A Fresh Conversation with Chad Eiken 

APA WA President

Could you give us a brief overview of your professional background and what led you to the field of planning?

I currently serve as the Community Development Director for the City of Vancouver, and I have been in that role for the past 11 years. I came to the City of Vancouver from Ithaca, New York in 1992 where I was a planner, after being lucky enough to land an associate land use planner job right after The GMA went into effect. I worked in current planning for the first 20 years here and reviewed countless development applications. I have been fortunate in being able to grow professionally in various leadership roles during my career, as well as work on a wide variety of projects and initiatives including some that are “planning-adjacent” such as economic development, downtown parking, and even homelessness response. It is both rewarding and humbling to see and be a part of so many of the big changes that Vancouver has experienced over the past 30+ years.

It's funny to think about now, but it’s possible that “city planning found me” rather than me seeking it. I was a Biology major at college and had dreams of working in Forestry Management, or really anything that would allow me to be out in the wilderness, but – fortunately, as it turns out - the Forestry Program was discontinued by my university and so I turned my attention to the emerging field of environmental planning through the Geography Department. It wasn’t until my first job after completing a Master’s Degree in Geography that I really became exposed to city planning concepts and projects, and from that point on, I was hooked.

What was your very first role in the field of planning, and what did it teach you?

My first real planning job out of grad school was as a planning consultant for a small planning firm in Nyack, NY. I initially joined as an environmental planner but was soon tasked with reviewing site plans and subdivision proposals and writing comprehensive plans for towns and villages north of New York City. From that first experience, I was struck by the power of planning to do good things, and how planners can help shape communities, even if project-by-project. I also learned that not everyone values the role of government when it comes things like how their property can be used or why permits are even needed, so it has been a personal mission of mine in every interaction to change the perception of others regarding the effectiveness of local government.

Are there any interesting projects or initiatives you’re currently involved in that you’d like to share?

Like many other jurisdictions, Vancouver is in the middle of its update to the Comprehensive Plan (Class of ’25), so that is foremost on our minds right now. So much growth has occurred since our last update that it feels to some extent we are starting from scratch. The twin imperatives of increasing housing production and improving housing affordability are driving our efforts, as well as incorporating equity policies and advancing aggressive climate action goals. Middle housing will open up our low-density residential neighborhoods to more housing options, which is both exciting and trepidation-inducing over the possible community reaction. We are also close to finalizing our Transportation System Plan which will guide our Complete Streets work, making many of our streets safer for users of all ages and abilities. We have started a complete overhaul of our Downtown Design Guidelines Manual which was last updated in 1995, and work is also starting on a set of Green Building Standards which will, we hope, enable Vancouver to meet its ambitious goal of being carbon neutral by 2040. It feels like we’re experiencing a convergence of transformative changes, so it’s an exciting time to be a planner.

Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies or interests that you're passionate about?

As someone who enjoys the outdoors and staying active, the Pacific Northwest offers so many ways to stay busy outside of work – my problem is there is never enough time! If I could narrow my (very) long list of interests to just a handful I’d have to go with hiking, paddle-boarding, downhill skiing, fly-fishing, canoeing, golfing (badly), and the occasional pick-up game of soccer. I recently bought an e-bike which has made cycling to work more feasible for me and that is always a highlight of my work day. Lastly, my wife and I love to travel to other countries and experience other cultures, and we have a long list of places we still want to see.

After a busy week or day, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?

When I’m walking or rough-housing with my 8-year-old Welsh Terrier “Spike,” whatever stress I was feeling from the day just vanishes – he keeps me focused in the moment. Occasionally, on summer nights when it’s light later in the evening, I head to a nearby lake where I can flyfish for trout in my float tube – that for me is my happy place to escape.

As you step into this role, what are your initial thoughts and feelings about leading our chapter?

I’ve been active in the Washington Chapter off and on for a number of years as a Section President, Conference Chair for several years, and most recently as President-Elect, and it’s an honor to lead it now as President. Thanks to boards and presidents before me, the Chapter has come out of the ‘pandemic years’ in great shape. I believe that it’s the role of the Board to lead the chapter, with me there to nudge here and there, and keep everyone focused on APA’s core mission of serving our members and advancing the field of planning.

As the new President, what are some key goals or initiatives you hope to pursue within the APA Washington Chapter?

Honestly, I’m still working on those but I do have a few ideas. As I said, many things are working well, such as our Legislative, Youth in Planning, and Conference Committees which will continue to operate at a high level. It has been a Chapter goal for a while to develop a Strategic Plan, which will help to provide a structure for much of the Chapter’s work that is already occurring, and I anticipate that we’ll be starting that process next year. One thing I’d like to see is more intentional collaboration between the Chapter and our Sections, so planners (and their communities) can see tangible value from their membership. I’m excited to see what ideas and initiatives come from our new Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and am also looking forward to finding ways to partner with our Indigenous Communities and Universities in more meaningful ways.

What advice would you offer to young professionals just starting out in planning?

Planning is a long game where progress can be measured in terms of feet. Once in a while, an initiative or project comes along that is so transformative, it moves the community forward by miles. Don’t get frustrated when progress feels like it’s happening one foot at a time – instead, be ready when that opportunity comes along to move your community forward by miles. Those are worth the wait.

Quick Picks:

• Favorite city to visit for its urban design?  For me, it’s a tie between Vancouver, BC and Chicago. Mexico City may make the list after I visit it in December!
• Book or movie that has influenced your professional thinking?  The Geography of Nowhere by James Kunstler, The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein (should be required reading for planners), and, of course, Jane Jacobs’s The Death and Life of Great American Cities. For movies, “Edward Scissorhands” has perhaps the most ‘on the nose’ critique of the role of planning in shaping suburban land use patterns.
• A planner or urbanist you admire? Any planner who is in the trenches, day after day, doing the difficult and sometimes unrecognized work of making their community a better place for others.