معرفی
Brian J. Connolly serves as Assistant Professor of Business Law at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, where he teaches Real Estate Law and conducts research at the intersection of land use regulation, housing policy, and constitutional law. His work examines how public and private regulatory frameworks impact urban development and housing affordability, with particular focus on zoning reform and First Amendment challenges in local governance.
His educational background includes a JD from the University of Michigan (2012), Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University (2008), and BS in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University (2007). Prior to academia, he practiced as a partner at a Denver law firm handling over $20 billion in real estate developments and co-founded the Colorado Housing Affordability Project to reform state land-use laws.
Professor Connolly's research spans:
- Constitutional challenges to land use regulations (particularly sign ordinances and zoning)
- Strategies for increasing housing affordability through regulatory reform
- Fair housing compliance in local planning processes
- Legal frameworks for urban redevelopment
His recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a concentrated focus on state-level housing interventions, evolving standards for regulatory takings, and the constitutional dimensions of local land use control. Key trends include analysis of single-family zoning reform outcomes, heightened scrutiny for legislatively-adopted exactions, and the implications of Supreme Court decisions on municipal authority.
Professor Connolly has filed multiple U.S. Supreme Court amicus briefs and served as an expert witness in land use cases, demonstrating significant engagement with real-world applications of his research. His work with the Colorado Housing Affordability Project successfully advocated for research-backed changes to state land-use laws affecting affordable housing development.
