Land Use Training Program for Local Government Officials |
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Contents by
subject matter LAND USE LAW
CENTER |
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 PROCEDURE CASES STATUTES |
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, 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 win. 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. |
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- This little bomb
symbolizes particular pitfalls that should be considered
as potential problems or areas that should be approached
with caution.
- This icon highlights
points on procedure that local boards, the legislature,
landowners, and citizens will follow in each situation
presented. 
- 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.
- 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.