Land Use and Natural Resources Track

Study land use and natural resources law with experts from our renowned Land Use Law Center and some special guests!

Classes will be held from 9:00am-12:00pm at the Pace Law campus in White Plains.

• Land Use Law Survey (LULC Staff; 1 credit)

No longer open for registration

May 28th-31st

*9:00am-12:30pm

This course will give an overview of the basics of zoning and planning and cover topics including tools and techniques that create flexibility in zoning and land use planning. Other special topics such as regulatory takings and intermunicipal agreements will also be discussed. A hypothetical project will be used to discuss the legal authority and tools that can be used in the land use process.  In addition, students will reference a sample zoning law adopted in a New York community.

• Sustainable Development Survey (LULC Staff; 1 credit)

No longer open for registration

June 3rd-7th

Sustainability is often defined as a balance of the three E's: the environment, the economy, and social equity. This course will cover sustainable development topics such as local water and land resource protection laws, smart growth, preventing urban decay, transit-oriented development, and fair and affordable housing.  In addition, collaborative decision-making tools and techniques will be taught due to the complex nature of sustainable development law.  A particular focus will be put on the equitable inclusion of all stakeholders. A hypothetical project will be used to cover the basics of the land use system and reflect on the authority and power given to local board members.  It will also be used to understand the foundations of the required decision-making process and explain why this process is not very effective in sustainable development situations or public engagement.  While normally thought of as rigid and inaccessible, the process can be made more flexible and inclusive to help reduce energy spent on unproductive and divisive controversy.  Students will receive a description of the Collingsburg hypothetical development project. Each student will be assigned a role and participate in daily class exercises.

• Land Use Law & Climate Mitigation & Adaptation (LULC Staff; 1 credit)

No longer open for registration

June 10th-14th

There are a number of ways that land use laws can mitigate the acceleration of human-caused climate change and help bring it under control.  There are also a number of ways that local and state governments and land managers can design and redevelop communities to help people adapt to climate change – a particularly compelling task in low-lying coastal areas.  This course explains how land use law can be used to accomplish these results.

• Historic & Cultural Preservation (Gary Nurkin & Shelby Green; 1 credit)

No longer open for registration

June 24th-28th

This course will cover major federal statutes governing historical preservation (e.g., national Historic Preservation Act and NEPA’s consultation requirements), the development of historic preservation through case law, preservation planning and zoning, and constitutional issues under the due process clause.

• Food & Agriculture Law (Cari Rincker; 1 credit)

No longer open for registration

July 1st-5th (not meeting July 4th)

*9:00am-12:30pm

This course will give an overview of the laws regulating the U.S. food and agriculture system.  It will touch upon the various practice areas affecting production agriculture and food entrepreneurs including farm programs, disaster assistance, environmental law, financing, right-to-farm, employment/labor law, livestock sales, humane livestock slaughter, farm animal welfare, biotechnology, food safety, and the National Organic Program.  This course will also touch upon some policy discussions and trends including sustainability, food labeling, urban/ suburban agriculture, food justice, and local food movement (including the direct marketing of food products such as farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture).