Project Plans FY09

Citizen Planner Training Collaborative

Project Leader: Michael DiPasquale

Participating Extension Staff and Faculty

• Michael DiPasquale

Project Year: 2009

Brief Description of Plan

The vast majority of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts have volunteer planning boards and zoning boards of appeal. These boards have significant decision-making power over zoning, development, natural resource protection, and other important land use issues. With the complexity of changing state regulations and without dedicated professional staff, many board members struggle to stay informed of new developments, and the tools and techniques that can promote better decisions or avoid unnecessary or costly appeals.

The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) provides local planning and zoning officials with up-to-date learning tools to make effective decisions regarding their communities' current and future land use. CPTC offers a series of Fall Workshops, an annual Spring Conference and On-Demand Training. Information is also delivered through the CPTC website, and a through and an innovative web-technology (webinars) that allows users to participate in distance learning programs. The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) is the only comprehensive training option targeted specifically to the citizens (mostly volunteers) that serve on boards in the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Activities

• Fall Workshops
• On-demand Training
• Spring Conference
• Maintain and expand CPTC website

Inputs: Time and Effort

Outcomes:

This Project will document progress towards the following:

• Local land use officials and professional planning practitioners have the knowledge, skills and motivation to promote sustainability and equity through planning and regulation.
• Municipal board members with increased confidence and competence in administering land use regulations.
• Municipal land use boards are committed to legal and procedural standards and increased transparency.

This project is a part of the Natural Resource & Environmental Conservation program