Course Focuses on Zoning Laws

4/16/98

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Central New York's local officials and interested residents have an opportunity to learn more about the zoning regulations that affect their communities.

A four-week course this spring at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will focus on the laws that help a community manage its development. "The Zoning Board of Appeals Course" is designed to give participants a legal framework for understanding the powers and duties of a zoning board of appeals.

Class sessions are as follows:

• April 28: Introduction and board member requirements, including appointment, training, removal from office, conflicts of interest, general powers, and the open meetings law.
• May 5: Application and appellate processes, and liabilities to municipalities.
• May 12: Public hearing and decision making, including required attendance, procedures, tips on running hearings and rules of evidence.
• May 19: Variance statutory standards, including hardships and character of neighborhood, and the state Environmental Quality Review Act.

The course will be taught by two attorneys: Nancy Friel Hornik, who has spent 12 years practicing in the area of land use, zoning, and planning law; and Ronald S. Carr, who has represented municipalities and developers for some 20 years.

There is a $145 fee for the course.

For more information, call the ESF Office of Continuing Education at 470-6891.