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PREVIOUS LAND USE SEMINARS Please note, links to seminar presentations and websites are included below. COMMUNITY & NATURAL RESOURCE PLANNING PROGRAM WORKSHOPS SPRING 2012 - Cosponsored by CT Environmental Review Team, Northwestern CT COG & Litchfield Hills CEO
- Cosponsored by CT Environmental Review Team & Southeastern CT COG
SPRING 2011 - Innovative Zoning Techniques - Cosponsored w/Eastern CT RC&D and CT APA Zoning: From the Landscape-scale to the Village Carol Gould, Fitzgerald & Halliday Ms. Gould works with communities striving to balance growth and conservation. She developed a hybrid code that utilizes old zoning foundations and new perspectives by blending traditional and form-based language.
Aga Pinette, Land Use Planning Consultant Ms Pinette led the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission's review of the Moosehead Lake Regional Concept Plan which led to the largest rezoning effort in the state's history - covering 400,000 acres. The plan has been referred to as northern Maine's version of smart growth - "well-planned growth that provides a continuation of traditional ways of life, sustainable economic opportunities and outdoor recreation without compromising the region's unique natural resources and remote character."
Innovative Regulatory Techniques: Connecticut & Beyond Susan Westa, Green Valley Institute Susan conducted research about regulatory tools that balance growth and conservation for the Borderlands Village Innovation Pilot Project in Killingly, CT & Exeter, RI. She presented an overview of these tools, including form-based codes, design guidelines, transfer of development rights and more - and information about how these tools are working or not throughout New England.
Hiram Peck, Director of Planning, Town of Simsbury Simsbury conducted an extensive consensus building process, involving a week long community design charrette and is in the process of developing a form-based code for the Simsbury Town Center.
WINTER 2011 - Cosponsored w/Eastern CT RC&D and CT APA Protecting Dark Skies in The Last Green Valley Leo Smith, International Dark-Sky Association IDA drafted a model ordinance designed to help communities keep their night time skies dark. For more information, click here.
FALL 2008 - Development Strategies: Tools to protect what we value - Cosponsored w/Eastern CT RC&D Transfer of Development Rights: Making it happen Rick Pruetz, Planning & Implementation Strategies Mr. Pruetz has helped communities around the country prepare TDR feasibility studies and ordinances. He shared his experiences, including working with small towns similar to those in The Last Green Valley.
Mr. Pruetz has also published two comprehensive books about TDR For more information, click here. North Kingston, RI Team - Jonathon Reiner, Director of Planning and Community Development; Nathan Kelly, Horsley Witten Group; & Jeffery Broadhead, Washington County Regional Planning Council North Kingston is in the process of adopting TDR. The team shared their experiences about the process and about involving the public. They also presented a detailed discussion of the mechanics of their TDR program.
Brownfields Development Arthur Bogen, Naugatuck Valley COG Mr. Bogen shared his experiences working with communities to develop a regional brownfields partnership. This partnership has been very successful obtaining brownfields redevelpment funds.
Elizabeth Appel, Office of Brownfiled Remediation & Development at the CT DECD Ms. Appel explained the brownfields state's programs, including funding opportunities, that are available to help your town redevelop its historic mills and other brownfields sites.
SPRING 2008 - Advanced Approaches to Addressing Community Growth - Cosponsored w/Eastern CT RC&D Smart Zoning Techniques Michael Murphy and Matt Davis, Town of Groton Planning Mr. Murphy and Mr. Davis presented Groton's new smart zoning regulations (adopted in November 2007) which were designed to encourage mixed-use development in areas where it makes sense.
Peter Flinker, Principal, Dodson Associates Mr. Flinker has worked with many communities helping them identify innovative strategies for promoting smarter development. He shared his experiences working with communities to implement mixed use overlay districts and form-based zoning and focused on Groton, MA, a community working to redevelop their town center.
Wastewater Treatment Alternatives George Loomis, URI Coopertive Extension & Director of New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center Lorraine Joubert, RI NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) Mr. Loomis and Ms. Joubert have developed educational programs and informational materials about wastewater treatment alternatives and how they can be used to promote smarter development patterns. They shared examples of communities in RI that are using alternative systems to rebuild historic village centers and revitalize main street.
Dennis Greci, CT Department of Environmental Protection Mr. Greci presented the wastewater treatment altrenatives that are currently available to communities in rural CT. He explained the pros and cons of various approaches.
FALL 2007 - Advanced Approaches to Land Protection - Cosponsored w/Eastern CT RC&D Transfer of Development Rights Susan Westa, Co-Director, GVI Ms. Westa presented an introduction to TDR and shared examples of how TDR is being used around the country.
Courtenay Mercer, Director of Planning, N.J. Office of Smart Growth Ms. Mercer shared the lessons N.J. communities have learned with TDR over 20 years. She presented the history of TDR in N.J., the enabling legislation and the incentives the state offers communities.
Development Techniques That Protect Patrice Carson, Planner, Town of Somers Ms. Carson shared the innovative techniques the Town of Somers has used to protect natural resources.
Fran Armentano, Planner Town of Granby Mr. Armentano shared his experiences in Granby using conservation subdivisions to protect wildlife corridors and other open spaces.
Understanding the Money Facts Reena Shaw, Ph.D., State Agricultural Economist, Natural Resource Conservation Service Ms. Shaw presented a fiscal impact study she conducted for the Town of Woodstock.
Paula Stahl, Land Use and Finance Educator, GVI Ms. Stahl presented a fiscal impact study for the Town of Lebanon.
Dr. Robert Johnson, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics Dr. Johnson presented a Willingness to Pay for Open Space Study he conducted for Woodstock, Thompson, Pomfret and Brooklyn.
SPRING 2007 Responsible Growth in CT David LaVasseur, Undersecretary, Intergovernmental Policy Division, CT Office of Policy and Management Mr. LaVasseur presented the state's plan for new Office of Responsible Growth, which was created by Governor Jodi Rell in October 2006 under Executive Order 15. The Governor said her goal is to strike a balance between growth and preservation.
Toni Gold, Urban Edge Associates and Board of Contributors, Place, The Hartford Courant Ms. Gold suggested that we need to do a lot more to strike a balance between growth and conservation in CT. She presented her vision or responsible growth in Eastern CT.
Mill Re-Use /Brownfield Round Table Peter Shapiro & Sally Shapiro, Owners, ArtSpace Windham Eric Trott, Director of Planning and Development, Coventry CT Linda Walden. Director of Planning and Development, Killingly CT Peter Simmons and Ned Moore, DECD, Hartford CT For information about a local mill/brownfield developer see: Investar Brownfield Developers at http://www.investar.net Round Table Discussion Community Priorities/Visioning - Stressed the importance of project vision in seeking funding. Discussed how to cultivate public stewardship to allocate funding to mill improvement. Discussed how to attract owners with the same vision the towns have. Regulations - In Killingly the mill owners were part of the regulation development process, which made for a relatively smooth transition to using the Mill Re-Use Regulations. Funding - Towns need to identify what the new markets are for properties that involve mill re-use and brownfields. Special grants and loans are available and more will be available in the future – both federal and state. Regional Vision - The following idea was circulated: Identify the top 10 mills in the region and present them to the governor as a way to revitalize, retain heritage and stimulate tourism of the region and its mills. The mills would have to be surveyed, prioritized and renovated incrementally and linked with a larger vision for the region.
Sustainable Design in Our Communities Tavis Dockwiller, Landscape Architect &
Partner, Rolf Sauer & Partners, Philadelphia PA Michele Adams, Principal Engineer, Cahill
Associates Environmental Consultants, West Chester PA Showing examples of built projects from around the country, both speakers demonstrated tried-and-true techniques for achieving sustainable design which results in increased residential development market values by designating open space, retaining natural character and reducing stormwater runoff. They discussed how designating areas where natural stormwater management can occur (vs. piping) also allows opportunity for open space usable to residents. Other important features of sustainable design discussed were regulating for appropriate parking requirements, viewing the river shed as a whole system, reducing development footprints, increasing perviousness, as well as the need for developing partnerships between designers, landscape managers and land regulators. For additional information on watershed
management see:
SPRING 2005 Thomas Hylton is an organizing member of
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, a coalition of civic groups dedicated
to land use reforms and community building in Pennsylvania. He is a three-time
winner of the American Planning Association’s journalism award. Panel Discussion: Kevin Essington, The Nature Conservancy, Pawcatuck Borderlands
Project – land protection in rapidly growing southeastern CT and
southwestern RI. Mark Westa, ASLA, AICP, Associate Professor
of Landscape Architecture, UCONN - working with communities to improve
village design and promote new growth patterns. A Legislative Year in Review &
A Complete Guide to Zoning The HBACT is a professional trade association
who’s 1300 member companies are builders, land developers and others
who serve the residential construction and land development industry.
Mr. Ethier is a member of the Hartford Courant’s Place Board of
Contributors. A Complete Guide to Zoning Dwight Merriam, FAICP, CRE, Robinson &
Cole Mr. Merriam discussed his new book, The
Complete Guide to Zoning: How Real Estate Owners and Developments Can
Create and Preserve Property Value. Mr. Merriam’s book has received
accolades from all sides. Richard Codd, past president of the American
Planning Association and manager of the Teleport of the Port Authority
of NY and NJ has said “Every planner, property owner, and developer
should read this book.”
Smart Growth in Connecticut Panel Discussion: William Sweeney, AICP, Senior Planner,
City of Norwich Planning and Neighborhood Services - Norwich is facing
significant growth pressure, including a housing crisis. Smart Growth in New England Elizabeth Humstone shared her experiences
addressing land use issues throughout Vermont. Elizabeth is also a Co-Author
of Above and Beyond: Visualizing Change in Small Towns and Rural Areas,
a fascinating book that uses aerial photographs to show land use changes. Terry DeWan, Principal, Terrence J. DeWan
& Associates Terry’s presentation focused on the
Dunstan Great American Neighborhood, a new urbanist plan for 150 acres
next to the historic Dunstan Village in Scarborough, Maine. His presentation
looked the planning and design process and lessons to be learned for communities
who may be looking at denser, walkable neighborhoods.
Livable Communities Mary Ellen Kowalewski, Director of Community Development, Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), Hartford, CT In 2002, A. Nelessen Associates developed “Smart Growth” Planning & Zoning Recommendations, based on the results of Visual Preference Surveys and Community Workshops for the Capital Region Council of Governments. Visual Preference Surveys utilize pictures to ask questions about our communities and to help educate folks about development options and techniques. Mr. Nelessen presented the results of the CRCOG’s public participation process and recommendations on evelopment policies. These recommendations “…can ultimately improve the quality of life for residents including: the economic viability of new and existing businesses, the sustainability of the regional environment, and the reversal of urban decline.” A Regional Outlook in the Quinebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor John Guszkowski, Community Development Planner, Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), Hartford, CT As part of the planning process, the CRCOG undertook extensive efforts to ensure that every town's plan was in harmony with their own by working with each community in their region. They felt that this effort was crucial for community buy-in. This and other innovative approaches they have proposed, designed to guide growth to regional centers and protect important natural resources and open spaces, are models many other communities can learn from.
Councils of Governments serve as regional planning organizations in CT. Their boards are made up of the Chief Elected Officials of member communities. They exist to serve you. Our COG’s address many issues at the regional level from transportation planning to developing open space priorities. At this workshop we learned about the tools and innovative approaches our COG’s and RPC’s are implementing, about our COG’s most recent projects and programs, and the status of our Regional Plans of Conservation and Development. The panel featured representatives from each of our Corridor COG’s.
Livable Regions, Cities and Villages Kip Bergstrom, Executive Director, Rhode Island Economic Policy Council Kip spoke on Rhode Island's Places Strategy: The Economic Development Dimension of Smart Growth. The Rhode Island Economic Policy Council "…believes that R.I. must use its unique strengths to enhance its competitive position in the regional and global economies - and that we must guard against the creeping sameness that has sapped the vitality from other communities in their quest for economic success." Myron Orfield, President, Amerigis In March 2003, Myron Orfield co-authored Connecticut Metropatterns: A Regional Agenda for Community and Prosperity in Connecticut. Written for the CenterEdge Coalition, the study "…finds that the way the state is growing is hurting all communities - from the most impoverished to the most affluent." Mr. Orfield discussed the findings of his study and recommendations which include implementing regional and statewide strategies to address: 1) greater fiscal capacity and equity among local governments, 2) smarter planning in land use, transportation, environmental protection and affordable housing, and 3) more effective regional leadership and decision-making. www.oua-adh.org/centerEdge_project Livable Landscapes Livable Landscapes: By Chance or By Choice? This video documentary is available for loan from the GVI, please call Susan Westa at 860-774-9600 or e-mail: susan.westa@uconn.edu Panel Discussion |
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