Supreme Court issues pro-developer land-use ruling

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Abstract: Developers applying for land-use permits often feel frustrated, even victimized, when government agencies make demands for money or property as conditions of permit approval. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has made it easier for developers to challenge such demands in court. This article discusses a case in which a Florida real estate developer felt that the state’s conditions for granting a permit for a development project were excessive. The Court agreed, believing that the state’s stance violated the Fifth Amendment right to just compensation for property. A sidebar discusses the opposing view in this 5-4 decision.