Property Rights Curbed by Top U.S. Court in Development Case

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to property-rights advocates June 23, ruling that regulators didn’t violate the U.S. Constitution when they refused to allow separate houses on adjoining riverfront lots owned by four siblings.

The justices, voting 5-3, said a Wisconsin state court was right to consider the two lots together in deciding whether building restrictions were so onerous they required the Murr family to be compensated (Murr v. Wisconsin, U.S., No. 15-214, 6/23/17).

Writing for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the family had ample options, ...