April 17th, 2023 1:00-2:00PM Presented by: Juliana Barrett and Chet Arnold; UConn CLEAR Emeritus In this presentation by Juliana Barrett and Chet Arnold we will explore what riparian buffers are and why they are a critical component of both our coastal and inland communities. Riparian buffers play a critical role in water quality and watershed protection, provide […]
Land Use Academy
UConn Land Use Academy Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Evolving Needs
CLEAR’s very own Renata Bertotti was featured in UConn Today’s article, UConn Land Use Academy Celebrates 20th Anniversary and Evolving Needs, discussing her work with the Land Use Academy – which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Land Use Academy provides education for local land use planners as they make decisions balancing development and environmental […]
Land Use Academy Advanced Training Session Recordings
UConn CLEAR’s Land Use Academy held a series of three Advanced Legal Procedures virtual training sessions for land use commissioners in February. The sessions included (1) Bias, Conflict and Predisposition; (2) Running a Meeting and Making A Decision; and (3) Fair and Affordable Housing. The session were presented in collaboration with the CT Bar Association. […]
Emergency Changes to the Land Use Process in the COVID-19 Era
March 26, 2020 Presented By Sara C. Bronin, Thomas F. Gallivan Chair of Real Property Law, UConn Law School and Chair, Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission In the COVID-19 era, the law must balance the need to limit face-to-face interaction, the public interest in efficient municipal function, and the difficulties municipalities face in an era […]
Land Use Academy wins award from CT Planners
CLEAR’s Land Use Academy has won the 2014 Education Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association. The Academy, created in 2007, provides basic training for municipal land use commissioners on roles and responsibilities, legal requirements and site plan reading, as well as advanced training on emerging topics. As we all know, land […]
Time to Reassess Connecticut’s Landscape
“Now is the time for Connecticut to move swiftly to save our dwindling open spaces and our great heritage of natural resources for the use and enjoyment of future generations.” Thus began a letter from the Governor of Connecticut ordering the preparation of a plan of action for statewide conservation. The Governor was John Dempsey, […]
A Climate Adaptation Academy for Connecticut
Modeled after CLEAR’s highly successful Land Use Academy, we are embarking on a new forum for land use officials and other interested professionals, a Climate Adaptation Academy (CAA). The CAA, sponsored by Connecticut Sea Grant and CLEAR, with funding from NOAA/National Sea Grant is envisioned to be an exchange of information, issues, experiences and solutions. […]
Climate Change: Beyond Dispute or an Attempt to Redistribute Wealth?
On Friday Governor Dannel Malloy and UConn President Susan Herbst, along with a host of federal and state officials, announced the creation of the Institute for Community Resiliency and Climate Adaptation. Located at UConn’s Avery Point Campus, the Institute is a collaboration between UConn and CTDEEP and its mission, in broad terms, is to coordinate […]
What We Don’t Know We Don’t Know About Climate Change
With a Shout out to Donald Rumsfeld “There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don’t know. ” […]
When it comes to Climate Change— Money Talks
It is generally accepted by climate scientists that New England will experience a trend of increasing intensity and frequency of storms resulting in an increase in flooding and coastal erosion. Recent storms have raised our collective awareness of the damage, both fiscal and physical, that these storms can cause. Consider that Sandy wasn’t even a […]
This is Not Your Dog’s Clicker Training
When you say the word “clicker” the first thing many people think of is training a dog. But clickers can also refer to the devices used to engage an audience in group decision-making. When a contestant in a game show decides to “ask the audience,” an audience response system (aka clicker) is used. Recently, clickers […]
What the Heck is the Land Use Academy?
As a local land use commissioner you are faced with making decisions about how your community will grow, reviewing and approving applications for a variety of projects and balancing growth with natural resource protection. Sometimes court decisions change the rules, you receive conflicting advice, the information you have to work with is incomplete or you […]
Introduction to “Buildout” Analyses
February 28, 2012 Presented by Bruce Hyde, Emily Wilson and Chet Arnold, UConn CLEAR A “buildout” analysis is a planning tool that can provide insight into the possible future impacts of a town’s current land use regulations. But what does a buildout really tell you? In the first half of the webinar, we’ll explain what […]
Land Use Academy Spring 2012 Schedule
The Land Use Academy has two new training classes scheduled for land use officials. The Advanced Training Academy held on November 5 was a huge success. As a result, another Advanced Training Academy is scheduled for March 31, 2012. The Academy will be held on the University of Connecticut Stamford Campus. The Advanced Land Use […]
Land Use Academy’s Advanced Training
The first Advanced Training Academy held on November 5 was a huge success. Attendance was at capacity, attracting 85 land use commissioners and professional planners from 36 towns for the day long training. As a result, we have added another Advanced Training Academy for March 31, 2012. The Advanced Land Use Academy training is a departure […]