2019 Workshop
View the 2019 Workshop Program to see the Agenda, Speaker Biographies, and Session Descriptions.
Plenary Session
Planning for Density
This session featured a panel discussion in which the speakers shared insight on development trends towards density. Panelists brought their perspectives on development, planning, transit, and housing for the elderly. By the end of the session, attendees would have had a broader understanding of industry trends and development pressure towards density, community planning, and best practices for apartment development and transportation considerations for these developments.
Session Speakers: Ross Farrell, Randy Hook, Rob Leslie & David Burns
Sustainability Sessions
Model Solar Law and Battery Energy Storage System Resources
This course reviewed the Model Solar Energy Law developed by NYSERDA as a best practice guidance. This model law was developed by reviewing solar laws statewide and nationally to develop an all-inclusive model for municipalities to use to adopt a solar law. Additionally, speakers introduced resources to support local governments in responsible adoption of Battery Energy Storage.
Session Speaker: Houtan Moaveni
Clean Heating and Cooling
This session provided attendees with an overview of geothermal technology, as well as an overview of the Clean Heating & Cooling Campaign.
Session Speakers: Todd Fabozzi & John Ciavacco
Climate Smart Communities Grant Opportunities
This session on Climate Smart Communities provided those who attended with an overview of the Climate Smart Communities Program Grants that are available through the NYS Consolidated Funding Application Process.
Session Speaker: Dazzle Ekblad
Planning & Zoning Sessions
Case Law Update
Attendees of this session got the latest information on a dynamic year for New York courts as they reviewed and issued decisions on a wide variety of land use approvals and denials. If you are looking for insight into how courts thought about and assessed local planning and zoning decisions in 2017 and 2018, this session will provide you a close look at the laws and standards that are applied to both approvals and denials issued by your board. The class highlighted teachable cases from across the state which aim to provide a framework of land use law that can become useable by a planning or zoning board members in the coming year.
Session Speaker: Libby Coreno
Ethics for Public Officials
This session covered Ethics for Local Government Officials and Volunteers, including the Code of Ethics as defined by Public Officers Law section 74. It also included Public Officers Law section 73 as it relates to Outside Activities, Restrictions on Political Activities, Nepotism, Gifts, Honorarium, Official Activity Expenses, and Post-Employment Restrictions.
Session Speaker: Thomas A. Capezza
What You Need to Know About The 2018 Amendments to the Statewide SEQR Regulations
On January 1, 2019, DEC’s amendments to the Statewide State Environmental Quality Review Act regulations became effective. DEC staff presented those changes and the rationale for the most important changes which was followed by a question-and-answer period.
Session Speakers: Lawrence H. Weintraub, Thomas J. King & James J. Eldred
Is Your Community Ready for Agriculture?
Farming is a deeply held tradition within our region. While modern farming is known to be filled with challenges like development pressures, family succession, and making enough money to stay in business, there are also active, economically successful stories within our region to learn about. Attendees heard about farming today in the Capital Region, emerging trends and opportunities, innovative community programs that seek to get people connected with local produce, and specific economic benefits and opportunities for farmers in your community. This session also discussed the case of a regional farm that has evolved and adapted to current conditions through a variety of ways will be discussed. Funding opportunities and local community support for agriculture were also covered. The speakers walked attendees through a Planning Grant Program. Following the presentation there was a discussion about local actions to protect and accommodate agriculture. Attendees were also encouraged to share local success stories that they knew of.
Session Speakers: Jeff Kehoe, Marissa Peck & Laurie ten Eyck
Infrastructure Sessions
Updates to the NYS MS4 General Permit
The 2016 draft New York State Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) General Permit was released for public comment by the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in October of 2016. The draft document received over 1,200 comments from permittees, environmental groups, and the EPA, and in August 2018. The NYSDEC re-initiated a stormwater stakeholder workgroup series comprised of over 20 stormwater representatives from across New York State with various affiliations. The NYSDEC incorporated the feedback from the public comment period and the stakeholder workgroup series into a revised draft document anticipated for release later this year. In this presentation, the NYSDEC will review the requirements of the 2016 draft permit, changes to anticipate in the next draft later this year, and ways to improve your MS4 program moving forward
Session Speaker: Ethan Sullivan & Christina Chiappetta
Infrastructure and the Grants Game: Playing to Win for Your Community
When it comes to municipal infrastructure and public facilities, there is no need to sit on the Grant sidelines or wait for the best loan deal! This session served as a primer for communities seeking to join the Grants Game and those looking to enhance their grants performance in order to secure creative funding for their infrastructure and public facility priorities. Topics included identifying suitable projects, matching state and local grants that best fit those projects, tips for navigating complex application procedures including the 2019 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) and avoiding common pitfalls so you can make your proposals stand out in the crowded funding field. C.T. Male Associates provided an “insider’s guide” to help maximize your infrastructure proposals to keep you in the Great Grants Game!
Session Speaker: Jim Thatcher
Stormwater Management Perspectives for Planners
Stormwater Management and the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (aka SWPPP or “swip”) are accepted integral parts of the urbanization and development process. For Planning and Zoning Board members and staff it is critical to understand the regulations and their objectives. This workshop provided a comprehensive overview of stormwater management planning and regulations relative to Site Plan Review.
In the second portion of the program, the presenter shared several case studies on application of stormwater controls and methods employed. Techniques used and the experience from negotiated design, stormwater pollution prevention plan development (SWPPP), and ultimately performance perspectives will be reviewed. Approaches to using the combination of site plans and SWPPPs to address flooding, wetland and stream protection and open space values will be presented. Shortcomings in wetland and hydrology data sets will be discussed along with suggestions on how to develop local scale data for incorporation in plans. Finally, cautions on seasonal performance of stormwater designs will be noted.
Session Speaker: Tom Hart
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