Core Curriculum for Planning and Appeals Boards

How does it work?

CPTC offers a Level 1 and a Level 2 certificate for the set of core courses below. We think that these 8 courses or modules will give participants a clear sense of growing accomplishment from very basic introduction to the more complex challenges you may be facing. For logistical reasons it is impossible to offer these in a specific sequence at a given site. Therefore a Level 1 Certificate is offered for the first four courses you have taken and a Level 2 Certificate for the second four courses. With these Citizen Planner Certificates we acknowledge and document the commitment and professionalism you bring to your role as local official.

CPTC Core Curriculum

Level 1: Introductory	Planning Boards	Zoning Boards
1) Introduction to the Zoning Act	X	X
2) Introduction to the Subdivision Control Law including ANR (Approval Not Required)	X	X
3) Introduction to the Roles and Responsibilities of Planning and Appeals Boards.	X	X
4) How to Write Reasonable and Defensible Decisions	X	X
Level 2: Intermediate
1) Nonconforming Structures, Uses and Grandfathering	X	X
2) Planning with Community Support	X
3) Zoning Exemptions	X	X
4) Special Permits and Variances	X	X

CPTC will continue to offer additional courses at our annual conference for more advanced or experienced board members.

* Core curriculum as of 7/08. CPTC reserves the right to make minor revisions.

Workshop Descriptions

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Special Permits and Variances
Are you clear about the difference in purpose and process between special permits and variances? Learn about key issues and the complex criteria for making decisions on variances and special permits, as well as important procedural requirements to avoid automatic approval.

Non-Conforming Structures, Lots, Uses and Vested Rights What is the difference between a nonconforming structure, lot or use? Learn the difference between a nonconforming and a protected structure; become familiar with types of alterations to a nonconforming structure or use. Learn about separate and common protection as well as grandfatehring protections for subdivison plans.

See also Nonconforming Lots, Usage, and Structures Bylaw

Roles and Responsibilities of Planning and Appeal Boards
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.We will also go over the major sources of information and suport for you in your role. To gain time, we will offer a light dinner and start at 6 pm. Available as audio tape. See Audio Tapes For Sale. This is a Level 1 core course.

Introduction to the State Zoning Act
This basic course addresses the adoption of zoning bylaws, variances and special permits; public hearing and voting requirements and other key procedural requirements Board members need to follow. This is a Level 1 core course.

Introduction to the Subdivision Control Law/ANR
Learn about the purpose of subdivision control, important procedural requirements and your responsibilities when reviewing subdivision and ANR plans.Topics to be covered include: adoption of Subdivision Regulations; endorsing Approval Not Required (ANR) Plans; Zoning Freezes; modifying, amending and rescinding Definitive Plans; waiving subdivision Frontage and Regulations; and Grandfathered Plans and Lots. This is a Level 1 core course.

Planning with Community Support
Learn how to desing and run a planning process with good community input - be it for a comprehensive plan, community plan, 418 plan or sustainable development plan. This three-hour interactive workshop will help you learn how to make plan that really results in action, and to better understand why many plans never get off the shelf. The skills learned in this session - e.g. designing an effective community participation process, linking vision to action, how and when to obtain technical/expert assistance - will be useful in a broad range of planning and regulatory implementation contexts. This is a level 2 course

Site Plan Review
Site Plan review is an effective tool for a Board to review the details and aesthetics of a project. The Zoning Act does not include any provisions for the review of a site plan. Learn the difference between site plan approval and site plan review. Learn how a site plan is reviewed, the types of conditions that a review board can impose, the reasons a site plan can be disapproved, the appeal process and the type of information that communities can require to be shown on a site plan.

Zoning Exemptions
This course addresses how agricultural, educational, childcare, and religious uses are exempt from local zoning powers as well as State and federal uses such as teletowers. It goes into the Fair Housing Act and identifies under what circumstances municipalities can enact zoning regulations.

Other Courses

How to Hold a Perfect Public Hearing
Do you have nightmares about an upcoming public hearing on a contrversial development project? has your Board been sued over public hearing procedures? Is your twon famous for raucous hearings? Are you the new Chair of the Board and your first public hearing is coming up? Come and get some tips on how to do it right. This session will clrify how to prepare for and how to run a hearing , meeting decorum, and drafting decisions. We will be using video clips, discussion and lecture.

Writing Reasonable and Defensible Decisions
This session will explain the key points of writing clear and defensible decisions and conditions. It will explain what content is necessary in local regulations and decisions from a legal and implementation perspective. It combines a video presentation of a planning director, municipal attorney and assistant attorney general with live comments from an attorney.

The Basics of Reading a Subdivision Plan
What do all the lines and symbols mean? You will learn how topography, roads, lot lines, wetlands, drainage and utilities are delineated on a plan. Come and learn the art and science of plan reading so you can negotiate effectively with applicants.

40B and Housing Initiatives
This session explains 40B, the Comprehensive Permit Law, the procedural requirements a Board must follow, the rightsof the municipality and the developer, requirements of affordability and techniques for negotiation.