About Us

The American Planning Association‘s New York Metro Chapter (APA-NYM) supports our members, local communities, schools, and practicing professionals through advocating for good planning practice, hosting diverse events and facilitating professional development opportunities in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties), Hudson Valley East and the Hudson Valley West. The Chapter represents some 1,400 practicing planners and other people involved in the planning and design of the region’s communities.

The Metro Chapter has an elected Executive Committee and over one-dozen committees that focus on various areas of planning practice. These committees prepare position papers, hold discussion groups and sponsor special events. Housing, landmarks, urban design, transportation, waterfront and zoning are among the diverse planning areas represented by these committees. The Chapter also provides comments on major development proposals, community planning assistance, student orientations and job fairs, or presentations on timely planning topics and tours. The NY Metro Chapter holds an annual conference every year in the fall featuring leading local and national planning figures discussing issues of concern in the New York Metropolitan region.

An annual report is issued each year by the president of the chapter informing the membership of the chapter activities. You can find a complete list of our recent annual reports to the right.

The Chapter also conducts an awards program honoring excellence in local planning endeavors. This includes the Paul Davidoff award for leadership in housing and equal opportunity, a Journalism Award, as well as other awards that recognize significant strides in the field including Meritorious Service and student awards.

The New York Metro Chapter provides many networking opportunities for planners and those interested in planning, including committee meetings, Chapter conferences and other sponsored events. More informal networking occurs at Chapter mixers that are held several times a year.