BETHEL – Planners and town leaders from Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties are expected to attend a regional planning session in Bethel this week.

Sponsored by the Androscoggin Watershed Institute, the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments is conducting its 17th annual Planning Day from 8:15 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, at the Bethel Inn Conference Center in Bethel.

Workshops include:

• A discussion on the need to create a regional transportation system to meet current needs and provide opportunity for appropriate growth and development.

• A review of recent changes to Maine land use laws, such as growth management, the Maine Model Building Code, subdivision of land that has been subject to liquidation harvesting, and timber harvesting in shoreland areas.

• Techniques to preserve wildlife habitat, and how planning boards can work with developers to protect habitat during early stages of the development review process.

• An examination of the up-front work required to create development impact fees and how they are working in one Maine community.

• A discussion of municipal responsibility as development takes place along roads and rights of way.

• A discussion of the subdivision review process from the perspectives of the planning board or regulator, the subdivider or developer, and the professional that designs the subdivision.

There is a $35 fee for member municipalities and nonprofit agencies; $45 for nonmember municipalities. It includes all six workshops, materials, refreshments and lunch.

More information may be obtained by calling the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments in Auburn at 783-9186.