Land Use Planning Program (Pre-Pay Discount 10%)

Learn the concepts, structures and processes of land use planning and development decisions. This four-day course delivers an overview of general plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulation, permit processes, property rights, environmental review, public finance, natural resources and urban design. The instructor and guest presenters place these topics in wider contexts, valuable for both experienced planners who need a review and others who want solid introductions.

By the end of the course, the participants will:

• Understand the basic legal tools of land use planning and decision making
• Be able to apply those tools to specific problems facing California communities
• Understand the connections among land use, public finance and governance
• Demonstrate insight into how public policies affect land uses

Gain an understanding of how planning decisions impact the economic feasibility of a proposed project for the public agency and developer.  Learn how money flows into a governmental agency, what they can or can’t do to increase that flow and how debt fits into the whole equation.

Topics in this course include:

• Fiscal impact analysis and its importance
• Local government revenues
• Public debt and its alternatives
• Fiscal and financial analysis and how they fit into the planning process
• A developer's perspective of how planning decisions affect the bottom line 
• The balance between the goals and objectives of public and private-sector participants

Approximately 40 hours of study and full attendance to all course meetings are required.

This course provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the legal framework in planning and environmental careers. The course reviews the various legal sources of planning and environmental law, including statutes, regulations, and case law. It provides students with a working understanding of how to apply planning and environmental legal requirements, especially within the context of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the State Planning and Zoning Law, and other local, state, and federal environmental laws. Students will also learn how and when to coordinate with, provide support to, and get support from lawyers throughout the planning process.

• • Students will develop a working knowledge of where to find applicable policy guidance, statutes, regulations, case law, etc. when approaching planning tasks and environmental review in California.
  • Students will be introduced to CEQA, NEPA, State Planning and Zoning Law, and other environmental laws.
  • Students will learn how to review and analyze judicial rulings, discuss salient legal points in a professional manner, and communicate legal principles with members of the public, decision-makers, and other planners and governmental counsel.
  • Students will understand when and how, as part of their chosen profession, to communicate and work with attorneys to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and to assist attorneys with defending lawsuits.

Approximately 20 hours of project work and regular attendance are required. 

Does your community need to update its General Plan? Joanna Jansen, who has prepared numerous  General Plans throughout the state, will share her insights on the best practices for general plan preparation. Learn how to scope and budget the project, hire consulting assistance as necessary and finish the project in an efficient and comprehensive manner. Topics include:

• General plan law and requirements
• Public involvement in general planning
• Sustainability and environmental justice in the general plan  
• Data collection, mapping and land use inventories
• Preparing and evaluating alternatives
• Integration of CEQA

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online remote learning course delivered through UC Davis CPE’s learning management system, Canvas, with supplemental live sessions hosted on Zoom. The course consists of approximately 6.5 hours of content, combining pre-recorded lectures with a mandatory live Zoom session led by the instructor.