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Events Materials

2024

2023

2022

  • 10/19/22 - NYS DOS training on:
  • 6/21/22 - How can you make local policy food-system-friendly?
  • 6/8/22 - Housing Summit
  • 3/3/22 12pm - Clean Energy and Your Comprehensive Plan - Municipal & advisory board members, planning staff, comprehensive plan committee members & others 
  • 3/10/22 12pm - Models laws for Solar Energy and Battery Storage - Municipal & advisory board members, planning staff, comprehensive plan committee members & others
  • 3/17/22 12pm - Solar PV Permitting and Inspecting – for code enforcement, building officials, & others
  • 3/24/22 12pm - Battery Energy Storage Permitting and Inspecting - for code enforcement, building officials, & others

2021

2021 Training Event materials have been saved on the One Region Forward website

Topics:

  • How Can Land Banks Turn Vacancy into Value?
  • How Can I Prepare My Community for Coastal Hazards?
  • How Can Affordable Housing Benefit My Community?
  • How Can Universal Design Be Used in My Next Project?

2020

How do we move complete streets forward in the region?

August 20, 2020 webinar

Annual training with DOS - SEQRA Short Environmental Assessment Form Walkthrough

June 16, 2020 webinar

  • Step by step review of the SEAF and review of SEQRA updates, with Q&A
  • Handouts

How do I develop a good solar project in my community?

How do I develop a good solar project in my community?

May 15, 2020 WEBINAR

  • Legal experts, local municipal peers, and representatives from governmental agencies will share what you need to know before, during, and after developing solar.
  • SESSION 1. Preparing for Solar. Moderated by: Jason Kulaszewski, UB Regional Institute
    • Peter Jeffery, Town of Porter 
    • Jennifer Manierre, NYSERDA 
    • Mary Underhill, Livingston County Planning Department  
  • SESSION 2. Engaging the Process. Moderated by: Daniel Castle, AICP, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning
    • Michael Saviola, NYS Deptartment of Agriculture and Markets 
    • Daniel Spitzer, Hodgson Russ 
  • More information at http://www.oneregionforward.org/learning2020/

2019

Is Your Town Planning for Agriculture?

Local Planning for Agriculture -

4.3.19 - 6pm - 8pm at the Roycroft Campus, by Jeff Kehoe, NYSDAM

  • Presentation
  • Training session on Current Issues & Trends in Agriculture and Agricultural Grant Opportunities, including:
    • Agricultural Districts Program
    • Implementation Grants
    • Agritourism
    • Solar Siting on Agricultural Land
    • NYSDAM Municipal Planning Grant
    • Q&A
  • Flyer

Small Cell Wireless Network Technology and Planning

Small Cell Wireless Network Technology and Planning by WNYAPA & Verizon

3.22.19 - 2pm - 3:30pm

How are Local Communities becoming more resilient?

3.19.19 - 8 am - 12:30 pm,UB Hayes Hall , Buffalo 

  • Session 1: Planning for Healthy and Clean Waterways
    • Watershed Management Planning: Kerrie Gallo, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, look at municipal planning and policy through the watershed lens.
    • Natural Resiliency through Flood Control Measures: Jayme Thomann, Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, how to address increased flood events in a sustainable and effective method.
    • Best Management Practices from Culverts to Agriculture: Mark Gaston, Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District, effective strategies to promote healthy riparian shorelines in rural and urban settings.
  • Session 2: Clean Energy in Your Community
    • Smart Street Lighting: Jim Jones, Town of Tonawanda, save money and put your street lights to work for you.
    • Responsible Solar Development: Beverly Kinney & Jim Sharpe, Town of Grand Island, making sure renewable energy happens the RIGHT way.
    • Electric Vehicles in Your Fleet: Richard Coburn, Town of Cheektowaga, reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.
  • This One Region Forward workshop was organized by Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, the UB Regional Institute, Erie County, Niagara County, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of Porter.

2018

Local Planning for Agriculture

Local Planning for Agriculture - 2 to 4 hours of Land Use Training credit - Click here for more information

September 25th, 2018 - 2 sessions

Community Solar 101 for Municipalities - 1.5 hours of land use training credit - click here for more information

June 27th, 2018, 2 - 3:30 pm, or 5:30 - 7pm

  • Reinstein Woods Nature Center, 93 Honorine Dr, Depew, NY 14043
  • Discussion included:
    • Community Solar basics and introduction to critical aspects and best practices for planning and zoning for solar 
    • Payment-In-Lieu-of-Tax(PILOT) agreements
    • Siting solar while protecting farmlands
    • Specifics on solar project economics
    • Model Solar Energy Local Law

UrbanPlan for Public Officials Workshop: Engaging Local Decision Makers in a Dialogue about Land Use Dynamics

August 6th, 2018, 8:30-3:30, 

  • University at Buffalo, South Campus
  • UrbanPlan for Public Offcials is an engaging workshop that convenes local decision makers for an interactive dialogue about the fundamental forces that affect the built environment and the important leadership roles that elected and appointed offcials play. By taking on the role of developer, participants in the workshop get a chance to broaden their knowledge in the following areas: 
    • the basics of a pro forma and funding of a complex project; 
    • the economics of different building types and community benefts;
    • the different time horizons for the public and private sectors;
    • the risk associated with lengthy negotiations among all parties; and
    • the importance of a clear and open process in the selection of a private partner

Intermunicipal TrainingAffordable Housing

NYSDOS & Erie County DEP Annual Local Government Training 

May 30, 2018 - 5:15 pm - 8:15 pm

Municipal Law Seminar by Hodgson Russ -  - for more information: http://www.hodgsonruss.com/newsroom-events-2384.html 

May 17, 2018 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga, NY 14225
  • Discussion and hot-button topics included:
    • Legislative Session Update
    • Social Media: Implications for Local Government
    • Land Use – Microcell Zoning Issues and Brownfields Grant Opportunities
    • Solar Projects and Real Property Tax Challenge Update
    • Capital Projects / Bond Financings: Your Issues for 2018
    • The U.S. Constitution and Local Government: Critical Issues for Municipal Officials 

2017

Urban Land Institute Training: UrbanPlan for Public Officials Workshop: Engaging Local Decision Makers in a Dialogue about Land Use Dynamic

Urban Land Institute Training: UrbanPlan for Public Officials Workshop: Engaging Local Decision Makers in a Dialogue about Land Use Dynamic. 

August 1, 2017 - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 

  • University at Buffalo, South Campus, Hayes Hall 403, 3435 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214

NYSERDA Solar PILOT Toolkit - Webinar 

Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 2 p.m. 

Department of State 2017 Erie County Training

Department of State 2017 Erie County Training

Thursday June 29, 2017 from 6 pm to 9:15 pm

Preparing for Extreme Weather Events through Land-Use Planning

Preparing for Extreme Weather Events through Land-Use Planning 

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

2016

Municipal Solar Ordinances: Guidance and Considerations

December 13, 2016, 10:00 AM -12:00 PM

  • Orchard Park Town Hall, Basement Meeting Room - 4295 S Buffalo St, Orchard Park, NY 14127
  • SUMMARY:
    This workshop covers topics related to solar development that are especially relevant to local governments with a focus on developing a local solar zoning ordinance. The first part of the workshop will discuss: solar development in agricultural areas, and solar and property taxes including Real Property Tax Law Section 487 and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs). The second part of the workshop will walk participants through the NY State Model Solar Ordinance and review strategies and best practices for developing a clear, comprehensive, and enforceable solar regulatory framework. Local government officials who complete this course are eligible to receive complementary one-on-one technical support in designing and implementing smart solar policy in their local jurisdiction.
    Presenters: Jessica Bacher, Pace Land Use Law Center, Pace University Law School
  • View and/or download the presentation
  • Course Credits: This course qualifies for credit hours toward meeting the NY State mandatory training requirement for local planning and zoning board officials. Check with your municipality for further information. Attendance certificates will be available.
  • For Questions Contact : Debra Liegl, Phone:716-858-6409, Email: Debra.Liegl@erie.gov

Municipal Solar Policy: Zoning for SolarMunicipal Solar Ordinances

Municipal Solar Policy: Zoning for Solar

Thursday, October 13th, 2016

  • Orchard Park Municipal Building, 4295 S Buffalo St, Orchard Park, NY 14127 - 10am - 12pm OR 5pm to 7pm; 2 credits
  • SUMMARY:
    The workshop provided by NYSERDA’s PV Trainers Network and Erie County covered topics related to solar development that are especially relevant to local governments with a focus on developing a local solar zoning ordinance. The first part of the workshop discussed: solar development in agricultural areas, solar and property taxes including Real Property Tax Law Section 487 and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), end of life of solar PV systems, and review common solar myths. The second part of the workshop walked participants through the NY State Model Solar Ordinance and review strategies and best practices for developing a clear, comprehensive, and enforceable solar regulatory framework. Local government officials who complete this course are eligible to receive complementary one-on-one technical support in designing and implementing smart solar policy in their local jurisdiction.
  • Presenters: Jessica Bacher, Pace Land Use Law Center, Pace University Law School, & William Oberkehr and Derric Meister, Sustainable CUNY
  • View and/or download the presentation
  •  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
    Please feel free to share this with other members of your community. In particular, you may be interested in:
    • Contact information – slides 23, 110 & 112
    • Resources regarding solar ordinances (webinars and guidance documents) – slides 31 & 37
    • Agricultural links: - slide 84
    • Links to general solar information – slides 108 & 109
  •  During the presentation, several contact names and resources were given:
  • We are looking into holding another, slightly longer, training focused solely on the ordinance with the same trainer, Jessica Bacher from Pace Law Center.  If you know of people who would be interested in attending this, please send an e-mail to Debbie Liegl at Debra.Liegl@erie.gov.
  • If your community is in Erie County and there are other resources beyond those listed above that you need to work on this issue, we are interested in knowing that.  Please e-mail Bonnie Lawrence at Bonnie.Lawrence@erie.gov or Debbie Liegl at Debra.Liegl@erie.gov with more information about your community’s needs.

DOS & Erie County 2016 Training

DOS & Erie County 2016 Training

Wednesday June 1st, 2016 - ECC SOUTH, Room 102, Building 5, 4041 Southwestern Blvd, Orchard Park, NY 14127 - 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM; 2.5 credits

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