The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) has offered the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute (PMPEI) courses in community planning and land use regulations since 2014. These courses are targeted to planning commissioners, zoning hearing board members, zoning administrators, elected officials and others with an interest or involvement in planning. Over 300 people from the public, non-profit and private sectors have graduated from at least one of the courses since 2014. Included among them are 79 people who earned the distinction of being named a Certified Citizen Planner for attending three courses, ushering in a new era of community land use leadership.

For the 2022 courses, the LVPC conference room has been reconfigured to allow social distancing. Each class will be limited to 18 students.

2022 UPCOMING COURSES

ZONING ADMINISTRATION

5:30-9:00 PM: April 4, 11, 18

Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109

Participants learn the basic principles and procedures to effectively carry out their work administering municipal zoning. The course covers the rationale and technical aspects of zoning and how to build effective relationships with everyone involved in zoning administration. Hands-on experiences and practice exercises are built into each session. Attendees learn how to conduct effective and fair zoning hearings in a mock zoning hearing session.

Who should go?

Municipal zoning hearing board and planning commission members, zoning officials and municipal elected officials.

What will we learn?

Principles of zoning; Key zoning terms; The concept of the zoning administration team; Zoning officer duties; Enforcement notice procedures; Key issues related to variances, special exceptions and nonconforming uses; How to conduct a zoning hearing

How much?

Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees

Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.

Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.

SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT

5:30-9:00 PM: May 3, 10, 17

Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109

This course explores the work of planning commissions in the subdivision and land development review process, from pre-application meetings through project completion. It is organized into three major sections: principles of subdivision and land development regulation and ordinance requirements, subdivision and land development review procedures and design and technical standards of subdivision and land development. Participants will get hands-on experience reviewing plans and designing alternative solutions.

Who should go?

Municipal zoning hearing board and planning commission members, municipal elected officials, municipal engineers, municipal planners, attorneys, real estate professionals, land surveyors, landscape architects, geologists and others who deal with subdivision and land development ordinances.

What will we learn?

Participants will learn the key provisions of the PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) governing subdivision and land development regulation, including approving and denying plans; the three-stage procedure for reviewing applications; project completion and follow-up; density and open space criteria; how to coordinate review comments from other agencies; role of performance and maintenance guarantees in project implementation.

How much?

Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees

Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.

Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.

COMMUNITY PLANNING

5:30-9:00 PM: September 7, 14, 21

Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109

This is a course to teach planning commissioners, local officials and others how to carry out their responsibilities under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), the statute that endows municipalities with the authority to plan. For those who don’t know or fully understand the provisions of the MPC, this course will teach them how instrumental it is in giving a jurisdiction the ability to make critical decisions involving land use, which can shape their community’s quality of life.

Who should go?

Municipal zoning hearing board and planning commission members, municipal elected officials, primary municipal support staff (managers and secretaries), prospective students of city and regional planning and engaged community members who wish to understand the zoning and subdivision approval processes.

What will we learn?

Participants will learn the essence of planning; where it fits in the framework of local government; how planning commissioners relate to the governing body, zoning hearing board and zoning officers; how municipalities can work with adjacent municipalities to foster multimunicipal planning; the role of the county planning agency; how to interpret the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) and the importance of the 30-day or 45-day review time clock; the purpose of a comprehensive plan; how to implement a plan through zoning, subdivision and land development regulations; other means of land use control; what constitutes an effective planning commission; land use and development considerations unique to the region.

How much?

Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees

Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.

Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.

ZONING

5:30-9:00 PM: October 6, 13, 20

Where: LVPC, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109

This is a “nuts and bolts” course that deals with probably the most complex and provocative topic in local planning. The course reviews how zoning evolved in the United States and how many of the original concepts still form the basis of the way zoning is practiced in Pennsylvania in 2022. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to: review zoning ordinance provisions, make decisions about how an area should be zoned through mapping exercises, conduct a build-out analysis to learn the potential impact of the zoning ordinance, discuss methods for handling problem land uses and situations, consider ethical issues using case studies.

Who should go?

Planning commission and municipal zoning hearing board members, municipal elected officials, municipal engineers, municipal planners, attorneys, real estate professionals, others who deal with zoning ordinances and anyone interested in zoning.

What will we learn?

Participants will learn the relationship of the zoning ordinance to the comprehensive plan and the importance of consistency between the two; zoning terminology; key issues encountered in drafting the zoning ordinance

and the zoning map; ordinance adoption and amendment procedures as set forth in the Municipalities Planning Code; zoning ordinance administration; the use of Municipalities Planning Code authority to undertake and enable joint municipal zoning, planned residential development, traditional neighborhood development and other non-traditional zoning tools.

How much?

Online Payment: $125 Course Registration; $9.24 Service and Processing Fees

Check Payment: $125 Course Registration; $4.15 Service and Processing Fees.

Please make checks payable to Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and send to 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18109. Food will be provided.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

Local Technical Assistance Program

Click here for courses

Complete three courses at the Lehigh Valley Government Academy and you will be awarded the “Citizen Planner Certificate”. Certificates will be awarded during a ceremony at a Lehigh Valley Planning Commission meeting.

* Denotes PMPEI Outstanding Education Achievement Award

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

961 Marcon Boulevard - Suite 310

Allentown, PA 18109

Phone: (610) 264-4544

Toll Free: (888) 627-8808

Fax: (610) 264-2616

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