Planning Board 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 is required for the Cayuga County Planning Board Training Series.

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

1879 Genesee St Rd, Aurelius - 3/20/24 at 7:00 PM - by CCPED Staff
Conducting a rigorous and comprehensive Environmental Assessment review can be daunting. Presenters will simplify the SEQR process into manageable pieces to enable review boards to conduct environmental reviews with competence and confidence.

1879 Genesee St Rd, Aurelius - 6/12/24 at 7:00 PM - by NYSERDA staff
The Overview of the Model Solar Law course provides an introduction to land use and zoning considerations for solar as included in the Model Solar Law, a resource contained in NYSERDA’s Solar Guidebook for Local Governments. The course introduces solar energy system basics, as well as covers policies and programs shaping solar development in New York, provides an overview of resources contained in the Solar Guidebook for Local Governments, and covers the Model Solar Law. The Model Solar Law is a template zoning law intended to be comprehensive and highly customizable; this course provides municipalities with the information required to adopt a well-considered, balanced solar law.

1879 Genesee St Rd, Aurelius - 9/18/24 at 7:00 PM - by CCPED Staff
Cayuga County Planning Staff will discuss the fundamentals of Site Plan Review, including what to ask and look for to ensure a safe and functioning plan is approved. Attendees will leave with a basic understanding of how to read and interpret scaled site plans.

1879 Genesee St Rd, Aurelius - 11/13/24 at 7:00 PM - by CCPED Staff
Planning Staff will cover 2 one-hour topics. First, we will take a look at the challenges to regulating short-term rentals with examples of how other communities tackle the issue. In the second hour, we will cover our annual review of upcoming grant opportunities.

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 Opens a New Window. .