NYMIR Home Page	Land Use Training Program for Local Government Officials
Contents Tutorial I Tutorial II Tutorial III Tutorial IV Tutorial V Tutorial VI Tutorial VII Tutorial VIII Tutorial IX Glossary By Subject Matter Zoning - The Basics Comprehensive Planning Subdivison Regulation Site Plan Regulation Variances Special Use Permits and Permit Conditions Environmental Review Local Board Practice Strategic Local Laws Glossary of Land Use Terms and Phrases LAND USE LAW CENTER The Land Use Learning Training Program for Local Government Officials  was prepared by the Land Use Law Center of Pace University School of Law under contract with the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal. Copyright © 1999.   All rights reserved. The Program was updated in 2003 by PACE , and again in 2007 by NYMIR with the assistance of its Attorney-in-Fact, The New York State Local Government Services Foundation, Inc.	Begin the training program by clicking the links found on the left of this page.  The following legend explains the tutorial's icons. Legend Note:   terms underlined within the tutorials are linked to their glossary definition.   PITFALLS - This little bomb symbolizes particular pitfalls that should be considered as potential problems or areas that should be approached with caution. PROCEDURE - This icon highlights points on procedure that local boards, the legislature, landowners, and citizens will follow in each situation presented. CASES - This gavel will be used throughout the training program and will point to illustrative cases. These are real cases that local governments had to defend themselves against. They are provided to show common mistakes, standards to which local governments are held, and to raise your awareness of important issues. STATUTES - This symbol will be used to point out the statutes that grant or limit the power of local officials.   Statutory references are linked to the text of the law.  Understanding these specific statutes is important in making land use decisions. The attorney assigned to advise local government can answer specific questions based on these laws.	Program Description The Land Use Learning Program is an educational course designed to teach busy local officials the basics of New York land use law and practice. The audience for the course is the membership of the local boards that are charged with responsibility for making decisions about land use matters, primarily the local legislature, planning board and zoning board of appeals. Members of other local boards, such as the conservation advisory commission, wetlands commission, historic district commission, or the architectural review board, may be interested in taking the course as well. The Program is designed to be used either as a home study course or in a seminar setting where the participants are guided by an instructor. It contains nine segments covering the basics of local land use practice such as zoning, comprehensive planning, reviewing applications for site plan and subdivision approval, special permits, variances and environmental review. The titles of each component are set forth at the far left of this page. Each component emphasizes the standards, procedures and practices that local boards should follow to avoid being sued by applicants, neighbors or others or, if sued, to prevail. There is a quiz at the end of each tutorial that an individual may take to demonstrate that the course has been satisfactorily completed. The educational program is written for volunteers who may be experienced with aspects of land use practice but who are not experts or practitioners. Each component describes the basics of the subject covered and summarizes the requirements of applicable statutes and the lessons learned from important court cases. The emphasis is on understanding the fundamental rules and avoiding common mistakes.