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Recreational Zoning: Concept Used In Inappropriate Context Raises Troubling Issues, John R. Nolon
Recreational Zoning: Concept Used In Inappropriate Context Raises Troubling Issues, John R. Nolon
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
The Second Department Appellate Division’s holding in Bonnie Briar Syndicate, Inc. v. Mamaroneck upheld local rezoning in Mamaroneck, New York, from residential to recreational use despite legal challenges that the zoning change constituted an unreasonable use of municipal police power as well as a regulatory taking. The case cited several New York precedents. Each held that so long as rezoning is in accordance with the local comprehensive plan, the zoning shall be held constitutional. However, concerns linger among private residents and local municipalities regarding recreational rezoning projects, which despite providing significant benefits for the community, must be justified by a …
City's Watershed Regulation: Localities, Landowners Object To Changes In Jurisdiction, John R. Nolon
City's Watershed Regulation: Localities, Landowners Object To Changes In Jurisdiction, John R. Nolon
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
The Watershed Rules and Regulations, created by New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, influence several facets of law, including the ability of local governments to regulate actions such as construction. Several landowners in the affected area have taken issue with the regulation. Specifically, they challenge the constitutionality of the city’s extraterritorial control on outside municipalities because of the resulting diminutive effect of the regulations on private property values. This article discusses these issues, as well as the legal ability for potential plaintiffs to sue.
Rfra Is Not Needed: New York Land Use Regulations Accommodate Religious Use, John R. Nolon
Rfra Is Not Needed: New York Land Use Regulations Accommodate Religious Use, John R. Nolon
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications
The case of City of Boerne v. Flores marked an important day in the history of the Constitution. The decision of the United States Supreme Court invalidated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as applied to a local Texas zoning ordinance. The ordinance created a historical preservation area in an attempt to curb a church from expanding its buildings. The Supreme Court held that the Freedom Restoration Act went beyond Congress’s power because of the Act’s broad coverage and potential to intrude on laws regardless of context. This holding parallels the general application of the New York case law, which, generally …