The American Planning Association Chicago Metro Section recently teamed up with Ancel Glink's Quorum Forum podcast for the 11th Annual "Bar Exam" Planning Law Session. Recorded live at Goodwin's in Chicago, this realistic, simulated law school experience tests planners and land use professionals on the latest legal precedents in wind energy, annexation, and First Amendment protections. As is tradition, all participants passed the bar, and teams competed for the prestigious (and five-foot-tall) Ancel Glink Cup. In this episode, Ancel Glink's Dan Bolin, Megan Mack, and Tyler Smith are joined by special guest Phil Green, a Local Gov 250 Government Champion, who undergoes a high-tech "firmware update" to become the session's first AI-powered planning law assistant.
In This Episode
- [00:00] The Roll Call: Host Dan Bolin calls the meeting to order with professors Megan Mack and Tyler Smith, plus local government champion Phil Green.
- [05:00] Round 1: Democracy at the Doorstep: Phil discusses his recognition as a Local Gov 250 Champion and his work on "democracy at the doorstep" in Hoffman Estates.
- [11:45] Case 1.1 - Wind Farm Bans: A look at Hickory Wind LLC v. Village of Cedar Point, exploring why outright bans on lawful land uses exceed non-home rule authority.
- [19:30] Case 1.2 - Zoning Finality: In Chosen Consulting LLC v. Town Council of Highland, we learn why ADA and discrimination claims do not bypass the requirement for a final zoning decision.
- [23:00] Case 1.3 - Cross-Examination Rights: A resort project in Galena highlights the importance of maintaining a record when residents forfeit their right to cross-examine witnesses.
- [26:45] Round 2: The Road to Houston: Phil shares takeaways from serving as the Education Chair for NPC26 in Detroit and teases a "Moon Joy" theme for NPC27 in Houston.
- [32:15] Case 2.1 - Forceful Annexation: We review a 4.7% perimeter gap in Husky Transportation v. Village of Barrington Hills to define the "wholly bounded" standard.
- [36:15] Case 2.2 - First Amendment Retaliation: The saga of the Minocqua Brewing Co. demonstrates that permit denials are not retaliatory if they would have occurred regardless of protected speech.
- [39:45] Case 2.3 - The Hamburger UFOs: A whimsical mural case from Kansas tests "intermediate scrutiny" and whether cities can prove that burger art is more distracting than flower art.
- [42:30] The Future of Planning Law: Megan and Tyler discuss the responsible use of AI in legal practice and how municipalities are responding to data center controversies involving power and water consumption.
- [47:00] The Reveal of A.I. CPU: Phil Green manifests as the A.I. CPU, an assistant that is 100% confident, 60% accurate, and requires massive amounts of "liquid cooling" to function.
- [48:45] Round 3: AI-Assisted Answers: The A.I. CPU helps navigate cases on warrantless rental inspections, daily fine calculations, and why missing scaffolding is not a legal defense for safety hazards.
- [1:03:15] Crowning the Champions: We announce the winners of the 2026 Bar Exam and award the shiny gold Ancel Glink Cup to the "Transit Masters."
Upcoming Events:
Resources:
2026 APA-CMS Bar Exam PowerPoint
2026 APA-CMS Bar Exam Handout
Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Wind Farm Developer
Seventh Circuit Dismisses ADA Challenge to Local Zoning Regulations
In the Zone: Court Finds No Procedural Due Process Violation in Zoning Challenge
Involuntary Annexation Upheld by Appellate Court
In the Zone: Court Upholds Revocation of Conditional Use Permit for Beer Garden
Cozy Inn, Inc. v. City of Salina, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 228758 (Kansas District Court)
Appellate Court Reverses Dismissal of Challenge to Renal Inspection Ordinance
Appellate Court Upholds Demolition Order But Limits Municipal Fines
Appellate Court Upholds $14,500 Fine for Building Code Violations
Credits
Disclaimer: This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer: www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers
