Amy Lavine's work regarding planning and land use law

Amy Lavine has contributed significantly to the fields of land use and environmental law, particularly through her work on sustainable development, zoning, and the intersection of these areas with broader societal concerns such as climate change and food security. Here are some specific laws and policies related to these areas that she has worked on or contributed to:

• Overlap Between Land Use and Environmental Law: Lavine has recognized the strong overlap between environmental regulation and land use regulation in achieving sustainability. This realization has prompted a need for practitioners to understand both state and federal environmental laws and regulations, as well as land use regulatory tools, to effectively pursue environmental goals. This convergence is particularly relevant in addressing local land use regulation and greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

• Takings Clause and Eminent Domain: Lavine's work has touched upon cases involving the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which deals with the balance between private property rights and public interests in land use planning.

• Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA): After the Supreme Court struck down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in City of Boerne v. Flores, Congress enacted RLUIPA to protect religious freedom in land use contexts. Lavine has contributed to evaluating the creation of this federal statutory right and its impact on federalism.

• Local Environmental Law and Sustainability: Lavine has engaged with the advent of local environmental law and its role in promoting sustainability. This includes exploring strategies for mitigating climate change through land use stabilization and the greening of state and local land use plans.

• Regional Foodsheds and Land Use Regulations: Lavine has explored the concept of regional foodsheds and how local zoning and land use regulations can either promote or hinder healthy food systems. Her work suggests that land use policies can play a crucial role in supporting local agriculture and enhancing food security.