We work collaboratively with government and civic leaders to provide exceptional public services for Western Connecticut.
Western Connecticut Council of Governments
Land Use Commissioner Trainings

Land Use Commissioner Trainings

Land Use Commissioner Trainings

Public Act 21-29 established that all planning, zoning, combined planning and zoning, and zoning board of appeals members complete at least four hours of training every four years or each term if the term is longer than four years. The requirements are codified in Section 8-4c of the Connecticut General Statutes and CT OPM was tasked with providing guidelines for training providers and commission members.

A library of trainings will continue to be added for future viewing on this page.

  • Special Zoning Districts
    • Training Description: Various special zoning districts are used by municipalities across Connecticut. In this training session, regional staff discuss four of the most common types: floating zones, planned development districts, overlay zones, and village districts.
    • Course Credit: 1-hour
    • Video Link: Special Zoning Districts
    • PDF Link: Special Zoning Districts
  • Regional Agriculture Viability Study
    • Training Description: The Western Connecticut Region was once dominated by agriculture, but over the last 75 years, suburban development has resulted in the loss of many farms and decreased the availability and increased the cost of land for new farms, especially large parcels whose soil and topography are suitable for the types of farming that once defined the region. The Regional Agriculture Farm Viability Study was conducted to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing current and future farmers in Western Connecticut, reviewed regulatory barriers to the expansion of agriculture, and provides recommendations for WestCOG and its’ local governments to support, expand, and establish farming practices in the Region. This training reviews various planning and zoning regulations that can be used to create a more favorable environment for farming in the Region.
    • Course Credit: 0.5-hours
    • Video Link: Regional Agriculture Viability Study
    • Study Link: Regional Agriculture Viability Study
  • The Special Permit: How it Works. Why and Where it is Applied.
    • Training Description: This training explores the role of the Special Permit across the state, comparing the ways that it is used in the 166 municipalities (out of 167 that use zoning) that include the concept in their regulations. Regional staff cover the legal history of the special permit, procedural requirements for commissions, and similar zoning tools that can serve as more appropriate alternatives in certain circumstances. This presentation represents the first statewide review of special permit best practices and provides a planner’s perspective on emerging trends and the range of approaches to the use of special permits.
    • Course Credit: 1-hour
    • Originally Given: May 5, 2025
    • Pdf. Link: The Special Permit
    • Video Link: The Special Permit
  • Building & Neighborhood Design
    • Description: This training describes the legal authority of municipalities to regulate the design of neighborhoods and buildings, relevant case law and statues, and current zoning practices within the region and state. It also explores the established limits of this authority.
    • Course Credit: 1-hour
    • Video Link: Building and Neighborhood Design
    • PDF Link: Building and Neighborhood Design
  • The Case for Riparian Corridor Protections: Zoning Strategies to Reduce Pollution of Inland Waters and Resultant Hypoxia of Long Island Sound
    • Training Description: Riparian corridors buffers are a critical tool in reducing non-point source pollution of inland waters and Long Island Sound. Public Act 21-29 expanded the responsibility of protecting the water quality in Long Island Sound to all 169 municipalities in Connecticut. This training reviews the history of riparian corridor protections, the role riparian corridors play in reducing surface water pollution and hypoxia in Long Island Sound and reviews the range of riparian corridor protection strategies that have been adopted statewide.
    • Course Credit: 1-hour
    • Originally Given: October 1, 2024
    • Video Link:  The Case for Riparian Corridor Protections
    • PDF Link:  The Case for Riparian Corridor Protections
    • Study Link: The Case for Riparian Corridor Protections
  • The Buildable Square: An Innovative Way to Protect Inland Wetlands and Reduce System Failures
    • Training Description: This training reviews a strategy Connecticut’s zoning commissions can use in to protect wetlands. The protection of wetlands through zoning has become more apparent with the adoption of buildable lot standards that exclude wetlands from the entire lot or from what is called a “buildable square” (MBS) or “buildable rectangle” (MBR) that must fit within a building lot and be totally free of wetlands. If the concept is recognized for its environmental, waste and drinking water planning, and lot design values, it could revolutionize inland wetlands protection.
    • Course Credit: 1-hour
    • Originally Given: July 22, 2024
    • Video Link: The Buildable Square
    • PDF Link: The Buildable Square
    • Study Link: The Buildable Square: An Innovative Way to Protect Inland Wetlands and Reduce System Failures
  • Affordable and Fair Housing for Land Use Commissioners

  • Protecting Inland Wetlands and Watercourses: The Role of Connecticut’s Zoning Commissions
    • Training Description: This training is on how planning and zoning commissions can play a critical role in the protection of wetlands and watercourses within their own sphere of authority. It reviews the relevant laws governing wetlands, discusses the importance of protecting them, and three zoning tools that can be effectively used to protect wetlands resources.
    • Course Credit: 1.5-hours
    • Originally Given: December 14, 2023
    • PDF Link: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commissioner Training
    • Video Link: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commissioner Training