Join us as we explore how communities can advance strategies to improve opportunities for healthy living. Decisions regarding land use, urban design, and transportation impact local air quality, water quality and supply, traffic safety, physical activity, and other unhealthy exposures. These decisions are linked to some of the most intractable public health problems, including adult and childhood obesity, cancer and respiratory problems. Our presenters will talk about the relationship between health and the built environment here in CT and provide “best practice” examples of communities using land use policy to promote health. We will wrap up the day with an interactive exercise to get your input on a vision for a healthy and vibrant CT that will serve as a foundation for developing CT’s Action Plan for Promoting Health through the Built Environment.

Opening Remarks:

Deputy Commissioner, Katharine K. Lewis, PhD, MPH, RN
CT Department of Public Health

Keynote:

Doug McLean, AICP
Senior Planner, Town of South Kingstown, RI

As Senior Planner for the Town of South Kingstown, Doug oversees special planning projects, Comprehensive Plan updates, Healthy Places by Design implementation, CDBG administration, and staff assistance to the Economic Development Committee, the Conservation Commission, and the Historic District Commission. Doug’s previous positions in Rhode Island have allowed him to oversee municipal planning functions and grant administration with the Town of North Kingstown as well as provide consulting services to municipal and state clients with The Horsley Witten Group, Inc. Doug’s passion for planning is driven by the process of bringing various perspectives together to build a shared solution.

Panelists:

Ted DeSantos, P.E., P.T.O.E.
Principal at Fuss & O’Neill Inc.

Mr. DeSantos is a Principal and member of the Board of Directors at Fuss & O’Neill Inc., a consulting firm with six offices in New England and South Carolina providing expertise in environmental, infrastructure, community planning and development, as well as energy, facilities and design-build services. As a licensed Professional Engineer in six states and Certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, Ted has 20 years experience in transportation engineering, complete streets design, and urban site development. Ted has been fortunate to work locally and nationally with like-minded municipalities and developers to accomplish smart growth, job creation and community building through public-private partnership. He is a Past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Research Board Member of the UCONN Center for Transportation and Livable Systems, and is a member of the American Public Works Association, and the Congress for New Urbanism.

Neil Pade, AICP
Town Planner, Canton, CT

Neil is a certified land use planner with 19 years of experience working as a municipal planner and private consultant for local, state, and federal projects and private industry in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. He is currently the Director of Planning and Community Development for the Town of Canton and previously served as the Director of Planning/ Economic Development Coordinator for the Town of Vernon. Neil has a B.S. in Environmental Geology from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and a M.B.A. from the University of Hartford. He is a gubernatorial appointee and present chairman of the Connecticut Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Board, a former member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, and a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association.

Mehul Dalal, MD, MSc, MHS
Director, Chronic Diseases Section, Connecticut Department of Public Health

Judith R. Dicine, JD
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney, Statewide Housing Matters

To RSVP: http://locationandhealth.eventbrite.com

For Questions: [email protected]

Sponsored by the Connecticut Public Health Association, Connecticut Main Street Center, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Partnership for Strong Communities, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health.

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