Vermont Land Use Case Could Go to Supreme Court

Property owners argue that a new law protecting wildlife corridors amounts to an unconstitutional taking of property.

1 minute read

May 31, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of South Burlington, Vermont on yellow map.

atdr / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Supreme Court could take on another case that could have rippling effects on local zoning and land use regulations. As Habib Sabet explains in The Other Paper, “The dispute stems from land use regulations passed by the city council in February 2022 that limits development in newly designated ‘habitat blocks,’ or wildlife corridors.”

Owners of a 113.8-acre parcel in South Burlington say the regulations amount to an unconstitutional seizure of their property, preventing them from developing on roughly a third of the land. “In his dismissal of the initial lawsuit, Judge Geoffrey Crawford of the U.S. District Court of Vermont wrote that, ‘in absence of a concrete plan, submitted to the DRB (Development Review Board) and a final decision from the DRB, it is not possible to tell how far the regulations encroach on the Plaintiff’s right to develop it’s [sic] property.’”

Sabet points out that even if the Supreme Court takes the case and rules in the developers’ favor, more litigation — likely years — would follow. 

Thursday, May 23, 2024 in The Other Paper

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.