Shaping the Future of Sustainable Communities: Highlights from the 24th Alfred B. DelBello Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Land Use Law Center recently hosted the 24th Annual Alfred B. DelBello Land Use and Sustainable Development Conference, continuing its long-standing tradition of convening leaders in land use, environmental law, and public policy to address the challenges and opportunities facing communities today. Held in December 2025, the conference focused on the theme “Fostering the Development of Sustainable Communities Through Innovative Strategies,” bringing together practitioners, policymakers, scholars, and students for thoughtful discussion on land use planning, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

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The conference opened with two ethics focused sessions followed by welcome remarks from Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University Dean Horace E. Anderson, Jr. Dean Anderson’s remarks reflected both the long-standing history and impact of the LULC Conference while also recognizing the retirement of Tom Bourgeois, Director for Policy and Research at the Land Use Law Center, after 25 years of dedication to Pace Haub Law. “Tom’s contributions have been extraordinary,” shared Dean Anderson. “His expertise in energy efficiency, distributed energy systems, microgrids, geothermal networks, and resilient infrastructure has positioned our Land Use Law Center as a national leader at the intersection of energy and land use policy. Tom leaves a legacy that has helped shaped cutting-edge research and informed sustainable development strategies across the Northeast and beyond, and we thank him for all he has done for the Law School.” A morning keynote session was also delivered by Arthur C. Nelson, Ph.D., FAcSS, FAICP, Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning and Real Estate Development, and Geography, University of Arizona on trends in housing demands – past, present, and future. Several engaging early afternoon breakout sessions were held as well focusing on timely topics.

During the conference, the annual Groundbreaker’s Award was presented to Catherine F. Parker, Westchester County Board of Legislators, 7th District. During the presentation, it was noted that Legislator Parker has dedicated her career to strengthening Westchester County’s environmental resilience and fostering sustainable, community-driven growth. She has also championed landmark initiatives that reflect the principles taught by the Land Use Law Center’s Land Use Leadership Alliance (LULA) program and helped expand access to the LULA program.

A highlight of the conference was Shelley Poticha, Managing Director for Regional Impact, NRDC, delivering an informative keynote address on Taking Ambitious Action Now: Lessons from the American Sustainable Cities Initiative. During the keynote, Shelley discussed the American Sustainable Cities Initiatives, a 10-year effort to build the capacity of local change-makers. She noted that this initiative is a way for local leaders to experiment with ambitious solutions and find new ways to make their communities more livable and sustainable. The afternoon portion of the conference also included additional breakout sessions, a law update session, and a wine and cheese reception.

Founder’s Award Reception and Honorees

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The conference was preceded by the Founder’s Award Reception, where three individuals were honored:

• Thomas M. Roach, Mayor, City of White Plains, New York, received the Founder’s Award for his exemplary leadership in the City of White Plains and his career-long commitment to community collaboration and positive change.
• Maximillian R. Mahalek, Esq., an associate at Cuddy & Feder LLP and a Haub Law alumnus, was honored with the Distinguished Young Attorney Award for his contributions to land use and real estate law.
• Emily A. Petermann, a current Haub Law student, received the John R. Nolon Student Achievement Award for her dedication and commitment to excellence in fulfilling the mission of the Land Use Law Center.

Supporting Sustainability Through Collaboration

Each year, the Conference is made possible by the generosity of a significant number of sponsors who believe in the mission of the Land Use Law Center and the importance of this annual conference. This year, top sponsors included DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP, Collins Capital Partners LLC, Zarin & Steinmetz LLP, The Oram Foundation, Inc., Cuddy & Feder LLP, and Hocherman, Tortorella, and Wekstein, LLP. For more details visit the 2025 Conference agenda program (PDF).