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Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) Conference
December 2 @ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Western Mass. Half-Day Conference
Greenfield Community College
Fee $40. Pre-registration is required.
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Workshop List & Schedule
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Sign In and Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. General Opening/Welcome and Keynote Speaker: Ann Gobi, Director of Rural Affairs, MA Executive Office of Economic Development
9:45 – 11:00 a.m. Early Morning Session
1. Roles and Responsibilities of Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals
Join us if you are a new Board member or building inspector. This program will launch you into your role as a local official, introduce you to the functions of the two boards and the main tools of planning and zoning. This session will also include an introductory discussion of the Open Meeting, Public Records, and the Conflict of Interest Laws. Speaker: Bob Mitchell FAICP, Planning Consultant, Boston, MA
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2. Creating Master Plans
Local officials will learn why and how to prepare, adopt, and implement the master or comprehensive plan described in MGL Chapter 41, Section 81D. The session will identify the sections of a master/comprehensive plan and specific steps by which the plan will be carried out.
Speaker: Emily Keys Innes, AICP, LEED, AP, ND, President, Innes Associates, Ltd.
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11:15 – 12:30 p.m. Late Morning Session
3. Drafting Zoning Amendments
While regular review and amendment of a municipality’s zoning ordinance or bylaw in response to changing needs and circumstances is essential to ensuring that it remain up-to date, the process can be tricky. This course will provide a step-by-step roadmap on how to adopt and amend zoning codes in accordance with the strict requirements of G.L. 40A Section 5. Local officials and staff will gain an understanding of what type and scope of amendments are permissible; the relationship between zoning and other municipal planning documents; and the essential role of the Planning Board in the process. Tips for drafting zoning amendments, and strategies for successfully getting them passed will also be addressed.
Speaker: Brian Currie, AICP, Consultant
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4. Special Permits & Variances
Participants will learn about the difference between special permits and variances; the issues and criteria for decision-making; and procedural requirements. Additionally, the course will discuss who has the authority to issue special permits and variances and how judicial decisions guide the way we work with them.
Speaker: Thomas Bott, Town Planner, Carver, MA
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Conference Policies
- The 2023 CPTC Western Mass. Half-Day Conference is an in-person event. Workshops will not be recorded.
- Continental breakfast is included. Please contact coordinator@masscptc.org with any dietary restrictions.
- Payment is available by check or credit card (cc available online at the time of registration only). Checks can arrive after the registration deadline. Please make checks payable to CPTC and mail to: Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC), c/o Urban Harbors Institute, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125.
- Cancelation Policy: Registering for the conference is a commitment to attend. Payment is required unless a written cancelation request is received by the CPTC Coordinator at coordinator@masscptc.org by Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. No refunds will be processed after this date.
- Please contact coordinator@masscptc.org with any questions.
Disclaimer
The use of the facilities of Greenfield Community College for this event does not constitute an endorsement by the Community College.
