Urban Law

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to the laws which govern land use development and planning, and will explore timely issues of affordable housing, environmental controls, and historic preservation. Students will come away from the class with a deeper understanding of how the powers and limitations of different branches of government—legislative, judicial and executive— and of different levels of government – federal, state and local—can impact land use development within cities. This understanding will evolve primarily from the study of (a) the history and use of zoning as a tool for land regulation, (b) the evolving law of “takings” and eminent domain, and (c) the tools that communities use to shape development. Class format will include both lectures and problem-solving, and active participation in class discussions is required.