Free short course on local planning to take place at WWU Dec. 2

[ Editor's note: The WWU Events Calendar lists this event on its homepage as taking place Dec. 3. That is incorrect. The correct date for this event is Dec. 2. ]

The Planning Association of Washington and The Washington State Department of Commerce will present "A Regional Short Course on Local Planning," sponsored by Huxley College of the Environment and Western Washington University, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in Academic Instructional Center West Room 210 on the WWU campus.

This event is free and open to the public.

The three-hour short course is presented in three segments:

• Jonathan Sitkin, an attorney with Chmelik Sitkin & Davis P.S. in Bellingham, will present the legal basis of planning in Washington state, including a review of the statutory basis of planning, constitutional issues, the Open Public Meetings Act, the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine and recent case law affecting land use planning.
• Paul Rogerson, AICP, director of community development with the city of Sumner, will present an overview of the Growth Management Act and components of a community comprehensive plan.
• David Osaki, AICP, deputy director of community development with the city of Lynnwood, will present an overview of the key roles in the planning process, including citizens, planning staff, elected officials, planning commissioners and hearings examiners.

All are welcome to attend this free short course on local planning, but registration is requested. To register, call (360) 725-3047 or send an e-mail with your name and contact information and "WWU Short Course" in the subject line to janet.rogerson@commerce.wa.gov.

For more information, contact WWU Professor Nicholas Zaferatos, Ph.D., AICP, at nicholas.zaferatos@wwu.edu.