ENVS 461 - Land Use Law

Land use planning is an attempt to reconcile the conflict between individual property rights and collective environmental goals. This course examines the American legal system’s role in framing and resolving this dilemma. It provides an understanding of the legal framework that creates our unique ‘bottom up’ land use regulatory system. It also examines the practical and philosophical implications of federal constitutional restrictions on local government land use authority, including ‘takings’ and housing discrimination cases.

Prerequisites & Notes:
ENVS 304 or ESTU 304; permission of instructor.

Credits: 4
Grade Mode: Letter