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 History and Theory
  • Historic Preservation Planning
  • Planning Law
  • Race, Class, and Gender in Planning
  • Environmental Planning

EXPERIENCE

  • 2012 – present, Associate Professor, Community Planning Program, Auburn University
  • 2006 – 2012 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

Book

Meck, Stuart, Rebecca Retzlaff, and Jim Schwab (2003) Regional Approaches to Affordable Housing (Chicago: American Planning Association).

Book Chapter

Meck, Stuart, and Rebecca Retzlaff (2008) “Commentary: The Zoning Hearing Examiner: Origins, Evolution, and Status in Statutes and Case Law.” In Popper, Andrew, Patricia Salkin, and David Avitabile, A Companion to Bordering on Madness: An American Land Use Tale, 2nd ed. (Durham, North Carolina: Carolina Academic Press), 204-206.

Refereed Journal Publications

Retzlaff, Rebecca, and Sarah Sisser (2012) “Property Rights and Coastal Protection: The Case of Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council.” Planning Perspectives, accepted and in press.

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff (2011) “Jimmy Carter’s Urban Policy: An Analysis and An Appraisal”Journal of Planning History11(3): 242-280.

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2010) “Developing Policies for Green Buildings: What can the United States Learn from the Netherlands?”Sustainability: Science, Practice, Policy6(1): 28-38.

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2010) “The Illinois Forest Preserve District Act of 1913 and the Emergence of Metropolitan Park System Planning in the USA” Planning Perspectives25(4): 433-455.

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2009) “Green Buildings and Building Assessment Systems: A New Area of Interest for Planners” Journal of Planning Literature 24(1): 3-21.

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2009)“The use of LEED in Planning and Development Regulation: An Exploratory Analysis” Journal of Planning Education and Research 29(1): 67-77.

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2008) “Green Building Assessment Systems: A Framework and Comparison for Planners” Journal of the American Planning Association 74(4): 505-519.

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff (2008) “The Emergence of Growth Management in the U.S.: the Case of Golden v. Planning Board of Town of Ramapo, and its Aftermath” Journal of Planning History 7(2): 113-157.

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2008) “Planning for Broad-Based Environmental Protection: A Look Back at the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan” Urban Ecosystems 11(1): 45-63.

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff (2008) “A Familiar Ring: A Retrospective on the First National Conference on City Planning (1909)” Planning and Environmental Law 61(4): 3-10

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff (2007) “The Zoning Hearing Examiner: Its Origins, and its Status in Case Law”Planning and Environmental Law 59(7): 3-10.

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff (2007) “The Zoning Hearing Examiner and Its Use in Idaho Cities and Counties: Improving the Efficiency of the Land Use Permitting Process” Idaho Law Review 59(7): 409-443.

Bulletins

Retzlaff, Rebecca (2009) “Green Buildings: Selecting the Right Building Assessment System for Your Jurisdiction” IQ Report, International City Management Association, 41(3).

Meck, Stuart, Rebecca Retzlaff, and Jim Schwab (2006) “State of Tribal Transportation Programs” report prepared for the Transportation Research Board, Synthesis Grant, Transportation Research Board National Cooperative Highway Research Program: Project 20-5, Topic 36-16.

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff (2006) “Planning 1-2-3” report prepared for the Chicago Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Metropolitan Planning Council.

Professional Publications

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

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

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

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Green Buildings: Onus or Bonus?” Zoning Practice, April 2005.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Preserving the Last Green Valley” Planning Magazine, March 2005.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “California Enacts Form-Based Zoning Legislation” Zoning Practice, January 2005.

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

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

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

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

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Agritourism Zoning Down on the Farm” Zoning Practice, March 2004.

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

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Montgomery County Mulls Housing Overhaul” Zoning News, September 2003.

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

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

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Lake Tahoe Preservation Case” Zoning News, May 1999.

Refereed Conference Proceedings and Presentations

Meck, Stuart, and Rebecca Retzlaff. “The History and Impact of President Jimmy Carter’s Urban Policy. Presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 1-4, 2012.

Meck, Stuart, and Rebeca Retzlaff. “President Jimmy Carter’s Urban Policy: A Reconstruction and an Appraisal” Presented at the Society for American City and Regional Planning History Conference, Baltimore, Maryland, November 17-20, 2011.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Sustainability and Historic Preservation: Issues, Opportunities, and Conflicts” Presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 13-16, 2011.

Retzlaff, Rebbecca. “The Environmental Movement and Historic Preservation:Moving Closer or Getting Farther Apart?” Presented at the World Planning Schools Congress, Perth, Western Australia, July 4-8, 2011.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “The Evolution of Green Buildings: From Buildings to Neighborhoods to Communities” Presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 7-10, 2010.

Retzlaff, Rebecca and Sarah Sisser.* “The Real Story Behind Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council” Presented at the International Planning History Society Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, July 12-15, 2010.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “The Use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in Planning in the U.S.” Presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference, Crystal City, Virginia. October 1-4, 2009.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Green Building Policies in the U.S. and the Netherlands” Presented at the Association of European Schools of Planning Conference, Liverpool, England, July 15-18, 2009.

Rebecca, Retzlaff. “Regional Approaches to Planning for Green Buildings” Presented at the North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International, New York, NY, November 19-22, 2008.

Retzlaff, Rebecca, and John Gaber. “Is Teaching with iTunes U Hip or Hype? A Pre/Post Evaluation of Teaching Planning Classes with iTunes U” Presented at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and the Association of European Schools of Planning Joint Conference, Chicago, Illinois, July 6-11, 2008.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “The Emergence of Urban Natural Areas Protection in the U.S.: The Case of the Illinois Forest Preserve District Act of 1913″ Presented at the Society for American City and Regional Planning History conference, Portland, Maine, October 25-28, 2007.

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

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

Meck, Stuart and Rebecca Retzlaff. “Reconstructing Golden v. Planning Board of Town of Ramapo: The Real Story Behind the First Growth Management Plan in the U.S.” Presented at the International Planning History Society Conference, Delhi, India, December 9-11, 2006.

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

Invited Presentations and Lectures

Rebecca, Retzlaff. “Green Infrastructure – Creating Sustainable Sites and Livable Communities” Presented at the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association Conference, Mobile, Alabama, February 15-17, 2012.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Programs and Policies for Water Quality Protection in the Fish River Watershed, Alabama” Presented at the Low Impact Development Workshop and Charrette for Coastal Sustainability, Fairhope, Alabama, September 16, 2010.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Green Buildings and Development Regulation” Presented at the Alabama Association of Habitat Affiliates, Green and Blue Conference, Auburn, Alabama, January 27-28, 2010.

Retzlaff, Rebecca. “Green Building Assessment Systems: Uses, Abuses, and a Modest Call for Change” Presented at the American Planning Association Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 27-May 1, 2008.

Retzlaff, Rebecca, Falguni Patel, and Rajesh Sawant. “Place-Based Green Building: Integrating Local Environmental and Planning Analysis into Green Building Guidelines” Presented at the Environmental Protection Agency P3 Exposition, Washington, D.C., April 19-22, 2007.

Meck, Stuart, and Rebecca Retzlaff. “The Zoning Hearing Examiner, and Its Use in Idaho Counties and Municipalities: Improving the Efficiency of the Land Use Permitting Process” Presented at Getting Bigger Better: An Analysis of Urban Growth Solutions, Boise, Idaho, March 30, 2007.

Published Reports

Gaber, John, Rebecca Retzlaff, and Erin Swindall (2008) “Alabama Coastal Smart Growth Outreach Project: Final Report” report prepared with support from the Mississippi State University Coastal Research Extension Center.

Retzlaff, Rebecca, Falguni Patel, and Rajesh Sawant (2008) “Place-Based Green Building: Integrating Local Environmental Planning into Green Building Guidelines” report prepared with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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

Retzlaff, Rebecca and Brandon Bias (2007) “Franklin County Ecotourism Development Strategy” report prepared with support from the Appalachian regional Commission.

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

Exhibits

“Regional Approaches to Affordable Housing” photograph in architecture accreditation exhibit, Julie Collins Smith Museum, Auburn, Alabama, Spring 2011.

“Planning 1-2-3” photograph in architecture accreditation exhibit, Julie Collins Smith Museum, Auburn, Alabama, Spring 2011.

Grants Received

Rebecca Retzlaff (PI), The Real Story Behind Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, Auburn University Faculty International Travel Grant, $4,380 (2009-2010).

Rebecca Retzlaff (PI), Green Building Policies in the U.S. and the Netherlands: An International Comparative Analysis, Auburn University College of Architecture, Design, and Construction Seed Grant, $9,780 (2008-2009).

Rebecca Retzlaff (co-PI) and John Gaber (co-PI), Coastal Smart Growth Outreach, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Mississippi State University, $48,730 (2008-2009).

Latif Kalin (PI), Charlene LeBleu (co-PI), Susan Pan (co-PI), Rebecca Retzalff (co-PI), and Graeme Lockaby (collaborator), Assessment of Population Growth and Development Impacts on the Fish River Basin Coastal Community: An Interdisciplinary Approach, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $139,349 (2007-2010)

Retzlaff, Rebecca (PI), Alan Cook (co-PI), John Gaber (co-PI), Charlene LeBleu (co-PI), and D.K. Ruth (co-PI), Place-Based Green Building: Integrating Local Environmental and Planning Analysis into Green Building Guidelines, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, $10,000 (2007-2008).

Flex-E-Grant: Capacity Building and Strategic Master Planning II, Rebecca Retzlaff (co-PI) and John Gaber (co-PI), Appalachian Regional Commission, $123,750 (2006-2007).

Outreach Instructional Activities

Fall 2012

Historic preservation plans for Peaock Place in Montgomery, Alabama, prepared by students in my historic preservation planning class (CPLN 5970/6070).

Fall 2011

Redevelopment plans for various cities in Alabama, including Tuskegee, Prichard, and Auburn, prepared by students in my plan-making workshop (CPLN 7500).

Member of the Auburn Bike Bash planning committee.

Spring 2011

A plan for historic preservation for Waverly, Alabama, prepared by my historic preservation planning class (CPLN 5400/6400), for the City of Waverly, Alabama.

Member of the Auburn Bike Bash planning committee.

Co-founder of Auburn Citizens for Urban Chickens, an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the regulatory environment for urban agriculture in Auburn. I successfully lobbied the Auburn City Council to change their zoning regulations to allow urban chicken-keeping in the city, which was previously illegal.

Fall 2009

“Integrating Green Buildings into Development Regulations and Comprehensive Plans,” online learning lab for Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Valley, Alabama Comprehensive Plan, prepared by my plan-making workshop class (CPLN 6970) for the City of Valley, Alabama.

A Plan for Preserving the Mills and Main Street in Tallassee, Alabama, prepared by my historic preservation planning class (CPLN 5400/6400) for the Tallassee Historic Commission.

Fall 2008

Plan for Preserving the Mill Villages in Valley, Alabama, prepared by my historic preservation planning class (CPLN 6400/6500) for the City of Valley, Alabama. (Presented to city officials in Valley, Alabama, December, 2008. Presented to Mayor and City Council in Valley, Alabama, January, 2009).

Volunteer coach for the City of Auburn’s “Auburn Bicycle Challenge”

Spring 2007

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

Online Research Forum, “Habitat Loss: Global Crisis with a Local Solution,” American Planning Association.

Retzlaff, Rebecca and Michael Mulvaney, “AUbike: A Guide to Bicycle Transportation in Auburn” fall and spring semesters 2006-07. Brochure distributed to students, faculty, and staff through the Auburn University Sustainability Initiative. My contribution: 50%.

“All Auburn, All Green: Green Infrastructure Plan for Auburn, Alabama” prepared by my community planning studio class (CPLN 7400), for the City of Auburn, Alabama planning department. (Presented at the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association conference, Auburn, Alabama, June 2007).

Electronic Products

Course lectures for planning theory (CPLN 7440), planning history (CPLN 7450), environmental planning (CPLN 6970/5970), historic preservation planning (CPLN 6400/5400), and plan-making workshop (CPLN 6970), on iTunes.

Service

University Service

2011-2012

Auburn University Campus Planning Consultant Search Committee

2009-2012

Auburn University Campus Master Plan Committee

2009-2010

Auburn University Climate Change Initiative, Transportation Subcommittee

2007-present

Auburn University Graduate Student Research Forum, Faculty Judge

2006-present

Auburn University Bicycle Committee

2008-2011

Bicycle Shop Subcommittee

2006-2007

Bike Lanes Subcommittee

School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture Service

2012-present

Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture Communications Committee

2010-present

Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture Writing Tutor Program Committee (chair and sole member)

2010-2011

Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape ArchitectureEducational Technology Committee

2009-present

Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture Professional Outreach Committee

2007-present

Auburn University School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture Writing Committee

(chair, 2008-2010)

2006-2012

Auburn University School of Architecture Lecture Series Committee

Community Planning Program Service

2012

Community Planning Strategic Planning Committee

2012

Community Planning Tenure-Track Faculty Search Committee

2011

Community Planning Tenure-Track Faculty Search Committee

2010-2011

Community Planning Program Curriculum Revision Committee

2006-present

Auburn University Community Planning Program Scholarships and Awards Committee

Professional Service

Requested Peer-Reviewer for:

Journal of Planning Education and Research (refereed journal articles)

Journal of the American Planning Association (refereed journal articles)

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management (refereed journal articles)

Journal of Planning Literature (refereed journal articles)

Building Research and Information (refereed journal articles)

International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development (refereed journal articles)

Journal of Planning History (refereed journal articles)

Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy (refereed journal articles)

Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture conference (refereed conference abstracts)

Urban Studies (refereed journal articles)

Routledge, Taylor and Francis Press (book proposal)

Journal of Urban History (refereed journal articles)