In the context of a private property system, land use planning and land use control raise interesting philosophical and political questions. This course focuses on the pragmatic aspects of contemporary land use law and policy and explores the following: nuisance as a land use tool and foundation for modern land use law; use and abuse of the "police power" (the legal basis for land use control); zoning flexibility; vested property rights, development agreements, and takings; redevelopment; growth control; and direct democracy. Throughout, the course explores how land use decisions affect environmental quality and how land use decision-making addresses environmental impacts. The course also focuses on balancing legal, political, economic, and public interest considerations in land use advocacy and decision-making.