Land Use Decision-Making Training Program

Image with words: "Monroe County Land Use Decision-Making Training Program" and county seal

The Monroe County Department of Planning & Development hosts workshops as part of the Land Use Decision-Making Training Program each spring and fall. This program is designed for new board members to learn the basics of land use decision-making, for returning municipal board members to go deeper into specific areas of land use, and most classes also offer something new for municipal officials and staff, agency personnel, planners, attorneys, architects, developers, engineers, landscape architects, surveyors, and citizens.

CURRENT TRAININGS - OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Complete Streets Design Full Day Training: September 16, 2026

FALL 2026  Land Use Training: SEQR and Site Plan Review: September 29, 2026

 

 Complete Streets Design Training Workshop

Join us for a full day workshop to learn the latest Complete Streets design practices and multimodal transportation solutions.

For Planners/Engineers/Transportation professionals seeking PDH and AICP CM Credits

  • When: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 
  • Time: Registration and doors open at 8:00 AM
    • Opening Breakfast: 8:30 AM to 9:15 AM (0.5 PDH / AICP Credit Hours)
    • Training Workshop: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (6.5 PDH / AICP Credit Hours)
  • Where: Monroe Community College, 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY, R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center
  • Learning Credits: 7 PDH & AICP CM Credits, approval pending
  • Cost: 
    • Registration for public sector staff of municipalities: $60
    • Registration for other transportation professionals: $110
  • Priority Registration: Monroe County Municipal/Public sector staff through August 14, 2026
  • Registration Deadline: September 10, 2026, or until all seats are filled

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 
Session Description

Topic: Monroe County Complete Streets Design Training Workshop

Overview: This training workshop provides planners, engineers, and other members of the professional transportation design community with technical complete streets design implementation tools. The workshop will define the typical goals of complete streets projects along with a thorough review of the leading national design policies and guidance, including Federal and State DOT guidance. Using a real-world design example, instructors will demonstrate the process of selecting key design controls and criteria to achieve Complete Streets objectives. This workshop incorporates guidance from:
  • American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)'s Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets,
  • Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG),
  • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
  • Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE),
  • National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), and other leading organizations.

Workshop Instructors:  

  • Jeremy Chrzan, PE, PTOE, LEED AP | Multimodal Design Practice Lead, Toole Design Group
  • Kristie Di Cocco, PE | Senior Principal Engineer, Toole Design Group

Instructor Bios: Click Here

*Municipal/public sector registrants may be asked to verify employment.

LAND USE DECISION-MAKING FALL 2026 SESSION 

 FALL 2026  Land Use Training Session: SEQR and Site Plan Review

For Local Planning and Zoning Board members seeking Annual Training Credits

  • When: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 
  • Time: 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
  • Where: Monroe Community College, 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Rochester, NY, R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center
  • Learning Credits:  4 Hours (2 CLE credits - Pending Approval)
  • Cost:  $50 (includes a meal) – Fee waivers and financial aid are available for eligible participants.
  • Registration Deadline: September 21, 2026, or until all seats are filled

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 
Session Description

Topic: SEQR and Site Plan Review

Course Description: This workshop will provide municipal planning and zoning board members, planners, engineers, and other place-making professionals with a practical overview of New York State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) and site plan review. Participants will review SEQR fundamentals, its review process, recent regulatory updates, and case studies. The workshop will also provide a focused discussion of site plan review best practices and design strategies to minimize environmental impacts, highlighting site plan review as an important component of effective local land use decision-making.

Faculty:

  • Betsy D. Brugg, Esq.: Ms. Brugg is a partner with the law firm of Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP.  Betsy concentrates her practice in the areas of zoning and land use, real estate development, business and real estate law. 
  • Jerry A. Goldman, Esq.: Mr. Goldman is a partner with the law firm of Woods Oviatt Gilman, LLP.  His practice emphasizes zoning and land use, real estate, and business law as a part of his comprehensive real estate development practice.
  • Peter Vars, P.E.:  Mr. Vars is President of BME Associates and has served on the Monroe County Land Use Decision-Making Training faculty since 1992. He has over 35 years of experience in site engineering and land use planning. 

Payments are accepted online, if your municipality needs to pay with a PO or Check please mail all payments and registration forms to:

Monroe County Planning Board Training Program
c/o Lisa Huntoon
Monroe County Department of Planning and Development
City Place, 50 W. Main Street, Suite 1150
Rochester, NY 14614

Make all checks/claim vouchers payable to: Monroe County Planning Board

Please include the name of the registrant or order number on the check or claim voucher if registering online and submitting a check or claim voucher via mail.

Financial assistance is available. No charge to veterans, active members of the military, and Monroe County employees with proof of ID.

Please contact Yixuan Lin (585-753-2026) or Lisa Huntoon (585-753-2034) with any questions.
Or send them an email by clicking here.

Contact: [email protected] 

 

Please review courses previouly offered by this program: HERE

The Monroe County Land Use Decision-Making Training Program is proud to be endorsed by the following organizations:
American Society of Civil Engineers--Local Chapter, Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers--Local Chapter Institute of Transportation Engineers, Center for Environmental Information, Rochester Green Business Network, Monroe County Environmental Management Council, Monroe County Supervisors Association, Monroe County Village Mayors Association, New York Bar Association & Upstate New York Chapter of the Municipal Law Section New York Planning Federation, New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association, Rochester Home Builders Association, Rochester Regional Community Design Center, Upstate New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

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