The City’s land use process is the subject of discussion at tomorrow’s one’-day conference at the Municipal Arts Society, a non-profit organization that fights for intelligent planning and preservation.

The conference, “Land Use and Local Voices: Is the City’s Land Use Process in Need of Reform,” is based on the idea that intelligent urban planning starts with intelligent conversation. The program will shed light on the city’s land use process and examine whether, and how, it should be improved. The conference is co-sponsored by Municipal Art Society and Manhattan Community Board 1.

WHEN:            Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE:         Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, 3 Spruce Street (east of Park Row, near the corner of Gold Street ).

INFO:              The full-day conference, designed for planning professionals and neighborhood advocates alike, will include a variety of viewpoints in public policy, law, academia, real estate, government, community advocacy and other areas. The conference features several panels – “Big Apples to Oranges : What’s Distinct About NYC’s Land Use Process?”, “Time for Change? Perspectives on Planning in the Five Boroughs” and “Who Benefits from Community Benefit Agreements?” – and featured speaker Eric Lane , Professor of Public Law and Public Service at Hofstra University School of Law. He will be interviewed by Menin.

The conference is free, but reservations are required. On-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m.  For reservations or more information, visit MAS.org/calendar or call 212-935-2075.

APA New York Metro Chapter is seeking Certification Maintenance credits for this event. MAS also offers AIA and Continuing Legal Education credits for some of the panels. For more information on MAS’s credits, visit http://mas.org/landuse/.