- Presentation List 36th ANNUAL PLANNING SYMPOSIUYM March 26, 2025
Keynote: The Yellow Brick Greenway: Visions and Strategies for Successful Trail Oriented Development
Paul Steely White, executive director of Parks & Trails New York
A. Skills That Make Great Board Members
Paula Gilbert, Local Government Training Manager, Division of Local Government Services, New York State Department of State
Monica Ryan, Division of Local Government Services, New York State Department of State
B. Managing Growth and Sustainability: Sewer Infrastructure and Capacity Planning in Onondaga County
Shannon Harty, P.E., Commissioner, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
Ray Schofield, P.E., Collections System Director, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
C. Case Study: Skaneateles Northern Hamlets Master Plan
Christopher Legg, Supervisor, Town of Skaneateles
Karen Barkdull, Planning and Development, Town of Skaneateles
Sam Gordon, AICP, Planning Practice Leader, Environmental Design & Research
D. Planning and Zoning: An Introduction (This session will run from 9:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Paula Gilbert, Local Government Training Manager, Division of Local Government Services, New York State Department of State
Monica Ryan, Division of Local Government Services, New York State Department of State
E. Regional Transportation Goals & Strategies: From Planning to Local Implementation
Meghan Vitale, Principal Transportation Planner, Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council
Andrew Frasier, Senior Transportation Analyst, Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council
F. Agritourism: Land Use and Zoning Practices (This session will run from 9:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Nan Stolzenburg, FAICP CEP, Community Planning & Environmental Associates
Janet Oppedisano, Agriculture Team Leader, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County
Lisa Welch, Planner II, Onondaga County Department of Planning
G. Changes in New York State Wetland Regulations
Dereth Glance, Director, Region 7, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
H. Affordable Housing
Paula Gilbert, Local Government Training Manager, Division of Local Government Services, New York State Department of State
Monica Ryan, Division of Local Government Services, New York State Department of State
I. Overview of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Process
Diane Carlton, AICP, Emeritus, Regional Director for Public Affairs and Education, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Adjunct Professor in Environmental Sustainability, SUNY Oneonta
J. Using Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience
Irene Holak, Coastal Resources Specialist II, Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure, New York State Department of State
K. Closing Plenary Session: Case Law Update for Planning and Zoning
Joseph Frateschi, Esq., Partner, Harris Beach Murtha
Amelia McLean Robertson, Esq., Associate, Harris Beach Murtha
- Presentation List
35th ANNUAL PLANNING SYMPOSIUYM March 13, 2024
Keynote: Managing the Boom: How CNY Can Plan a Future with High Quality of Life
Bill Fulton, AICP, Senior Advisor, PFM Management and Budget Advising Group and Visiting Policy Designer, University of California, San Diego
Click here to watch the video recording of the presentation.
A. Planning and Zoning: An Introduction
Patricia Burke, Local Goverment Specialist, New York State Department of State
Christopher Eastman, Manager, Local Goverment Trainning, New York State Department of State
B. Developing Town Centers: A How-To Guide
Sam Gordon, AICP, Planning Practice Leader, EDR
C. Case Study: Comprehensive Planning as a Learning Enterprise
Sara Bollinger, Deputy Supervisor, Town of Manlius
Heather Water, Councilor, Town of Manlius
Valerie Beecher, Planning Board Chair, Town of Manlius
Keith Ewald, AICP, PLA, Senior Managing Landscape Architect and Planner, Barton and Loguidice, D.P.C.
D. Developing Transit Oriented Communities with Regional Transit Corridor Planning Craig Sklenar, AICP, Principal, Urban Places, Stantec
Ralph DeNisco, Senior Principal, Urban Places Mobility Group, Stantec
Adam Catherine, PE, PTOE, Principal, Smart(ER) Mobility Practice Lead, Stantec
James D’Agostino, Director, Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC)
E. Can Solar Development and Agriculture Work Together?
Linda Garrett, NY/NJ /Regional Director, American Farmland Trust
Chris Carrick, Energy Program Manager, Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board
F. Using Local Land Use Authority to Protect Water Quality
Patricia Burke, Local Goverment Specialist, New York Stat Department of State
Katherine Black, Coastal Resources Specialist, New York State Department of State
Charles Rorick, NEIWPCC Environmental Analyst – Drinking Water Specialist, New York State Department of Health
G. A Deep Dive into Onondaga County’s Housing Market
Peter Lombardi, Director of Revitalization Planning, czb
Charles Buki, Founder and President, czb
H. Map Reading 101
Timothy J. Coyer, PLS, President and Owner, Ianuzi & Romans Land Surveyin, P.C.
I. Public Meeting and Hearings
Patricia Burke, Local Goverment Specialist, New York Stat Department of State
Christopher Eastman, Manager, Local Goverment Trainning, New York State Department of State
J. Overview of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Process
Diane Carlton, AICP, Emeritus, Regional Director for Publick Affairs and Education, NYS Department of Envrionmental Conservation and Adjunct Professor in Evironmental Sustainability, SUNY Oneonta
K. NYS Department of State Funding Opportunities: Empowering Sustainable Communities and Resilient Downtowns
Amanda Bearcroft, Downtown Revitalization Initiavie (DRI) and NY Forward (NYF) Prgram Director, New York State Department of State
Holly Granat, Revitalization Specialist, New York State Department of State
Closing Plenary Session: Case Law Update for Planning and Zoning
Joseph V. Frateschi, Esq., Associate, Harris Beach, PLLC
Amelia McLean-Robertson, Esq., Assiciate, Harris Beach, PLLC
- Presentation List
34th ANNUAL PLANNING SYMPOSIUM March 9, 2023
Keynote: Onondaga County and Micron – A Shared Future
J. Ryan McMahon, II, Onondaga County Executive
with Plan Onondaga Update by Megan Costa, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
A. Planning Board Overview
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Brent Irving, New York State Department of State -
B. Clean Energy and Your Comprehensive Plan
Jennifer Manierre, CEM, LEED AP ND, NYS Energy Research and Development Authority
C. Mapping Resources to Assist with Municipal Board Reviews
Don Jordan, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
Giovanni Colberg, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
D. Preserving Open Space in Our Communities – Why & How
Jeanie Gleisner, MSLA, Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board
E. Short Term Rentals
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
F. Stormwater Management and Watershed-Scale Planning
Aaron McKeon, Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board
Lauren Darcy, Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board
G. SEQRA as an Infrastructure Planning Tool: The GEIS Approach
SEQRA as an Infrastructure Planning Tool: The GEIS Approach
Jaclyn Hakes, AICP, MJ Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C.
Joel Bianchi, P.E., MJ Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C.
Planning for Complete Road Networks
Meghan Vitale, Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council
H. Spot Zone or Grant the Illegal Use Variance
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Brent Irving, New York State Department of State
I. Basic State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)
Diane Carlton, AICP, Emeritus NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and SUNY Oneonta
J. Making Sense of the Region’s Housing Market
Peter Lombardi, czb
Michelle Sczpanski, City of Syracuse
Closing Plenary Session: Case Law Update for Planning and Zoning
Timothy A. Frateschi, Esq., Baldwin, Sutphen & Frateschi, PLLC
Joseph V. Frateschi, Esq., Baldwin, Sutphen & Frateschi, PLLC
- Presentation List
33rd ANNUAL PLANNING SYMPOSIUM March 10, 2022
Opening Plenary Session: Plan Onondaga County Comprehensive Plan
Dan Kwasnowski, AICP, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
A. Planning and Zoning: An Introduction
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Paula Gilbert, New York State Department of State
B. Plan On: Strong Centers
Sam Gordon, AICP, EDR
Andrew Maxwell, MPA, C&S Companies
C. Plan On: Greenways + Blueways
Dan Kwasnowski, AICP, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
Jane Rice, JD, AICP, EDR
Sarah Krisch, AICP, EDR
D. Plan On: Housing + Neighborhoods
Sam Gordon, AICP, EDR
Alys Mann, Alys Mann Consulting
E. Plan On: Agriculture
Megan Costa, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
Erica Tauzer, EDR
F. Comprehensive Planning
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Paula Gilbert, New York State Department of State
G. Plan On: Community Mobility
Sam Gordon, AICP, EDR
Andrew Maxwell, MPA, C&S Companies
H. SEQRA Topics: Using the SEQRA Short Form and Segmentation
Diane Carlton, AICP, Emeritus NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and SUNY Oneonta
Closing Plenary Session: Case Law Update for Planning and Zoning
Timothy A. Frateschi, Esq., Baldwin, Sutphen & Frateschi, PLLC
- 2021 Spring Webinars
The Onondaga County Planning Federation invites you to attend two spring 2021 webinars in partnership with the NYS Department of State (DOS). Both courses are free and will be taught by staff of the DOS Local Government Training program.
Solar Energy Regulation
Thursday, April 8 at 11:00 AM – 1:15 PM -
Webinar Handout
This course addresses the authority of local governments to regulate photovoltaic solar energy systems—from modest residential and agricultural systems to large-scale institutional and commercial solar arrays and sun farms. 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.
Affordable Housing
Thursday, April 22 at 11:00 AM – 1:15 PM
Webinar Handout
Affordable housing is a topic shrouded in misconceptions and strong biases. One thing is certain: it cannot be ignored. Public interest and case law require municipalities to address the affordable housing needs of their regions. This course examines the history and evolution of laws, policies and programs pertaining to affordable housing. Exclusionary zoning case law is highlighted, as well as the benefits of using land use tools such as inclusionary zoning regulations and accessory apartments to provide affordable housing. Strategies to preserve existing affordable housing, the process of developing affordable housing, and affordable housing design are also discussed.
- Keynote: Reaching for the Future: Cities Competing in the 21st Century
Tom Murphy, Senior Resident Fellow, Joseph C. Canizaro/Klingbeil Family Chair for Urban Development, Urban Land Institute Americas
A. Planning Board Overview
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Christopher Eastman, New York State Department of State -
B. Community Planning and Water Resources: 7 Things to Consider for the Future
Khristopher Dodson, Environmental Finance Center
C. Planning for Small Farm Animals in Communities
David Skeval, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County
John Langey, Esq., Partner, Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC
D. Don’t Leave Funding on the Table: How Age-Friendly Initiatives Can Work for Your Community
Esther Greenhouse, Built Environment Strategist & Industry Scholar, Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures
*This session was cancelled prior to the symposium.
E. Planning for Wildlands and Habitat Connectivity
Ed Marx, AICP, Northeast U.S. Wildlands Ambassador, Wildlands Network
Andrew Zepp, Executive Director, Finger Lakes Land Trust
F. Special Use Permits
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Christopher Eastman, New York State Department of State
G. SOCPA Hour: Hamlet, Town Center, and Focus Area Planning Case Studies
Daniel Kwasnowski, AICP, Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency
H. Planning for Large Scale Solar Electricity Facilities in NYS
Planning for Large Scale Solar Electricity Facilities in NYS
David Kay, Senior Extension Associate, Community and Regional Development Institute (CaRDI), Department of Global Development, Cornell University
Providing Opportunity; Protecting the Agricultural Land Resource
George Frantz, Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of City and Regional planning, Cornell University
I. Tips for Regulating Telecommunications Facilities
Patricia Burke, New York State Department of State
Christopher Eastman, New York State Department of State
J. Using the SEQRA Short Form
Diane Carlton, AICP, Retired NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
K. Service Consolidation of Local Municipal Sanitary Assets in Onondaga County
J. Ryan McMahon, II, County Executive, Onondaga County
Frank Mento, PE, Commissioner, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection
Closing Plenary Session: Case Law Update for Planning and Zoning
Timothy A. Frateschi, Esq., Baldwin, Sutphen & Frateschi, PLLC