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Training and Educational Programs

5^th Thursday Dinners

Planning and zoning appeals boards across the County meet on almost every day of the week throughout the month. Many offered training sessions conflict with one or more scheduled meetings or hearings. However, BRPC has found that no board meets on the 5^th Thursday of a month. Each time a 5^th Thursday occurs, BRPC sponsors a dinner/training session aimed at planning boards, zoning appeals boards and building inspectors (although everyone is welcome!) Past session topics have included: exempt uses under zoning, writing defensible special permit decisions, and a primer on updating zoning. Dinners cost $15 for board members and building inspectors, $30 for other guests. The dinners are a great way to learn more about zoning and planning topics, and are also a fun social event!

The next 5^th Thursday Dinner will be held May 29 at Mazzeo's. Guest speaker Chris Vreeland PE will provide a presentation on windpower.
May 29 Dinner Invitation

Contact Sarah Izatt for more details about 5^th Thursdays.

January 31^st, 2008 Dinner

Speaker: Syd Smithers, Esq,
"Drafting Defensible Special Permit Decisions"
"Drafting Defensible Decisions" training handout
Court Case Examples training handout

Training Session Audio files
Part 1 (7.8 mb, 22 minutes)
Part 2 (7.8 mb, 22 minutes)
Part 3 (9.2 mb, 25 minutes)

Citizen Planner Training Collaborative

The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) provides local planning and zoning officials with tools to make effective decisions regarding their community's current and future land use. Fall training sessions are held throughout the state on a variety of topics, including:

Zoning Exemptions
Roles and Responsibilities of Planning and Zoning Boards
Special Permits and Variances
Comprehensive Permits
Planning for Agriculture
How to Hold a Perfect Public Hearing
Low Impact Development

CPTC offers Training workshops delivering both basic and advanced core curriculm, internet access to core training units, a bylaw collection, many planning related links, and training calendars. On-demand training for a small fee can also be offered to any community needing to focus on a specific topic.

Two of the Fall trainings are typically held at BRPC, check our calendar page for dates.

CPTC also holds an annual conference each Spring, at Holy Cross College in Worcester. The day-long coference offers an opportunity to participate in several training sessions in one stop.
The 2008 conference will be held on Saturday, March 15. Check the CPTC website for forthcoming details.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Education Online

The Lincoln Institute is currently offering the online course: Planning Fundamentals. This course is designed as an introductory planning course for members of planning boards, planning commissions, zoning boards, conservation boards, and other related planning positions. Register at www.lincolneducationonline.org .

U.S. EPA Smart Growth Policy Database

The US EPA lists a collection of policies enacted in municipalities throughout the country which work to promote the principles of Smart Growth. The database can be browsed by objective, by policy, or by the state in which the policy was enacted. The database can be visited at http://cfpub.epa.gov/sgpdb/browse.cfm

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