When you're dealing with any piece of real estate in Massachusetts, you need to Understand The applicable land use regulations and cases. Bobrowski's Handbook of Massachsetts Land Use and Planning Law provides all the insightful analysis and practical, expert advice you need, with detailed coverage of such important issues as: Affordable housing Special permit and variance decisions Zoning in Boston Nonconforming uses and structures Administrative appeal procedures Enforcement requests Building permits Vested rights Agricultural use exemptions Current tests for exactions SLAPP suit procedures Impact fees Civil rights challenges. Helpful tables facilitate convenient case law review, while forms and extensive cross-references add To The book's usefulness.

"Transfer of Development Rights" (TDR) programs allow local governments to put economic principles to work in encouraging good land use planning. TDR programs most often permit landowners to forfeit development rights in areas targeted for preservation and then sell those development rights to buyers who want to increase the density of development in areas designated as growth areas by local authorities. Although TDR programs must conform to zoning laws, they provide market incentives that make them more equitable (and often more lucrative) for sellers and frequently benefit buyers by allowing them to receive prior approval for their high-density development plans. Since the 1970s when modern TDR applications were first conceived, more than 200 communities in 33 states across the U.S. have implemented TDR-based programs. The most common uses of TDR to date involve protecting farmland, environmentally sensitive land, historic sites, and "rural character," and urban revitalization. Until now, however, there has never been a clearly written, one-volume book on the subject. At last, The TDR Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to every aspect of TDR programs, from the thinking behind them to the nuts and bolts of implementation-including statutory guidance, model ordinances, suggestions for program administration, and comparisons with other types of preservation programs. In addition, six of its twenty chapters are devoted to case studies of all major uses to which TDR programs have been utilized to date, including recent urban revitalization projects that utilize TDR principles.

Ground Rules: Your Handbook to Utah Land Use Regulation is published by the Utah Land Use Institute, which for almost 15 years has been working to inform Utahns about land use regulation and planning procedures. This book is designed for both the reader who is just getting stared in the zoning arena and for skilled professionals who need more detail on specific topics as well as citations to leading case law and statutes.With this book, you can fully understand and participate in land use conversations and decisions in your community.

The Definitive Guide to Land Development-Every Detail, Every Issue, Every Setting Land Development Handbook provides a step-by-step approach to any type of project, from rural greenfield development to suburban infill to urban redevelopment. With the latest information regarding green technologies and design, the book offers you a comprehensive look at the land-development process as a whole, as well as a thorough view of individual disciplines. Plus, a bonus color insert reveals the extent to which land development projects are transforming our communities! This all-in-one guide provides in-depth coverage of: Environmental issues from erosion and sediment control and stormwater management to current regulatory controls for plan approval, permitting, and green building certification Comprehensive planning and zoning including new development models for mixed-use, transit-oriented, and conservation developments Enhanced approaches to community and political consensus building Technical design procedures for infrastructure components including roads and utilities with a new section on dry utilities Surveying tools and techniques focusing on the use of GPS and GIS to collect, present, and preserve data throughout the design process Plan preparation, submission, and processing with an emphasis on technologies available-from CAD modeling and design to electronic submissions, permit processing, and tracking Subjects include: Planning and zoning Real Property Law Engineering Feasibility Environmental Regulations Rezoning Conceptual and Schematic Design Development Patterns Control, Boundary, and Topographical Surveys Historic Assessment and Preservation Street and Utility Design Floodplain Studies Grading and Earthwork Water and Wastewater Treatment Cost Estimating Subdivision Process Plan Submittals Stormwater Management Erosion and Sediment Control And much more!

The only consumer's guide to making sense of land-use laws and regulations Many property owners have no idea what their rights are when it comes to altering their properties, or protecting themselves from encroachment by developers and the misguided building and renovation plans of neighbors. Written by a leading national expert on land-use law, The Complete Guide to Zoning tells home owners, developers, and investors nationwide everything you need to know about getting approvals and protecting your property rights. In plain English, Dwight Merriam explains how to: Get fast approvals for building and renovation plans Obtain building permits and variances Fight development projects Use land-use laws to protect and increase property values Identify and work around laws that limit building and renovation plans Deal with environmental-protection laws