Godschalk co-chairs new sustainability planning initiative

"Our task force will help planners find ways to build sustainability into their local comprehensive plans--a big challenge in these turbulent times." David R. Godschalk has been tapped by the American Planning Association (APA) to co-chair a new sustainability task force.


Godschalk is the Stephen Baxter Professor Emeritus of City and Regional Planning. APA announced a new Sustaining Places Initiative at the recent United Nations Fifth World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Godschalk will co-chair a task force that will focus on using comprehensive planning as a tool to help communities of all sizes achieve sustainability. His co-chair will be Bill Anderson, director of planning and community investment for the city of San Diego.

“David Godschalk is known among both practitioners and educators as one of the most influential ‘thought leaders’ of the profession over several decades,” said APA president Bruce Knight. He specifically identified Godschalk’s expertise with respect to comprehensive planning and comprehensive plans. According to Knight, “His accomplishments in these areas are legendary, and we are honored that he has agreed to co-chair this critical new initiative.”

Godschalk is a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners and co-author of the popular text, Urban Land Use Planning. His research interests include growth management and land use planning; hazard mitigation and coastal management; and dispute resolution and public participation. He consults with local and state governments on planning issues.

APA - Sustaining Places Initiative