A couple of noteworthy conferences upcoming, one in-person, the other a "webinar" format:
- The first is "Kelo: A Decade Later" at the U. Connecticut Law School, Friday, March 20, 2015, from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. The conference promises to "look back at the decision and its repercussions," and includes the lawyers for Ms. Kelo and the City of New London. "The conference will then explore the role of eminent domain in government planning generally. What role does and should eminent domain play in economic development? What is the impact of post-Kelo changes to state law? Does eminent domain have distinctive impacts on low income communities? Leading scholars and practitioners in law, planning, sociology, and economics will explore these questions." We note that our Connecticut Owners' Counsel colleague Dwight Merriam is one of those "leading practitioners," and will be moderating a panel entitled "Eminent Domain and Economic Development" with a bunch of professor types.
- The webcast is more for you land-user and planner types, but still sounds worthy: "Lessons from the Sage Grouse: Impacts of the Endangered Species Act on Local Land Use Planning" from the American Planning Association's Planning and Law Division. Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 3:30 - 5:30pm, ET. "This webinar will start by discussing planning and land use impacts from the listing and potential listing of the sage grouse as an endangered species. The discussion of the sage grouse will be an introduction to broader topics applicable to planners and local governments throughout the country, including what an ESA listing may mean for local governments, and how local or regional efforts can be incentivized to cooperate with state or federal policy." There's a minimal registration fee.
