The program will include 10 hours of remote training designed to provide a comprehensive education that encompasses all aspects of municipal governance. Each program in the series will be provided remotely on the fourth Thursday of each month with subject matter experts from the MRB Group and knowledgeable attorneys from Hancock Estabrook, LLP. Topics will be lively, useful and - potentially as important - qualify for the education requirements for members of Planning Boards and Zoning Boards of Appeals.  

So, you have been appointed to the Planning or Zoning Board…what now? What is your role in the development process? What are the do’s and do not’s of project review? How can you start influencing the shape of your community? Our team of planning and legal advisors will walk you through the legal obligations and best practice elements of serving in these critical roles in your hometown.

I motion this, you second that…what does it all mean? When should the applicant speak? The public? Believe it or not, there is often a rhyme and reason to the way agendas are laid out, and business conducted. We will talk you through the lessons we have learned through years of public meeting management, and some of the legal loopholes you will need to thread to manage development effectively.

It wouldn’t be New York State planning if there wasn’t a mile long checklist about the possible environmental impacts of a small shed installation. Getting this one right is critical to virtually every project you will review. We will walk you through the SEQR act and talk through the critical elements for every board and staff member to understand.

SESSION 4: WHAT NOT TO SAY, AND WHAT REALLY NOT TO DO

In recent years, New York State has placed heightened emphasis on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace, and on ensuring a safe, productive work environment for all. Protections extend far beyond traditional definitions, and the liabilities can be steeped. New regulations even apply to volunteer board members, vendors, and applicants! Check out this session both to stay in the know, and to meet the annual Sexual Harassment Prevention training requirement.

Cynicism among constituents is raging on all levels of government. In local government, you’re closest to the people, and nothing is closer to them than land use. Meeting minimum requirements is nice, but it will take more than that to build the public trust. This session will walk you through the basics of the New York State Open Meetings Law, the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) then layer on some best practices with respect to getting stakeholders plugged into projects from the start.

The most recent pandemic has affected everything from airline travel to diner food; and planning proceedings are no exception. We’ll share our experiences from the field; walking through some case studies on really cool approaches to keeping the public informed and engaged in the planning process, and ensuring that key projects don’t slip through the cracks.

What else do you want to know? Throw out your craziest scenarios, and our panel of legal and planning experts will give it our best shot. Anything goes in this session!

Planning and Zoning Boards, and municipal planning staff often get washed over with the day-to-day planning issues—sign permits, hot water heaters, site plan review for that vape shop. It’s critical that, from time to time, you pull back from the daily traffic and look to the big picture. How do projects line up with your community’s vision? What are the legal requirements of development with respect to the comprehensive plan? We will walk through the basics of a plan and help develop some tools for evaluating projects.

How is it possible that every project eventuality would not fit into thousands of pages of code? Well, if you have been planning for a while, you know that it’s all too possible…and probable! We will help you understand the various categories of “exceptions to the rule,” and talk through procedural matters, evaluation considerations, and risks associated with these projects.

How could we forget the bureaucratic junk in the trunk? Forms, motions, publications, websites…it seems basic, but it is the most often challenged part of what we do. We will help you understand the best practices and legal requirements around administrative processes, and help you develop checklists for projects to ensure that you are on solid ground once you get around to making a decision.