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Dealing with Conflict Over Natural Resource and Land Use Issues: An Introduction to the Strategies and Tools
Understanding the tools and strategies for managing and planning for controversial natural resource and land use issues is an increasingly important skill set for planners, public officials and natural resource professionals.

This webinar will introduce participants to the basic concepts, tools and strategies for getting ahead of, and managing controversial issues and conflicts arising from contentious land use changes or proposals. The webinar will help one understand the concept, tools and strategies for diagnosing, managing/facilitating and planning for controversial land use issues and conflicts arising from contentious land use changes or proposals.

Steep slopes, floodplains, prime farmland and water/sewer service are some of the characteristics that make land suitable for certain land uses and unsuitable for others, all of which are identifiable through a Geographic Information System (GIS).

An approach to addressing land use conflicts is the “Land-Use Conflict Identification Strategy” or LUCIS. The LUCIS model, developed at the University of Florida, identifies areas where specific land uses as well as where land use conflicts can occur. LUCIS can set the framework to develop future land use scenarios and help identify opportunities and conflicts between future land uses including agriculture, urban development and conservation.

Through this webinar, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission will discuss their plans to utilize/adapt the LUCIS model to apply different policy decisions to the Southwest Lehigh Multi-municipal Comprehensive Plan, creating multiple future land use scenarios for Southwest Lehigh County

Approved for 1.25 CM credit

More information contact Peter Wulfhorst, 570-296-3400