If you were reading our newsletter at this time last year, you know what’s coming next…Fall Conference season! While it feels like we just unpacked our conference bags (and sorted through last year’s swag!) we are once again packing up and hitting the road to learn, share, and collaborate with our partners across New England. They say, “when it rains, it pours”, and that is true for our calendar this October. The conference schedule is packed, and our staff is tag-teaming the region to cover them all. Hopefully, the skies won’t literally pour on us while we’re traveling, but we’re ready for an exciting month either way!
October 2-3: CNU New England Conference – Boston, Massachusetts
Tony Duong kicks off our October line-up at the CNU New England Conference in Boston. The New England Chapter of CNU (Congress for the New Urbanism) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities through progressive urban design. Conference attendees will explore how local towns and cities can strategically plan their futures in the evolving era of “The New Localism”. Day two of the conference consists of a morning transect walk from Faneuil Hall to the Seaport. This interactive tour will unpack how shifts in density, land use, transportation, and public space reflect Boston’s urban evolution.
October 8-9: SNEAPA – Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut
The Southern New England American Planning Association (SNEAPA) Conference will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut this year. Barrett Planning Group is excited to present on two different panel sessions!
Ever wonder what’s lurking in your city’s zoning code until a developer or an angry neighbor finds it first? Judi Barrett will be on the panel for “Zones, Groans, and Unknowns: A deep dive into curious discoveries in zoning audits.” Attendees will learn how to run an “in-house” audit, spot hidden ordinance skeletons, and walk away with a practical checklist and handouts. This is sure to be a fun and interactive session!
Meanwhile, Jill Slankas will be moderating, and Brenna Trollinger will be presenting on the panel for “Planning for Local Food System Resilience: Tools, Partnerships, and Lessons Learned”. The panel will explore how municipal and regional partners can collaborate to strengthen local food systems and prepare for future disruptions.
October 21-23: NNECAPA – Manchester, New Hampshire
The Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association (NNECAPA) 2026 Planning Conference will be held in Manchester, New Hampshire. A highlight of this Conference includes six different Mobile Tours offered to registered attendees. Those who are registered can select up to two local tours to attend, ranging from an Arts Walk through Downtown Manchester, exploring the transformation of Rockingham Park Racetrack into a vibrant mixed-use district, or stepping inside “The Factory on Willow”, a reimagined former mill building, among others.
We’ll be packing our bags full of swag for this one, as we are hosting an exhibit booth. We love catching up with familiar faces and meeting new colleagues, so please stop by and say hello to Judi Barrett, Jenn Doherty, and Laurel Mire. Whether you want to discuss your community’s latest zoning hurdles, explore innovative housing solutions, or simply pick up some fun conference giveaways, our team is eager to connect with you!
October 28-29: NHMA – Manchester, New Hampshire
As we wrap up October, Judi Barrett and Jenn Doherty are heading back to Manchester for the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s (NHMA) 85th Annual Conference. Judi will be sharing her zoning experience on the panel for “Regulatory Reform: Opportunities and Challenges”. This premier yearly event equips municipal leaders with the cutting- edge knowledge, resources, and practical tools they need to advance their communities and excel in daily operations. We are proud to be a part of this year’s event and will also be hosting an exhibit booth throughout the conference with fun conference giveaways. Whether you are looking to solve specific local challenges or want to talk strategy for the coming year, make sure to stop by and say hello. We look forward to seeing you there!