Training for Planning Officials presented by NY Department of State and the Hudson River Estuary Program in cooperation with Greene County Economic Development, Tourism & Planning and Columbia County Planning/Economic Development.

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Session 1: Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper                         4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

The Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper is an online, interactive tool to assist local land-use decision-makers with identifying and understanding important habitat and water resources, the connections between them, and their broader regional context. The mapper contains over 30 geographic data sets for the Hudson estuary, streams and watersheds, wetlands, biodiversity, and scenic and recreation features. This session will introduce participants to the mapper layout, functions, and data layers and provide examples of applications for local land-use planning and decision-making.

Session 2: SEQR Basics and New Regs                                                      5:45 – 7:15 p.m.

This introduction to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) includes an overview of the environmental assessment form (EAF), Type I, Type II, and Unlisted actions and the sequence of making a positive or negative declaration on a project’s potential to have an adverse impact on the environment. Recent amendments to the SEQR regulations and the process of completing SEQR prior to administration of local regulations will also be discussed.

Session 3: Solar Energy Regulation                                                            7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

This course addresses the authority of local governments to regulate photovoltaic solar energy systems—from modest residential and agricultural systems to larger, utility-scale solar facilities. Environmental and economic benefits and aesthetic challenges are discussed, and tools such as the New York State Unified Solar Permit are provided to allow solar arrays and regulate their impacts.

There is no fee to attend the sessions.

 Code officials may apply to use these courses as professional development electives.

Code Enforcement Training Requirements Update: Page no longer available