Each year we host “CLEAR Land Use Academy” free training sessions here at the NHCOG office.   We are excited to welcome Bruce Hyde back to offer these sessions on Wednesday, September 18th at 7pm and/or Wednesday, October 16th  IF we get at least 15 people registered for them by Sept. 1st. These sessions always receive rave reviews from the local planning, zoning, and conservation commission members who attended. Details of the sessions are below and will be held from 7-8:30pm here at the NHCOG office in Goshen.

PLEASE email or call me to let me know if you are interested/available for one of these sessions.

These sessions are intended for both new commissioners and experienced commission members who just want a refresher.

Legal Requirements & Procedures in Land Use Decision Making

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

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 these sessions will be the 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 (jayer@northwesthillscog.org) 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.