UCLA Extension winter holiday closure: December 21 through January 1. Learn More

Annual Land Use Law & Planning Conference

A look at the important issues of the past year and what's ahead

Learn, network, and keep current.

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UCLA Extension’s annual Land Use Law and Planning Conference is the leading networking event and source of information on California land use legislation, case law, and the emerging issues that frame land use and development practices in the nation’s most populous state.

The program’s unique cross-disciplinary approach explores the full range of perspectives drawn from land use planning, legal, development, and environmental communities, and demonstrates how these factors influence the day-to-day work of planners, developers, environmental regulators, and attorneys.

The UCLA Extension conference offers a big-picture view of land use law and planning practice, with knowledgeable speakers providing succinct and provocative updates on core state and federal case law and legislation, as well as practice pointers on basic land use law and planning issues for practitioners and scholars.

Who should attend?

All individuals involved in land use and environmental issues in California, including:

Public officials & planners
Attorneys & consultants
Developers & real estate professionals
Students interested in planning and public policy

Registration Details

Fees & Credit

Registration is required for this program. Visitors are not permitted. Fees include conference materials sent via PDF. There will be no virtual streaming option for attendance.

Regular: $655
Student: $495
Members of Donating Organizations: $600

Accrediting Associations

Attend this year's conference and earn up to 7.0 Credit Hours (0.7 CEU) from Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)* and APA - American Planning Association**

*This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit by the State Bar of California for credit hours stated above. UCLA Extension certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved educational activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education.

**This activity has been approved for Continuing Professional Development Program (CM) credits by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

View Full Agenda

8:30 a.m.	Welcome & Program Overview
8:45 a.m.	Update #1 CEQA Overview
10:15 a.m.	Morning Break
10:30 a.m.	Assessment #1 Details coming soon
12:00 p.m.	Lunch Break
12:30 p.m.	Keynote Speaker
1:15 p.m.	Update #2 Quick Hits
1:45 p.m.	Assessment #2 Details coming soon
3:00 p.m.	Afternoon Break
3:15 p.m.	Update #3 Details coming soon
4:25 p.m.	Closing Comments
4:30 p.m.	Conference Ends

Panel Discussions

CEQA Overview

A perennial favorite, hear representatives of both the petitioner and local agency sides present and analyze the year's most significant CEQA developments.

Panelists

Details coming soon

Moderator:

Details coming soon

Assessment #1

Details coming soon

Planning, Zoning, and Development Law Update

Details coming soon

Quick Hits: 2025

Possible Topics

Details coming soon

Assessment #2

Details coming soon

Conference Co-Chairs

UCLA Extension extends gratitude to the Land Use Law & Planning Conference Co-Chairs.

Alisha Winterswyk is a partner in the Environmental and Natural Resources practice group at Best Best & Krieger LLP. She is a CEQA and land use lawyer that advises public and private clients on an array of environmental, planning and municipal laws.

Alisha’s practice is both transactional and litigation-based as she takes a “soup-to-nuts” approach to representing clients and in the development process. Over the past several years, Alisha has contributed to the UCLA Land Use Law and Planning Conference as a speaker and she is delighted to now serve as a co-chair for this fantastic event.

David Smith is a partner with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and splits his time between the firm’s Orange County and San Francisco offices. Mr. Smith counsels land developers, conservation companies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and individuals at the intersection of law and government on land use entitlement, real estate development and regulatory compliance. He is frequently engaged in entitlement and permitting matters for development projects that are, or have the potential to be, particularly contentious and complicated.

Mr. Smith’s expertise includes all facets of land use and related regulatory compliance including the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, climate change, the McAteer-Petris Act and California’s planning and zoning laws. In addition to his practice, Mr. Smith frequently speaks at law schools and conferences throughout the state.

Matthew Burris is the Deputy City Manager over Community and Economic Development for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. He has over 17 years of experience working with local government working for a variety of private sector firms as well as for local governments as an employee. Matt also served as a Planning Commissioner for California’s newest City of Jurupa Valley. In addition to his work in community development, Matt has regularly taught planning courses for both UC Berkeley and UC Riverside.

He is a Certified Planner, a LEED Accredited Professional, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, as well as a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning and a Master of Science in Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Both Matt in his professional capacity, and many of the projects he has been instrumental in, have won state and national awards.

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Public Policy at UCLA Extension

For over 28 years, UCLA Extension has been training professionals in public policy through the annual Land Use Law and Planning Conference, CEQA seminars, as well as climate policy, education policy, health care policy, and food justice courses.

Learn More