Programs and information for local officials and planners

The Westchester County Department of Planning provides resources to assist and educate members of local planning and zoning boards in addition to making technical information available to professional planners in the county.

The Local Planning Law Resource Guide allows officials and planners to explore a vast palate of land use tools already in place in nearby communities that address the needs of our region. The goal is to make research and enactment easier and perhaps more acceptable as the cost and effort associated with conducting independent research and preparing original drafts will be reduced. The diverse subjects address sustainable development, environmental protection, historic preservation, tourism promotion and maintenance of the character of an area.

The Department of Planning works closely with the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation (WMPF) to arrange programs and speakers of interest to the Westchester planning community including the annual spring land use training institute, the popular brown bag lunch discussions and special topic sessions.

WMPF is a voluntary association of officials representing the county’s municipal governments, zoning and planning boards and land use consultants including lawyers, engineers and planners. WMPF is governed by a board of directors.  Authorized under New York State’s General Municipal Law in 1962, the organization's purpose is to "create an effective and permanent countywide organization for the exchange of information among the municipalities on matters of planning interest."

Planning primer series

In cooperation with WMPF, the Department of Planning has prepared and regularly updates the Municipal Planning Primer series as a guide to the land use planning process:

Training requirements

As of January, 2007, minimum training requirements for municipal planning and zoning board members are now the law. Four hours each year are mandatory for members of county, city, town and village planning and zoning boards. There are many different avenues of training permitted, and WMPF courses are a good place to start. Take a look at a brochure on the law.

Training opportunities

The spring land use training institute introduces new planning and zoning board members to key planning concepts and keeps others up-to-date on the latest planning trends, ideas and legal issues. Members of municipal planning and zoning boards may satisfy all training requirements if they attend at least two of the three nights. Other events are scheduled throughout the year; attendance can also be credited toward training requirements.

WMPF began its fall 2009 program year with a seminar held September 29th on green building design.  The program, “To LEED or Not To LEED” featured Susan Habel, Commissioner, White Plains Planning Department and representatives of other communities discussing municipal promotion of green building design as an integral part of the land use approval process.   On October 28th and 29th, WMPF presented two training seminars for Zoning and Planning boards.

On Thursday, November 12, a Brown Bag Lunch will be held at the Westchester County Department of Planning Cassella Conference Room 420 from 12 noon to 2:00 pm.  The program is entitled “The Parking Conundrum” and will discuss the problems surrounding traffic and parking in municipal downtowns and how some communities tackle these vexing issues.  Two New York State Continuing Education Credits will be available for the seminar. View the program flyer.

There are online training opportunities available through the New York State Department of State.  In order to receive accreditation, please check with your municipality to be sure that they will accept the course for credit. View the NYSDOS training video. The tutorial registration e-mail is: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . You may also call the DOS, Local Government Training Unit at 518-473-3355.

Online training on the basics of New York land use law, is offered by the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR). This program is free and features nine tutorials and a glossary with links to definitions and various New York State statutes. If properly documented, participation in this program should be eligible for earning required training credits. Go to zoning school.

WMPF award winners

WMPF conducts an annual awards program to recognize outstanding planning achievements and distinguished citizen planners in Westchester County. Awardees are celebrated at a well-attended dinner each year in early June at an outstanding Westchester location. 

This year's awards dinner was held June 4, 2009 at Le Chateau Restaurant in South Salem. Go to Awards Program which lists this years award winners. See photos of the event. This year five Distinguished Citizen Planner Awards were given, as well as four Planning Awards and two Commendations. Check out the winners for 2008 and 2007.

WMPF scholarship

The federation awards a $2,000 scholarship each year to a student who is currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate planning program. Priority is given to students who have direct contact with Westchester County, either living or having lived here, or working here, or some other meaningful relationship. Students should also have a demonstrated interest in the planning issues confronted by older, developing suburban areas. Applications are reviewed in the spring of each year. This year's scholarship application deadline was April 17, 2009.

Membership Information

WMPF invites you or your firm to become an Associate Member of the Federation. The annual membership fee for a firm, corporation or company is $60. The annual membership fee for an individual is $35.

A single corporate membership entitles all employees of the firm who are concerned with planning, zoning and related topics to receive the federation's announcements of training programs, special events and meetings plus copies of WMPF publications. In addition, the membership of your firm allows each interested employee to pay a reduced registration fee when attending the annual Land Use Training Institute. This benefit alone can represent a significant savings.

Payment for Associate Membership should be sent to WMPF with the application form.

Internet resources:

For further information, contact Kay Eisenman, Executive Director, by calling (914) 995-4424 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .