Land use law

Hartman Remember Phil Hartman’s classic Saturday Night Live routine, “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” —

One hundred thousand years ago, a caveman was out hunting on the frozenwastes when he slipped and fell into a crevasse. In 1988, he wasdiscovered by some scientists and thawed out. He then went to lawschool and became… Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.

The New York Court of Appeals issued its opinion in the appeal regarding the Atlantic Yards redevelopment project, Goldstein v. New York State Urban Development Corp., No. 178 (Nov. 24, 2009). This case was a challenge to the taking under the New York Constitution.

While we have not yet fully digested the 66 pages

Things we were reviewing today:

  • My colleague Mark Murakami has set up a resource page for all things about the McDonald v. City of Chicago case. That’s the appeal currently being considered by the Supreme

Another very interesting conference call today, focusing on theupcoming arguments in the Stop the Beach Renourishment case, the New York Court of Appeals’ decision in Aspen Creek, and the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision to review Klumpp v. Borough of Avalon. Here arethe links to some of the cases and other topics discussed

Here’s the Reply Brief filed last month by the property owner in Leone v. County of Maui, No.29696,an appeal in the HawaiiIntermediate Court of Appeals which is considering, among other issues,the question of when a regulatory takings claim is ripe for reviewunder Williamson County Regional Planning Comm’n v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City

The judiciary web site has posted the recording of the November 10, 2009 Intermediate Court of Appeals oral arguments in Maunalua Bay Beach Ohana 28 v. State of Hawaii, No. 28175 (HAWICA) here (caution, it is a massive 88 MB mp3 file).

The issue in the case is whether the state, or littoral landowners

The property owners have filed their Reply Brief in Stop the Beachfront Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Dep’t of Environmental Protection, No. 08-11 (cert. granted. June 15, 2009), the case about “judicial takings” and the rights of littoral owners to accretion.

Oral arguments in the Supreme Court are set for December 2, 2009.

More about

The Hawaii Supreme Court and Intermediate Court of Appeals will be hearing two appeals of note:

  • Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – Maunalua Bay Beach Ohana 28 v. State of Hawaii, No. 28175 (HAWICA). The issue is whether the state, or littoral landowners, are entitled toownership of certain accreted lands. In “Act 73,”

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 18, 2009, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). That’s when we will be having the next “recent developments” conference call for members of the Condemnation Law Committee (ABA Section of State & Local Government Law). It’s free, but open only to Section members. Members should receive an