Research Associate American Planning Association National Chicago, Illinois
Microbiological and biomedical research and development facilities are driving breakthroughs in vaccine development and therapeutics for deadly diseases. However, many biosafety experts have sounded alarms about the lack of consistent and coordinated oversight of facilities that work with live pathogens. As demand for these facilities grows, planners will need to learn how to balance biosafety and economic development in planning and zoning processes.
The first part of this presentation introduces the concept of biosafety and highlights alternative roles zoning may play in promoting biosafety. Part two explores how one city is modernizing its commercial zoning to support the innovation economy by making space for new biotechnology and other research and development facilities.
Learning Objectives:
Explain the four levels of biosafety and how they relate to zoning.
Identify alternative local regulatory approaches to promote biosafety.
Describe the importance of biosafety to planning departments, as well as the risks and benefits of biolabs in the community.
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