Law Seminars International Presents: A comprehensive two-day conference on

Growth Management in Georgia
Key Issues and Updates in Land Use

Order Download PDF Brochure

(For this past program, we offer two options for purchase: a Homestudy (DVD and written materials) or written materials alone.)

January 22 & 23, 2007
Sheraton Midtown Atlanta Hotel at Colony Square in Atlanta, GA

Who Should Order This Homestudy

Lawyers, real estate professionals, governmental officials, planners, policy makers, consultants and engineers

Why Order

"This timely conference addresses the increasing pressures of growth and development in Georgia as the state’s economy and population explode.

Find out what is being done legislatively and through state, regional and local regulatory agencies to manage this expansion. Listen to policy makers and leading attorneys address the pertinent issues of air quality, water supply, stormwater runoff, as well as variations in local regulations and procedures that form the framework within which development occurs in urban and rural areas.

Additional topics, such as ethical issues for lawyers in dealing with administrative agencies and elected bodies, moratoria and U.S. Supreme Court rulings combine to create an informative and engaging two-day program that will further your understanding and deepen your expertise when grappling with growth issues in future practice.

This conference brings together attorneys and other professionals all with extensive practical experience in addressing land use and development issues. While most seminars offer at most three such professionals, this conference offers over 15 individuals, from attorneys and engineers to elected and administrative officials, each with unique perspectives and insights into these important topics."

~ Program Co-Chairs: Thomas M. Mitchell, Esq. and Kathryn M. Zickert, Esq.

What You Will Learn

What Attendees Said

Agenda

Monday, January 22, 2007

8:00 am

Registration & Continental Breakfast

 
8:30 am

Introduction & Overview

Thomas M. Mitchell, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Carothers & Mitchell, LLC / Buford, GA

Kathryn M. Zickert, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
8:45 am

Special Address

Is our planning local, regional or state?

Samuel Olens, Esq., Chairman of the Board
Atlanta Regional Commission / Atlanta, GA

 
9:15 am

Regulatory Overview

Processes and procedures for legislative and administrative decisions; appeals from those decisions (including standing and other issues relating to participation)

Thomas M. Mitchell, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Carothers & Mitchell, LLC / Buford, GA

Georgia's Planning Act; local jurisdictions vs overlay districts, which entities have been the most active and what approaches they are taking

Kathryn M. Zickert, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
10:15 am

Break

 
10:30 am

Legislative Update

What happened during the last legislature, including property rights initiatives, and what's likely to be proposed during the next session

Richard A. Carothers, Esq.
Carothers & Mitchell LLC / Buford, GA

 
11:15 am

Recent Cases and Their Impact on Growth Management

Eminent domain; regulatory takings; zoning, sewer moratoria

Kathryn M. Zickert, Esq.
Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
12:00 pm

Lunch (on your own)

 
1:15 pm

Air Quality and Resulting Transportation Issues as Drivers for Land Use Planning

How transportation plans for non-attainment areas will influence future growth

Kirk R. Fjelstul
Georgia Regional Transport Authority / Atlanta, GA

 
2:00 pm

Water Supply Issues as Drivers for Land Use Planning

Reclamation and an update on the tri-state water war

Charles Krautler, Director
Atlanta Regional Commission / Atlanta, GA

 
2:45 pm

Stormwater Runoff Issues as Drivers for Land Use Planning

Other water quality issues; NPDES issues in permits and plans; stream buffers

Brian K. Rochester, Executive Vice-President
Rochester & Associates / Gainesville, GA

 
3:30 pm

Break

 
3:45 pm

Forest Set Asides and Open Land Trusts

Conservation easements: Practicalities and ramifications

Stephen E. O'Day, Esq.
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
4:30 pm

Ethical Issues for Lawyers in Dealing with Administrative Agencies and Elected Bodies

What can you say and not say to an agency or elected official; free speech? attorney-client privilege; conflicts of interest; conflicts for elected officials

T. Mike Tennant, Esq.
Alston & Bird LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
5:30 pm

Reception for Faculty and Attendees Sponsored by Carothers & Mitchell, LLC and Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP

 

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

8:00 am

Registration & Continental Breakfast

 
8:30 am

Introduction and Overview

Thomas M. Mitchell, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Carothers & Mitchell, LLC / Buford, GA

Kathryn M. Zickert, Esq., Program Co-Chair
Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
8:45 am

Hot Issues for Urban Development

Annexation; issues arising from new religious facilities; Institutionalized Persons Act; Fair Housing Act

G. Douglas Dillard, Esq.
Dillard & Galloway, LLC / Atlanta, GA

Andrea Cantrell Jones, Esq.
Dillard & Gallaway, LLC / Atlanta, GA

 
9:30 am

Hot Issues for Non-Urban Development

Rural cluster development; Model Conservation Subdivision Ordinance; Uniform Conservation Easement Act; Transfer of Development Rights Act

Jim Frederick, Director
Georgia Department of Community Affairs / Atlanta, GA

 
10:15 am

Break

 
10:30 am

Trend Towards Unified Development Codes in High Growth Areas

What they are and how they work

Ceasar C. Mitchell
Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C. / Atlanta, GA

 
11:15 am

Redevelopment of Contaminated Properties

How to develop cleanup, regulatory and risk allocation strategies which ensure the property is marketable upon redevelopment

Gerald L. Pouncey, Jr., Esq.
Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
12:00 pm

Lunch (on your own)

 
1:15 pm

New Developments in Best Planning Practices

New Techniques: Practical tips for putting together an effective concept plan

Daniel J. Reuter, AICP, Division Chief
Atlanta Regional Commission / Atlanta, GA

 
2:00 pm

Moratoria

What do the cases tell us on when a jurisdiction can impose a moratorium?

Simon H. Bloom, Esq.
Powell Goldstein LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
2:45 pm

Break

 
3:00 pm

U.S. Supreme Court Rulings on Wetlands and Their Impact on Land Use

Local jurisdictions response to the recent decisions in Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. United States narrowing the definition of a "wetland": How are local jurisdictions responding to the recent Supreme Court decisions?

Edward "Skip" Kazmarek, Esq.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP / Atlanta, GA

Lee A. DeHihns, III, Esq.
Alston & Bird LLP / Atlanta, GA

 
4:00 pm

Evaluations and Adjourn

 

Cancellation

There is a $25 cancellation fee for Course Materials orders and $50 for Homestudy orders

Continuing Education Credits

This program qualifies for 12.5 GA CLE including 1 ethics credits. Upon request, we will apply for CLE credits in other states and other types of credits.

Cost

Our complete Homestudy Course, consisting of a VHS or DVD recording and the written course materials, is available for $905. The written course materials alone are available for $100. We will ship your homestudy order via UPS ground within two weeks after the seminar or the date we receive payment (whichever is later).
Order Homestudy

Faculty Bios

Thomas M. Mitchell, Program Co-Chair, is a partner at Carothers & Mitchell, LLC. He serves as the city attorney for the cities of Statham, Hoschton, and Snellville.

Kathryn M. Zickert, Program Co-Chair, is the head of the Zoning and Land Use Business Unit at Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP where she primarily represents developers both in administrative proceedings and litigation. She has written on zoning and other land use ordinances throughout Georgia and speaks regularly at land use seminars.
Full bio and contact info for Kathryn M. Zickert at Smith Gambrell & Russell LLP

The Hon. Samuel Olens, Esq., Special Address, Chairman of the Board of Cobb County, GA, and of the Atlanta Regional Commission, is experienced in government and civic associations affecting Georgia land use. His leadership experience spans community affairs, water planning, traffic congestion mitigation, health and community services, and environmental interest programs. In 2005, he led the successful campaign to re-establish the Cobb County Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax.

Simon H. Bloom, partner at Powell Goldstein LLP, has tried jury, bench, and arbitration trials in state and federal courts of Georgia and throughout the Southeast. He leads the firm's Real Estate and Construction Litigation practice and represents real estate developers, builders, owners, and brokers throughout the Southeast.
Full bio and contact info for Simon H. Bloom at Powell Goldstein LLP

Simon H. Bloom, partner at Powell Goldstein LLP, has tried jury, bench, and arbitration trials in state and federal courts of Georgia and throughout the Southeast. He leads the firm's Real Estate and Construction Litigation practice and represents real estate developers, builders, owners, and brokers throughout the Southeast.
Full bio and contact info for Simon H. Bloom at Powell Goldstein LLP

Richard A. Carothers, senior partner with Carothers & Mitchell LLC, focuses on land use, zoning law, governmental law and eminent domain. He has represented cities and counties throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Lee A. DeHihns, member of Alston & Bird LLP's Environmental and Land Use Group, concentrates on regulatory matters and defensive litigation matters, including corporate audits, compliance program development, debarment, white-collar criminal defense, air quality, hazardous waste, water quality and wetlands matters for industrial and municipal clients.

G. Douglas Dillard, partner of Dillard & Galloway, LLC, specializes in the areas of zoning, planning and land use, local government law, land use litigation and eminent domain. He is on the Board of Directors for the Council for Quality Growth.

Kirk R. Fjelstul, Chief Counsel at the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) also directs the Land Use activities. He speaks regularly at land use seminars and makes presentations to elected officials at the GMA and ACCG training seminars.

Jim Frederick, Director of the Office of Planning and Quality Growth at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, focuses on helping communities with comprehensive planning, implementing smart growth best practices and other strategies for improving local quality of life. He previously worked for the City of Macon, Georgia on downtown revitalization and housing development.

Edward "Skip" Kazmarek, partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, is in the firm's environmental practice, which spans the full breadth of environmental law, including regulatory, transactional and litigation. He handles matters on behalf of sellers, purchasers, and lenders.

Charles Krautler is the Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the metropolitan planning association for the 10-county, 63-city Atlanta region. He oversees and directs regional planning programs pertaining to transportation, air quality, the environment, land use, and water supply and quality,

Stephen E. O'Day, partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, is in charge of the firm's Environmental Law Practice. Involved in environmental legislation and common law issues, he participated in administrative proceedings on state and federal levels in usage of real property to compliance with federal and state environmental laws.

Gerald L. Pouncey, Jr. heads the environmental law and land use section of Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP. His primary focus is the redevelopment of, and litigation concerning, environmentally impacted properties (including state and federal superfund sites), as well as corporate mergers/acquisitions involving such properties. He lectures nationally on these topics.

Daniel J. Reuter, Division Chief of Land Use Planning, Atlanta Regional Commission, leads comprehensive planning under the Georgia Planning Act including review of local comprehensive plans; Developments of Regional Impact; Regional Development Plan; implementation of the Livable Centers Initiative program; and coordination with local governments and greenspace and regional housing planning activities.

Brian K. Rochester, Executive Vice-President of Rochester & Associates, is responsible for strategic planning, marketing and business development. He assists clients with projects from the conceptual stage to the point of execution on issues such as zoning compliance, infrastructure requirements and other due diligence issues. Major projects include: Legacy Park, Lake Lanier Country Club and Chattahoochee River club.

T. Mike Tennant, a member of the Environmental & Land Use Group as well as the Real Estate Group at Alston & Bird LLP, concentrates his practice on real estate law, focusing on land use, zoning, property rights, condemnation, local government law, telecommunications as well as ad valorem tax law and real estate litigation.

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