Rebecca Coleen Retzlaff, Ph.D., AICP
Assistant Professor, Community Planning Program
Auburn University, 413 Dudley Hall, Auburn, AL 36849
(334) 844-5429 , rcr0001@auburn.edu

EDUCATION

• 2006 Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.

• 1999 Master of Science in Historic Preservation, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

• 1997 Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning, Michigan State University.

TEACHING

• Planning Theory (CPLN 7440)

• Environmental Planning (CPLN 6790)

• Planning Studio (CPLN 7400)

• Land Use and Growth Management (CPLN 6790)

• Planning History (CPLN 7450)

• Plan-Making Workshop (CPLN 6970)

• Historic Preservation Planning (CPLN 5400 and CPLN 6400)

EXPERIENCE

• 2006 - present Assistant Professor, Community Planning Program, Auburn University

• 2002 - 2006 Research Assistant, American Planning Association, Research Department

• 2002 - 2006 Research Assistant, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program (NOAA), University of Illinois at Chicago

• 2001 - 2002 Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute, Neighborhoods Initiative

• 1999 - 2000 Senior Planner, City of Detroit Planning and Development Department, Environmental Unit

• 2000 - 2001 Associate Planner, City of Detroit Planning and Development Department, Environmental Unit

• 2001 - 2001 Planner, City of Detroit Planning and Development Department, Environmental Unit

• 1997 - 1999 Research Intern, American Planning Association, Research Department

RESEARCH/CREATIVE WORKS

REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES

• “The Emergence of Growth Management Planning in the U.S.: The Case of Golden v. Planning Board of Town of Ramapo, and its Aftermath” Journal of Planning History (with Stuart Meck) (May 2007: vol. 7, no. 2).

• “Planning for Broad-Based Environmental Protection: A Look Back at the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan” Urban Ecosystems (March 2008: vol. 11, no. 1).

LAW REVIEW JOURNAL ARTICLES

• “The Zoning Hearing Examiner: Its Origins, and its Status in Statutes and Case Law” Planning and Environmental Law (with Stuart Meck) (July 2007: vol. 59, no. 7).

• “The Zoning Hearing Examiner, and Its Use in Idaho Counties and Municipalities: Improving the Efficiency of the Land Use Permitting Process” Idaho Law Review (with Stuart Meck) (March 2007: vol. 43, no. 2).

REPORTS

• “Macon County, Alabama, Historic Preservation Planning Analysis” report prepared with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (with Erin Swindall), October 2007.

• “Franklin County Ecotourism Development Strategy” report prepared with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (with Brandon Bias), October 2007.

• “State of Tribal Transportation Programs” report prepared for the Transportation Research Board (with Stuart Meck and Jim Schwab), 2007.

• “Planning 1-2-3″ report prepared for the Chicago Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Metropolitan Planning Council (with Stuart Meck), 2006.

• “Regional Approaches to Affordable Housing“ Planning Advisory Service Report 513/514 Chicago: American Planning Association (with Stuart Meck and Jim Schwab), 2003.

• “A Smart Growth Agenda for Illinois” report prepared for the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Council (with American Planning Association), 1999.

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

• “Green Buildings Present New Opportunities for Planning Commissioners” The Commissioner, Fall 2007.

• “Habitat Loss: Global Crisis with a Local Solution” Zoning Practice, January 2007.

• “Changes come to Planning Accreditation Criteria” Practicing Planner, December 2006.

• “Green Buildings: Onus or Bonus?” Zoning Practice, April 2005.

• “Preserving the Last Green Valley” Planning Magazine, March 2005.

• “California Enacts Form-Based Zoning Legislation” Zoning Practice, January 2005.

• “Massachusetts Town Approves Record Impact Fee From Lowes” Zoning Practice, November 2004.

• “New Jersey Passes Transfer of Development Rights Legislation” Zoning Practice, September 2004.

• “Inglewood Voters Say No to Wal-Mart” Zoning Practice, August 2004.

• “Illinois Communities Limit Bank Branches and Nonretail Uses in Retail Districts” Zoning Practice, May 2004.

• “Agritourism Zoning Down on the Farm” Zoning Practice, March 2004.

• “Changes to New Jersey Affordable Housing Law” Zoning News, October 2003.

• “Montgomery County Mulls Housing Overhaul” Zoning News, September 2003.

• “Busses Replace Private Cars on Zion Park Scenic Drive” Planning Magazine, July 2000.

• “Compuware Brings More Workers to Central Detroit” Planning Magazine, February 2000.

• “Lake Tahoe Preservation Case” Zoning News, May 1999.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

• “The Emergence of Urban Natural Areas Protection in the U.S.: The Case of the Illinois Forest Preserve District Act of 1913″ Twelfth National Conference on Planning History, Portland, Maine, October 25-28, 2007.

• “Policies and Programs that Support and Promote Green Building Development in the U.S.” Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 18-21, 2007.

• “The Zoning Hearing Examiner, and Its Use in Idaho Counties and Municipalities: Improving the Efficiency of the Land Use Permitting Process” Getting Bigger Better: An Analysis of Urban Growth Solutions, Boise, Idaho, March 30, 2007 (invited).

• “Urban Biodiversity Protection in World Class Cities: The Case of the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan” Seventh International Conference on Urban Planning and Environment, Bangkok, Thailand, January 3-5, 2007.

• “Reconstructing Golden v. Town of Ramapo: The Real Story Behind the First Growth Management Plan in the U.S.” International Planning History Conference, (with Stuart Meck), Delhi, India, December 9-11, 2006.

• “Urban Planning for Biodiversity Protection: The Use of Data in Environmental Plans.” Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Fort Worth, Texas, November 9-12, 2006.

GRANTS AND FUNDED RESEARCH ($321,829 total to date at Auburn)

• 2007 “Coastal Smart Growth Outreach”, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Mississippi State University, (with J. Gaber) $48,730.

• 2007 “Assessment of Population Growth and Development Impacts on the Fish River Basin Coastal Community: An Interdisciplinary Approach”, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (with L. Kalin, C. Lebleu, S. Pan and G. Lockaby) $139,349.

• 2007 “Place-Based Green Building: Integrating Local Environmental and Planning Analysis into Green Building Guidelines”, People, Prosperity, and Planet grant, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (with A. Cook, J. Gaber, C. Lebleu, and D.K. Ruth) $10,000.

• 2006 “Flex-E-Grant: Capacity Building and Strategic Master Planning II”, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), (with J. Gaber) $123,750.

• 2004 “Status of Tribal Transportation Planning in the U.S.”, Synthesis Grant, Transportation Research Board National Cooperative Highway Research Program: Project 20-5, Topic 36-16 (with Stuart Meck, Jim Schwab, and American Planning Association) $60,000.

• 2002-2006 Graduate Research Assistantship, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (through University of Illinois at Chicago) Ph.D. research funding and tuition.

AWARDS AND CERTIFICATION

• 2007 Publicity Club of Chicago annual Golden Trumpet Award for “Planning 1-2-3″ (for brochures, booklets, or books) (with Stuart Meck and Metropolitan Planning Council).

• 2004 R. Marlin Smith student writing competition, American Planning Association, Planning and Law Division (second place).

• 2003 American Institute of Certified Planners.

• 2003 Preparing Future Faculty certificate, University of Illinois at Chicago.

• 2002 Emerging preservation leader award, National Trust for Historic Preservation.

• 2000 U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Certificate in Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER 40-hour training).

SERVICE ACTIVITIES

• 2008 Auburn University Graduate Student Research Forum, Faculty Judge

• 2007 - present Auburn University School of Architecture writing award committee (chair, 2008)

• 2007 - present Auburn Preservation League, board member

• 2006 - present Auburn University School of Architecture lecture series committee

• 2006 - present Auburn University bicycle committee

• 2005 - 2006 University of Illinois at Chicago Circle Cycle Club, Vice President

• 2005 Chicago’s Daniel Burnham Birthday Celebration, chairperson

• 2003 - 2006 Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, volunteer

• 2003 - 2006 Cycling Sisters, organizer and volunteer bicycle mechanics instructor

• 2003 - 2006 Campaign for a Free and Clear Lakefront, organizer.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• March 2007, Presentation to members of the East Alabama Cycling Club on bicycle commuting and shopping by bicycle.

• February 2007, Ask the Author Online Forum, Habitat Loss: Global Crisis with a Local Solution, American Planning Association.

• April 2004, Ask the Author Online Forum, Agritourism Zoning Down on the Farm, American Planning Association.