Thursday, March 1, 2012

NY Planning Federation Conference April 15-17 in Saratoga Springs

From the NY Planning Federation
This year's conference offers several programs related to urban and/or downtown issues, each focusing on a different concern for municipal boards and professional planners. These include "Designing Urban Bikeways," "Multi-Generational Design in Community Planning," "Context Sensitive Design," "Developing a Viable Downtown" and "Public Health Considerations in Community Design."

We also have both introductory and advanced SEQR courses, as many of you requested. The advanced class will focus on the sometimes-confusing process of filling out the long form EIS, while the introductory session will cover SEQR basics.

Dates: Sunday April 15 to Tuesday April 17
Place: Saratoga Hilton Hotel & Conference Center, downtown Saratoga Springs
Programming: Begins at 4:30 pm Sunday with a mock open meetings hearing, then 8:30 am - 4:45 pm on Monday, Apr. 16 and 8:30 - Noon on Tuesday, Apr. 17.

A conference registration form is posted on our website (www.nypf.org)

Monday morning April 16th begins with an 8:30 am plenary session. We are excited that Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, and one of our most popular presenters, has agreed to be this year's keynote speaker. His topic will be "Reflections on Transparency," a term that he notes, "we hear far too frequently." Freeman's talk will discuss the evolution of the term, its meaning, and the likelihood of real transparency, "required, in fact, by law in New York." As with any of his lively sessions, comments and questions from the audience will be encouraged.

The plenary program kicks off two days of almost two dozen classes for all levels. In response to numerous requests from municipal boards, we are adding an entire track of introductory courses aimed at first-time planning board and/or ZBA members, as well as for those wanting to brush up on their basic knowledge. These sessions will be identified as "Introductory" in the conference program and so far include presentations on:


Area & Use Variances
Introduction to SEQR
Site Plan Review
Special Use Permits
Non-Conforming Uses
Rights & Responsibilities of Board Members
More experienced attendees will want to hear well-known Albany Law School attorney Patricia Salkin present sessions on Case Law Updates and Ethics.

Other speakers will discuss:
Advanced SEQR
Context-Sensitive Design
Updating the Comprehensive Plan
Zoning for a Viable Downtown
Natural Gas Drilling
Creating Bicycle-Friendly Communities
When Right is Blight
Conducting Meetings
Local Planning and Agriculture
Article X
and many more topics - including several "hot button" issues -- that are still in the works and will be announced shortly.

All sessions at the NYPF conference meet the New York State annual 4 hour training requirements for planning board and ZBA members; those attending the full conference will receive 8 credits during the three days, enough for two years' of certification. We are also applying to the APA to once again be a CM provider for professional planners.

If you are staying at the Hilton, please call 518 584 4000 and ask for the registration desk. Inform them that you are part of the New York Planning Federation conference. The room rate is $99.00 per person per night, exclusive of taxes and other charges. Note that parking is free to conference attendees. (Your hotel confirmation will include a parking charge which will be waived upon arrival.)


Feel free to contact either Lael Locke (llocke@nypf.org), Judy Breselor (jbreselor@nypf.org) or Anne Rounds (anne@nypf.org) at our office with any questions, suggestions or concerns. Our phone number is 518 512 5270.

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