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Full-Text Articles in Law

Shattering The Myth Of Municipal Impotence: The Authority Of Local Government To Create Affordable Housing, John R. Nolon Jan 1989

Shattering The Myth Of Municipal Impotence: The Authority Of Local Government To Create Affordable Housing, John R. Nolon

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

In the absence of any guidance from the legislature, local officials, in confronting the problem of affordable housing, look to the courts to define the extent of their responsibility and power. While not providing specific direction, the New York Court of Appeals has clearly outlawed zoning designed to exclude affordable housing. The judiciary has voiced doubts, however, that municipal governments can, through zoning alone, require the development of affordable housing. The view that municipalities lack such power is erroneous. Zoning alone is competent to induce such development. Furthermore, local governments have considerable additional power to induce the creation of such …


Law And A New Land Ethic, John A. Humbach Jan 1989

Law And A New Land Ethic, John A. Humbach

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

As open space comes under increasing development pressure, existing-use zoning provides a direct and forthright way to preserve the line between urban and non-urban land use. Ultimately it may be the only practical means for protecting high-demand or sensitive areas such as wetlands, coastlines, lakeshores, floodplains, stream corridors, and pristine reservoir watersheds. This Article reviews the viability of existing-use zoning under United States Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution's takings clause. It concludes that nothing in those interpretations disallows this straightforward approach to preserving our country's familiar patterns of land use and development.


Public Rights In The Navigable Streams Of New York, John A. Humbach Jan 1989

Public Rights In The Navigable Streams Of New York, John A. Humbach

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the New York judicial decisions bearing on the public's right to use the state's navigable streams and waterways. The cases have been organized into a logical framework, in outline form, in order to give future researchers ready access to the relevant judicial materials. Wherever possible, the main thrust of the cases has been presented in the court's own words. Brief narrative summaries of the case law are provided under the main outline headings. An attempt has been made to include a reference to every New York case relevant to public use of freshwater …