinteria). Speakers: Amy Sinsheimer, AICP (PlaceWorks) & Kassandra Gale, AICP (Rincon).
May 14: Housing Legislation in Action. Moderators: Rachel Hollander, AICP (RRM Design Group) & Tess Harris (City of Santa Barbara). Speakers: Peter Lewis (private developer) & Teresa McClish (City of SLO)
May 21: Planning, Zoning & Fire Disasters. Moderators: Tess Harris (City of Santa Barbara) & Lilly Rudolph, AICP (Rincon). Speakers: Mason Thurmond (Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council) & Andy Johnson (Rincon)

Save the Date: 2025 Planning Awards
2025-05-03 17:30 - 21:30 | Palm Park Beach House, 236 East Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103, United States
The Central Coast Planning Awards has always been our big event of the Section. We will be holding the 2024 APACA Central Coast Planning Awards in Santa Barbara this year in May 3, 2025 at Palm Park Beach House – We hope to get as many planners and colleagues there this year! Even if you are not a nominee or connected with any project for the awards program, we are encouraging everyone to attend the 2025 Planning Awards Event to honor and award outstanding projects, programs, and individuals in the Central Coast section of APA CA and to socialize with colleagues throughout the three counties. Tickets go on sale in April 2025!!
More details and registration to come! View the 2025 Planning Award page for updates.

A Whimsical Walk through Santa Barbara's Unofficial Gateway
2025-05-29 17:00 - 18:15 | Santa Barbara Roasting Company, 321 Motor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States
APA Central Coast, Santa Barbara Subsection will be leading a walking tour that features the State Street Undercrossing Project and other projects designed by Architect Jeff Shelton on Thursday May 29, 2025.

Join fellow planners and transportation and architecture enthusiasts for a unique opportunity to learn about projects with a unique architectural style that shape Santa Barbara’s vibrant and charismatic downtown. The tour will feature the Vision Zero State Street Undercrossing Project, located at State Street and Highway 101. Speakers will include Jessica Grant, Supervising Transportation Planner for the City of Santa Barbara and Jeff Shelton, the project’s architectural consultant. We will learn about the undercrossing’s history, the project’s goals, and how the undercrossing has been transformed from a dim and dangerous corridor to a safer and brighter space that serves as Santa Barbara’s unofficial gateway. As time allows, we can also tour additional downtown building sites designed by Jeff.

Following the tour, participants have the option to attend a happy hour at Augie’s (also one of Jeff’s architecture projects!). Please let us know if you will be attending the happy hour in addition to the tour so that we can secure enough space.

Date: Thursday May 29, 2025
Time: 5pm – 6:15pm, Happy hour to follow
Starting Point: Santa Barbara Roasting Company – 321 Motor Way, Santa Barbara
End Point: Augie’s -700 State Street, Santa Barbara
RSVP REQUIRED | Free for All
Contact Whitney Wilkinson at (805) 252-7122 or wwilkinson@countyofsb.org with any questions.
RSVP HERE

Preserving the Coast: A Hike Through Pismo
2025-05-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Pismo Preserve, 80 Mattie Rd, Pismo Beach, CA, United States
APA Central Coast’s San Luis Obispo Subsection invites you to a nature hike and social event at Pismo Preserve, as part of the 2025 Planning Academy programming!
This guided hike is hosted in partnership with The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, a nonprofit that permanently protects and restores open space across the Central Coast. The Pismo Preserve is one of the Conservancy’s most significant conservation projects — a 900-acre coastal property with over 11 miles of multi-use trails. More than just a scenic hike, the preserve represents a major planning success involving land acquisition, public funding, regional trail planning, and inclusive access design.
Leading our hike will be CJ Silas, a passionate volunteer docent and community ranger who has been with the Land Conservancy since the early days of the Pismo Preserve’s public opening. She’s known for highlighting the preserve’s unique mix of coastal wildlife, native plant communities, and restoration efforts — while also emphasizing the importance of equitable access to open space. With a background in radio and public speaking, CJ combines storytelling, ecology, and advocacy to create an engaging hiking experience.
During the hike, Land Conservancy staff will share how partnerships with cities, counties, and the state helped turn this site into a permanent public space, and how tools like conservation easements, open space planning, and trail connectivity are shaping the future of the region. This discussion ties into this year’s Planning Academy theme by highlighting how planners, land trusts, and communities work together to deliver lasting environmental and public benefits.
Following the hike, attendees are invited to a casual social hour from 12:00 to 1:30 PM at Shell Beach Brewhouse, located just minutes drive from the trailhead.
🗓️ Event Details:
Date: Saturday May 31, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (hike) and 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (social hour)
Additional Information:
Trailhead: Pismo Preserve – 80 Mattie Rd, Pismo Beach, CA
Social Hour: Shell Beach Brewhouse – 1527 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, CA
Dogs: Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails. All owners must follow posted rules and signage, and are required to clean up after their pets.
Parking: Parking at Pismo Preserve is limited and often fills up early. Carpooling is strongly recommended.
RSVP REQUIRED | Free for All
For any questions, please contact Saba Asghary at sasghary@esassoc.com.
RSVP HERE

A Walk Through Time: Historical Downtown Ventura
2025-06-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Starbucks, 607 E. Main street, Ventura, CA, United States
APA Central Coast, Ventura Subsection will be leading a walking tour of historical downtown City of Ventura on Sunday June 1, 2025.

Join fellow planners and historic preservation enthusiasts for a unique opportunity to discover the legacy and explore the layers of urban development that have shaped this coastal California city.

Led by Stephen Schafer of the San Buenaventura Conservancy for Preservation, this tour will touch on stories behind Ventura’s architectural heritage, Planning concepts such as infill development, and adaptive reuse, and discuss how historic preservation can exist in unison with modern urban design.

Following the tour, participants will have the option to attend lunch for a Q&A session and networking with other tour attendees. Please let us know if you will be attending this in addition to the tour so that we can reserve your space at the table!

Date: June 1, 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm
Starting Point: Starbucks – 607 E. Main street, Ventura
*End Point: Paradise Pantry – 222 E. Main street, Ventura
RSVP REQUIRED | Free for All
Contact Jerilyn Hollis at (805) 816-2228 or jerilyn.hollis@ventura.org for more information.
RSVP HERE

Annual AEP & APA Fall Kick-Off BBQ: Santa Barbara
2025-10-26 12:00 - 14:00 | Leadbetter Beach, 801 Shoreline Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States
APA and AEP members, join us for our fall kick-off BBQ! Event highlights include:

Food! (vegetarian options available)
Raffle with fun prizes
Networking with fellow planners and students
Guest speakers
Family friendly: kids are welcome

This is a free event for members! Please RSVP to attend this event at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-TxUSAa9ptE-5YDcu23I46kY8sPEQ1Tjt-IneoKpapcUg4w/viewform

California Land Use Law and Planning Annual Conference
2026-01-23 | Biltmore, 505 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90071, United States
The annual California Land Use Law and Planning Conference will be returning to the Biltmore, Los Angeles on Friday January 23, 2026.
The California Land Use Law and Planning Conference in partnership with the California Planning & Development Report is quickly approaching, and time is running out to join one of the most trusted gatherings for land use professionals in the state. This year’s conference will deliver critical updates on California land use law, planning policy, and regulatory developments, featuring expert insights you can apply immediately in practice.
Earn Continuing Education Credits- Attendees can earn MCLE and AICP CM hours, making this an invaluable opportunity for attorneys, planners, and allied professionals.
Seats are limited, and registration is closing soon — don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and stay ahead in an evolving regulatory landscape.
Register now before it’s too late. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/california-land-use-law-planning-conference-tickets-1766526952669?aff=oddtdtcreator
