Richard K. Norton

Richard K. Norton is a Professor of Urban & Regional Planning at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, with a joint appointment in the Program in the Environment (College of Literature, Science, and the Arts). He specializes in planning law, sustainable development, land use planning, and coastal management, particularly focusing on the Laurentian Great Lakes. His research addresses coastal shoreland management challenges, legal frameworks, and community-engaged policy reforms. He has contributed to legislative drafts for Michigan’s planning laws and appellate court briefs on zoning disputes.

Education: Ph.D. and J.D. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master’s in Public Policy (Duke University), and Environmental Management (Duke University).

Research interests include coastal resilience, legal aspects of environmental planning, and integrating science into public policy. His recent work emphasizes tree protection policies, citizen perceptions of coastline changes, and litigation risks in Great Lakes shoreland conflicts. He has secured grants, including a $5M NSF-funded Global Center for Understanding Climate Change Impacts on Transboundary Waters.

Teaching: Courses include Climate Adaptation Planning, U.S. Planning Law, and Environmental Planning. He actively advises on Great Lakes stewardship and co-led studies on tree protection and coastal decision-making.

Awards: 2024 ACSP Top Reviewer Award. Major projects include the Resilient Great Lakes Coast initiative and contributions to the Michigan Coastal Management Program.