In-Person 2025
April 26, 2025
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
This training is most helpful to newly appointed or elected Land Use Commissioners. It will cover three (3) general commissioner training hours under the CGS 8-4c (Fair and Affordable Housing hour will NOT be covered).
Following topics will be covered:
- Legal Basis for Land Use Regulations
- Types of power of Land Use Commissions
- Types of application: Zone Change and Regulation Amendments v. Special Permit v. Site Plan v. Variances
- Meeting decorum and responsibilities / Fundamental Fairness
Complimentary breakfast included. Cost $45
Virtual 2025
October 2, 2025
October 9, 2025
October 16, 2025
October 23, 2025
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
This training will be most helpful to newly elected or appointed land use commissioners and board members. The content will be the same or very similar to what was covered during 2024 "Third Thursday monthly Webinars". Four hours of general commissioner training. Fair and Affordable Housing commissioner training hours NOT covered. In 2025, this training will be provided weekly, in October, on each Thursday at 12 PM (noon) in a form of one (1) hour long lunch time webinars.
Topics covered: October 2, 2025 at 12PM (noon) : Legal Basis for Land Use Regulations, Commissioner Training Requirements, Types of Power of Land Use Commissions October 9, 2025 at 12PM (noon): Types of Applications, Running a Meeting; Responsibilities/Fundamental Fairness October 16, 2025 at 12PM (noon): Alternates, Site walks, Public Hearings October 23, 2025 at 12PM (noon): Conflict of Interest, Bias and Predisposition, Representation by Commission Members, Social Media, FOIA
Past Webinar Sessions:
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 8
December 19, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
Fundamentals of Site Plan Reading - Part 1
Part 2 Coming Soon
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 7
October 17, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
Timeline will progress based on interest and questions:
- Representation by Commission Members
- Social Media
- FOIA
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 6
September 19, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
Timeline will progress based on interest and questions:
- Conflict of Interest
- Bias and Predisposition
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 5
July 18, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
Timeline will progress based on interest and questions:
- Public Hearings
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 4
June 20, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
- Alternates
- Sitewalks
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 3
May 16, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
- Running a Meeting
- Responsibilities / Fundamental Fairness
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 2
April 18, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
- Types of Power of Land Use Commissions
- Zone Change and Regulation Amendments v. Special Permit v. Site Plan
Land Use Academy 2024 Basic Training Webinar Series Session 1
MARCH 21, 2024
Presented by: Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR
- Legal Basis for Land Use Regulations
- Commissioner Training Requirements for members of Planning, Zoning, ZBA, Inland Wetlands and Watercourse and Aquifer Protection Commissions
2020: Legal Requirements & Procedures, Roles & Responsibilities
This class provides a basic understanding of legal principals and procedures that must be adhered to so that legal challenges to decisions or other actions are minimized. Gives land use commissioners an overview of the source of their authority, their role in relation to other land use commissions, current land use issues they should consider, and their responsibility to be fair and unbiased in their decision making. This sessions is interactive using “clickers” and case studies.
Includes:
Legal Basis for Land Use Regulation, Roles of Commissions, Public Hearing and Timeframes, Important Issues to Consider, Conflicts, Bias and Pre-determination, Running a Meeting, FOI, Ex-Parte Communications, Hypothetical Case Study Review
Materials:
This training refers to handouts that are typically used in the in-person training (access these handouts). You should download the hypothetical case study, The Town of East Northport, CT, before starting these online training modules.
2020: Fundamentals of Reading Plans
A version of Fundamentals of Reading Plans is now online.
Assists commissioners with developing plan reading skills including understanding scale, topography, hydrology and stormwater. It goes beyond the basics in a way that is understandable and relevant. This session is hands on using plans from real projects. Participants learn to translate what is on the plans to what it will look like on the ground.
Includes:
- Review of the difference between a plan and a map.
- Review of basic map reading techniques-wetlands, legends, scale, topography, water flow, etc.
- Hands on exercise: the participants will use the skills learned in the beginning of the session to plan a hiking trail that contains specific features like crossing streams at a specific elevation, avoiding wetlands, crossing hilltops and hits the high and low point on the property.
Materials:
For citation purposes: University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research. (March 05, 2024). Basic Training. https://clear.uconn.edu/lua/basic.