Citizen Planner Training Collaborative

The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative provides local planning and zoning officials with tools to make effective decisions regarding their community’s current and future land use.

  • Training workshops delivering a Level I and Level 2 core curriculum, taught across the state by expert attorneys and professional planners.
  • Internet access to core training units, a bylaw collection, many planning related links, and training calendars.
  • On-demand training to any community needing to focus on a specific topic.
  • Annual conference addressing important land use issues on a more in-depth basis.

CPTC is a member of the Local Capacity Building Partnership – an affiliation of training providers assisting local officials in dealing with land use issues.  To learn about training opportunities at CPTC and for more information about this dynamic organization, see: http://www.umass.edu/masscptc/.


Board of Directors

(appointees of signatory organizations)

  • University of Massachusetts Extension: Michael DiPasquale
  • Mass. Association of Planning Directors: Ralph Willmer
  • Mass. Chapter of the American Planning Association:
    Sean Bender
  • Citizen Planner Training Collaborative Advisory Board: Bruce Hughes
  • Department of Housing and Community Development: Elaine Wijnja
  • Mass. Association of Regional Planning Agencies: Chair; Lawrence Adams

Members of the Advisory Board

  • Bruce Hughes, Chair; Economic Development Specialist, Old Colony Planning Council
  • Heidi Ricci, Senior Policy Analyst, Mass Audubon
  • Sharon Rooney , Chief Planner, Cape Cod Commission
  • Robert Mitchell, Special Assistant For Sustainable Development,
    Office for Commonwealth Development
  • Mark Racicot, Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
  • Alan Pease, Ashby Planning Board
  • Douglas Albertson, Town Planner, Belchertown
  • Catherine Ratté, Principal Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
  • Sarah Izatt LaValley, Planner, City of Northampton