Connecticut Land Use Leadership Alliance - The “LULA” Project -

1. Connecticut Land Use Leadership Alliance - The “LULA” Project - John P. Guszkowski President Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. www.easternrcd-ct.org National RC&D Association Conference Savannah, GA June 19-21, 2006

2. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. Who and where (the heck) are we? • A small place (3.2 million acres) • A dense place (3.4 million people) • A diverse place • A changing place (http://clear.uconn.edu) www.easternrcd-ct.org

3. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. Who and where (the heck) are we? • More Numbers: • 8 Counties • 15 Regions (COG/RPA) • 5 Conservation Districts • 4 Cities over 100,000 (Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury) • 169 Municipalities • Connecticut has two RC&D Areas • King’s Mark (Western CT) • Eastern Connecticut (Guess where) www.easternrcd-ct.org

4. Eastern Connecticut Towns with > 10% population growth 1990-2000

5. CONTEXT: Growth Pressures Land Use Change, Eastern Connecticut 1982-1997 (1000s acres) Other Rural Land Developed Land Active Agricultural Land Forest Land • Eastern Connecticut is centered between: • New York Metro • Hartford • Boston • Worcester • Providence • World’s Two Largest Casinos (oh my!)

6. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. More Context: Political Structure • 169 Independent Municipalities • “Home Rule” • No County Government • Limited State Assistance for Land Use • Underfunded Regions • Minimal Staff (budgets, size of towns) • Volunteer, Lay Boards (PZC, IWWA, etc.) • Two-year Turnover • History of “Yankee” Independence PERFECT STORM FOR SPRAWL www.easternrcd-ct.org

7. “Would you tell me which way I ought to go from here?” asked Alice. “That depends a good deal on where you want to get,” said the Cat. “I really don’t care where,” replied Alice. “Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go,” said the Cat. Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland

8. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. THE PROBLEM • Major Decisions on Planning, Conservation, and Development • Lay Volunteers with Inadequate Training • No State-Mandated, Standardized, or Widely-Available Training • Development Pressure, Higher Land Values, “Community Character” • Increasingly Adversarial (read: litigious) Process WE’RE NOT DOING THIS VERY WELL! www.easternrcd-ct.org

9. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. What Can We Do About This? I know of no safe depository of the ultimate power of society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. -Thomas Jefferson www.easternrcd-ct.org

10. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. Our Answer: Land Use Leadership Alliance • Originated at Pace University Law School, 1996 • Combined Planning/Process Approach • Multi-Day “Boot Camp” for Decision-Makers • Land Use Law • Rules and Regulations • Innovative Strategies • Conflict Resolution • Consensus Building www.easternrcd-ct.org

11. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. Land Use Leadership Alliance • NEW YORK: • John Nolon, Pace University Law School • NRCS seed funds, 1996 • Over 500 graduates: • Government (local, county, state) • Environmental • Business Leaders • CONNECTICUT: • NRCS seed funds, 2004 • Pace Law School guidance: Sean Nolon • Eastern Connecticut RC&D • CRCOG www.easternrcd-ct.org

12. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. THE LULA PROGRAM Goal: To help respected land use leaders learn how to foster the development of sustainable communities and regions. Objective: To put needed technical and process tools in the hands of local leaders whose decisions create the land use patterns that determine the quality of life, the economy, and the environment of communities. The program teaches practical strategies for natural resource conservation, development in appropriate locations, and effective decision-making. www.easternrcd-ct.org

13. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. THE LULA PROGRAM STRATEGY: The program demonstrates to local leaders how to change land use practices that contribute to unsustainable patterns of development and how to promote balanced patterns. The following principles are taught through lectures, discussions, exercises, and case studies: * State law grants broad and flexible authority to custom build local strategies * Critical environmental areas can be protected by placing most development in growth districts * Planning is dynamic and ongoing and can result in periodic revisions based on changing needs * State law encourages inter-municipal collaboration on all land use matters * Most land use decisions have broad legal protection * Local land use decision-making can be structured as an ongoing process of negotiation * Some land use decisions are better handled through collaborative approaches * Local boards can effectively involve citizens in controversial decisions * Processes that invite community participation can lead to better land use decisions www.easternrcd-ct.org

14. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. LULA PROGRAM: The Buzzwords • Creating a Network of Leaders with Tools to Address Complex • Land Use Issues • “Diffusion of Innovation” in Land Use Practice and Process • Working Through “Early Adopters” and “Opinion Leaders” • Business Leaders (Developers?) • Elected Officials (CEO, Board Members) • Municipal Staff • Environmental Activists www.easternrcd-ct.org

15. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. LULA PROGRAM: Nuts and Bolts 1. SETTING UP WORKSHOPS • Recruitment Coordinator (the glue) • Steering Committee (the “Connectors”) • Nomination Process (it’s an honor just to be nominated…) • Making a 4-Day Commitment • 30-35 Participants • 8-12 Municipalities Involved www.easternrcd-ct.org

16. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. LULA PROGRAM: Nuts and Bolts 2. HOLDING THE WORKSHOPS • Land Use Law (Rules and Regulations, Do’s and Don’ts) • Process (Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Consensus) • Local Issue, Based on Concerns of Group • - Innovative Techniques • - Farmland • - Environmental • Lunch (the power of networking) www.easternrcd-ct.org

17. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. LULA PROGRAM: Progress in CT • Three series held thus far, 2004-2006 • Focus on Connecticut River municipalities • 25+ municipalities participating • NRCS- primary sponsor for first two • NFWF (Long Island Futures Fund) sponsor • RC&D: Partner organization on all three www.easternrcd-ct.org

18. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. LULA PROGRAM: Progress in CT, RC&D Involvement • Pace Law School looking for • “Connecticut Home” for LULA • Local expertise, flexible nonprofit • State/University overheads unrealistic • RC&D/NRCS natural, flexible partnership • Eastern CT RC&D’s mission/vision fit with LULA goals www.easternrcd-ct.org

19. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. Vision Statement The key to sustaining the uniqueness and high quality of life of Eastern Connecticut is to acknowledge and embrace the fundamental interdependence of urban, suburban, and rural communities. Mission Statement The mission of the Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) is to identify and champion initiatives that sustain that which makes our communities and environment unique, and to build upon our strengths and potential for a healthy future. • Standing Committees/Focus Areas • Livable Communities • Agricultural Viability • Greenway Development www.easternrcd-ct.org

20. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. LULA PROGRAM: Next Steps • Two Grants in progress: L.I.S. and Farmland Focus • Forging Creative Partnerships • COG/RPA • Municipal Funding • Regional Groups • State Funding • Dedicated Funding Streams? • Goal of 1-2 Series each year www.easternrcd-ct.org

21. Eastern Connecticut RC&D Area, Inc. 392E Merrow Road Tolland, CT 06084 (860) 870-4942 x1 www.easternrcd-ct.org John Guszkowski Board President (860) 923-9475 jpogus@gmail.com