The new edition allows professors to teach a broad range of traditional and innovative land use law subjects, ranging from zoning and site planning to sustainable development.

It is organized into essentially two parts - with part I focusing on traditional practice areas in land use law, including a full range of First and Fifth Amendment issues (all from the exisiting chapters in the book which have updated notes/commentary and a sprinkling of new principal cases, enough to modernize the book without requiring significant teaching overhauls). Part II of the new edition contains in depth material on the history and evolution of sustainable development law at the international, national, and state level. It concentrates on municipal strategies that achieve sustainable development including sustainable building, smart growth, affordable housing and urban revitalization (including eminent domain), local environmental law and enhancing sequestration through open space preservation. Some of the old chapters have been updated, and a several new chapters have been added. As a result of the new "Part II," the book is also a great text for an advanced course or seminar on sustainable development law.