Sponsored by the Connecticut Bar Association Planning and Zoning Section

The future of Connecticut’s communities will be shaped by its land use laws and regulations. Developers, neighbors, and preservationists all intersect before municipal land use boards and commissions, advocating their particular interests and approaches. Each commission member regularly has to make critical decisions, all within the context of complicated statutory and case law.

This introductory level course will focus on topics of immediate concern to all municipal land use agencies, boards, commissions, and their staffs. The topics reflect both timely and practical situations, confronting participants at every level of the municipal land use process. This course will provide a broad review of the municipal land use process, including zoning, planning, zoning board of appeals, and wetlands issues. Members of municipal land use agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as municipal planners, enforcement officers, and engineers will benefit from this full day course.

Members of municipal land use agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as municipal planners, enforcement officers, and engineers will benefit from this full day course.

Schedule

9:00 a.m. – Welcome
Atty. Atty. Rick Costantini and Atty. Evan Seeman
Co-chairs, CBA Planning and Zoning Section

9:10 a.m. -- Public Hearing Procedures
Atty. Peter S. Olson, Bethel

9:40 a.m. -- Conflict of Interest and Predisposition
Atty. Richard P. Roberts, Hartford

10:20 a.m. -- Environmental Interventions
Atty. Janet P. Brooks, East Berlin

10:50 a.m. – Planning Commission
Atty. Amy E. Souchuns, Milford

11:20 a.m. – Zoning Commissions
Atty. Marjorie F. Shansky, New Haven

12:30 p.m. – Special Permit and Site Plan Review
Atty. Brian R. Smith, Hartford

1:00 p.m. – Nonconformities
Atty. Christopher J. Smith, Hartford

1:30 p.m. – Wetlands Law and Procedure
Atty. Michael A. Zizka, Hartford

2:10 p.m. – Zoning, Planning and Wetlands Enforcement
Atty. Charles R. Andres, New Haven

2:40 p.m. -- Panel Discussion
Atty. Ira Bloom, Westport | Affordable Housing, the Municipal Perspective
Atty. Jason A. Klein, Stamford | Options for Expanding Housing Opportunities

3:40 p.m. – Zoning Board of Appeals
Atty. Dorian R. Famiglietti, Vernon

4:10 p.m. – Q&A
2025 ZiPLeR Awards | Recent Developments as Reported in CT Land Law and Practice (Video)
Atty. Dwight H. Merriam, FAICP, CRE, Weatogue