Training

Local Planning Assistance Training

Planning board and zoning board of appeals members make decisions of major importance to their communities and to all New Yorkers. These decisions can affect the function and appearance of communities for decades to come while impacting property interests important to individual New Yorkers. 

For this reason the State of New York requires all Planning Board members and members of the local Board of Zoning Appeals to undergo four hours of training each year.

The Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development provides several opportunities throughout the year to help those on local planning boards and Zoning Board of Appeals to meet this training requirement. In addition, there are many training opportunities available in neighboring counties and online.

Cayuga County Planning Board Training Series

Pre-registration for training sessions in the Cayuga County Planning Board Training Series is required by 1 p.m. the day of the training. To sign up, please contact the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development.

All sessions in the Cayuga County Planning Board Training Series are free of charge and designed for members of locally elected and appointed boards.

Upcoming Sessions in the Cayuga County Planning Board Training Series

SEQR, Recording Findings, & Ethics
March 13, 2019, 7:00 PM

Conducting a rigorous, comprehensive Environmental Assessment review can be daunting. Presenters will review the SEQR process, including DEC's updates for 2019, as well as best practices for documenting findings. The presentation will conclude with a discussion about ethics, potential legal ramifications, and relevant case law.  

Cost: FREE, 2 hours credit.  

Presenter: Cayuga County Planning.

Registration:  The registration form is available here.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About FOIL and Open Meetings ... But Were Afraid to Ask
April 10, 2019, 6:00 PM

The Committee on Open Government is responsible for overseeing and advising with regard to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), the Open Meetings Law, and the Personal Privacy Protection Law. Bob Freeman has worked for the Committee since its creation in 1974 and was appointed director in 1976. Mr. Freeman has spoken on open government laws and concepts throughout the United States, as well as Canada, the far east, Latin America, and eastern Europe, and has taught the only course in an American law school on public access to government information.

Cost: FREE, 2 hours credit.

Presenter: New York State Committee on Open Government.

Special Use Permits vs. Planned Development Districts
August 14, 2019, 7:00 PM

When it comes to granting zoning approvals, not all review processes are created equal. Presenters will compare the benefits and drawbacks of two common reviews, Special Use Permits (SUP) and Plannded Development Districts (PDD), and provide examples of when and when not to deploy them.

Cost: FREE, 2 hours credit.

Presenter: Cayuga County Planning. 

Implementing Your Plans: Funding Opportunities in New York State
November 13, 2019, 7:00 PM

Presenters will highlight grants available through the Consolidated Funding Application including: the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), Water Quality Improvement Projects Program, the Climate Smart Communities Program, parks and trails programs, and the Canalway Grants Program. A breakdown of the application process and a review of recent grants awarded in Cayuga County will also be provided.

Cost: FREE, 2 hours credit.

Presenter: Cayuga County Planning.

 Have an idea for a training topic that you want to learn about? Call the Planning Department at (315) 253-1276 or email the Planning Department.

Presentations and resource materials from past trainings are available in the document center.


Other Trainings

Below are some of the nearby training opportunities. Look for announcements of other local and regional training opportunities on the NYS Land Use Training Network Calendar.