We will be hosting two “CLEAR Land Use Academy” training sessions here at the NHCOG office in Goshen on Feb. 25th (Legal Requirements & Procedures in Land Use Decision Making) and March 2nd (Basics of Reading Site Plans). Details of the sessions are below. PLEASE email or call me ASAP to let me know if you are interested/available for these sessions. These sessions are intended for both new commissioners and experienced commission members who just want a refresher.

These sessions received rave reviews from the local planning, zoning, and conservation commission members who attended them last winter so we promised to offer them again this winter. We are excited to welcome Bruce Hyde back to offer these sessions on February 25th and March 2st IF we get at least 15 people registered for them by February 18th.

Legal Requirements & Procedures in Land Use Decision Making

Thursday, February 25, 2016 (6:30-8pm)

This session provides a basic understanding of legal principals and procedures that must be adhered to so that legal challenges to decisions or other actions are minimized. Gives land use commissioners an overview of the source of their authority, their role in relation to other land use commissions, current land use issues they should consider, and their responsibility to be fair and unbiased in their decision making, including:

  • Statutes governing land use
  • Types of power
  • Roles of land use commissions
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Bias and predetermination
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Procedures for running a meeting and making a decision
  • Public hearing requirements and timeframes to act
  • Ex parte communications
  • Case examples

Basics of Reading Site Plans

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 (6:30-8pm)

This session will assist commissioners to develop basic plan reading skills including understanding scale, topography, hydrology and stormwater. This workshop goes beyond the basics in a way that is understandable and relevant. It will include:

  • Review of the difference between a plan and a map.
  • Review of basic map reading techniques-wetlands, legends, scale, topography, water flow, etc.
  • Hands on exercise: the participants will use the skills learned in the beginning of the session

Locations for both sessions will be the new NHCOG office in Goshen, 59 Torrington Road: easy to find, lots of parking

These sessions will be led (like last year) by:

Bruce Hyde

Land Use Educator/Land Use Academy Director

Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), University of Connecticut

Bruce is primarily responsible for coordinating the Land Use Academy which provides training for local land use commissioners. In addition, he provides technical assistance to communities in a variety of areas including affordable housing, climate change adaptation and community outreach. Mr. Hyde is an AICP certified planner with over 30 years experience as a regional and municipal planning and community development director, zoning enforcement officer and planning consultant in Vermont and Connecticut.

Please RSVP today by emailing Jocelyn or calling 860-491-9884!

Please note: These sessions WILL NOT be held unless a minimum of 15 people let me know they plan to attend.

Please also note: Our next 5th Thursday session for Land Use Commissions will be held on Thursday, March 31st. We are starting work on our new 21-town Regional Plan of Conservation and Development and look forward to your input on it!