Training and Educational Programs


Community Planning
	EO418 Community Development Plans
	Comprehensive Planning
	Zoning Technical Assistance
	Training and Educational Programs
	Regional Community Housing Trust
	Model Bylaws and Example Documents
	Planning Board Reference Handbook
	Archives

Home : Community Planning : Training and Educational Programs

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. The dinners are a great way to learn more about zoning and planning topics, and are also a fun social event! Please contact Sarah Izatt for more information

October 30 5^th Thursday

The October 30 5^th Thursday will be held at Aster's, Pittsfield. Featured speaker Joel Russell will give a presentation on Form Based Zoning. The evening includes a cash bar and buffet dinner. The cost to attend is $15 for board members, building inspectors and municipal staff, and $33 for all others. Please join us!

Reservations and payment must be received by October 21- please click here for a flyer and registration sheet.

January 31^st, 2008 5^th Thursday

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.

BRPC will be hosting "How to Hold a Perfect Public Hearing" on November 13.
Additional classes will be held across the state. Please download the Fall workshop brochure for detailed schedules and other information. 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.

American Planning Association Audio/Web Conferences

BRPC has obtained the new audio/web conferences through the American Planning Association (APA). At these conferences, participants gather at a central location to listen to the audio portion via telephone and view a PowerPoint presentation. Conferences cover a wide variety of planning topics. Attendance at these conferences is eleigible for Continuing Maintenance credits for those with AICP certification.
Please click here for conference schedule and descriptions, or visit the APA Website for more information.

Participants should contact Sarah Izatt or Tom Matuszko stating their intention to attend and to learn if there have been any changes in the schedule. A nomimal fee of $15.00 per participant will be collected at the door to help cover the subscription costs.

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

Home Site Map Publications Contact Job Opportunities at BRPC
Directions to BRPC Municipal eCenter BRPC Archive