Fair Housing Laws CM I 1.5

• Date: Monday, November 18, 2024,  5:30PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

Fair housing laws regulate the development, leasing, buying and selling of real estate, as well as state and municipal housing programs, and aspects of municipal land use. This module will describe how land use regulations have been (and continue to be) used to exclude groups from specific neighborhoods and properties and provide a detailed overview of federal and state laws intended to prevent discrimination and promote equity in housing. A special focus will be on the role of the municipality in enforcing a commitment to fair housing, and the potential consequences of not doing so.

• Presenter: Jennifer (Jenny) Raitt, Executive Director, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
• Sponsor: Old Colony Planning Council
  

Adopting & Revising Rules & Regulations

• Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 5:30PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

Boards of appeal and planning boards frequently choose to, or are required to, adopt rules and regulations governing process, procedure and even the substance of their application reviews. While such documents are an important source of authority for boards, they also make life easier for board members and applicants by providing a clear road map for a fair and predictable process. This session will clarify which types of zoning, non-zoning and subdivision rules and regulations are mandatory and which are voluntary; describe what they can and cannot cover; and explain how they get adopted and amended. The regulatory framework for establishing fees and using consultants will also be discussed.

• Presenter: Brian Currie, AICP, Planning Consultant
• Sponsor: Southeastern Planning and Economic Development District
  

Introduction to the Subdivision Control Law & ANR

• Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 5:30PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

This session addresses the purposes of the Subdivision Control Law and the Planning Board’s authority under the Act. It also covers important procedural requirements and board responsibilities when reviewing subdivision and ANR plans; adoption of subdivision regulations; review of ANR plans; access issues; preliminary and definitive plans; Planning Board waivers; modifying, amending and rescinding plans; enforcement; vested rights and zoning freezes.

• Presenter: Barbara Saint Andre, Director, Community and Economic Development, Town of Medway
• Sponsor: Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission

Planning with Community Support CM I 1.5

• Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 5:30PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

The course describes how to conduct a planning process, with an emphasis on a comprehensive or master plan that will ultimately have the support of the community. A variety of public participation strategies will be examined, including plan implementation processes.  The course will cover how to design the community engagement process.

• Presenter: Ezra Glenn AICP, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Sponsor: Merrimack Valley Planning Commission  

Roles and Responsibilities of Planning and Zoning Boards

• Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 5:30 PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

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. 

• Presenter: Bob Mitchell FAICP, Planning Consultant
• Sponsor: Cape Cod Commission

Site Plan Review

• Date: Monday, January 6, 2025, 6:00PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

The Zoning Act does not contain any provisions for the review of site plans, however the process can be a very effective tool for a board to review the details, aesthetics and impacts of a potential project.  This course explains the legal issues when using site plan review; the difference between site plan approval and special permits; the review process; the types of conditions a board may impose; the reasons for disapproval; the appeal process and the types of information a municipality can require to be shown on a site plan. Additional material will be presented on how to incorporate site plan review into your zoning bylaw or ordinance.

• Presenter: Richard Harris, Planning Consultants
• Sponsor: Northern Middlesex Council of Governments

Special Permits and Variances CM I 1.5

• Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 5:30PM
• Cost: $35
• Registration: Register

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.

• Presenter: Pam Brown FAICP, Esq, Brown & Brown, P.C.
• Sponsor: Franklin Regional Council of Governments