Planning is a structured process governed by legal principles, statutes, and codes. Planning commissioners regularly deal with legal issues — and lawyers.
Takings claims can create enormous potential liability for local governments. Respected land use lawyer and planner Dwight Merriam provides an overview of basic takings principles, and addresses questions planning commissioners often have.
No person shall be deprived of property “without due process of law.” A primer on what this Constitutional requirement means for the process planning commissions and zoning boards need to follow in handling land use permit applications.
Ways in which planning boards can improve their dealings with attorneys.
The growth of the property rights movement has been reflected in court decisions and legislative enactments — and has affected local land use regulation. Professor and attorney Irving Schiffman offers guidelines for planners in responding to the property rights challenge.
Attorney and planning commission chairman Carolyn W. Baldwin discusses four different relationships between attorneys and planning commissions.
