Adam Lovelady

Adam Lovelady’s work focuses on land use law and local planning. He teaches, researches, and advises on topics of zoning, land subdivision, transportation, renewable energy, and historic preservation. He joined the School of Government in 2012 and was named Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Term Assistant Professor for 2015–2017. His publications include Quasi-Judicial Handbook: A Guide for Boards Making Development Regulation Decisions (2017), Land Subdivision Regulation in North Carolina (2015), regular posts to the School’s local government law blog, and law journal articles on historic preservation and regional planning. His 2014 report Planning and Zoning for Solar in North Carolina received the Margaret Taylor Writing Award in 2015.

As part of the School’s effort to provide effective instruction and positive impact, Lovelady has established and coordinated the Solutions Forum, a collaborative workshop bringing together local government officials from multiple jurisdictions and multiple departments to address a common challenge. Following the Forum, Lovelady published Reshaping Suburban Spaces: Lessons from North Carolina Cities (2016). Along with his SOG colleague David Owens, he has designed and authored a library of web-based training modules on zoning topics for use by local boards. In addition, he is a Trainer for the National Alliance for Preservation Commissions, serving local preservation commissions around the country.

Before coming to the School, Lovelady practiced law with McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond, VA, where he focused on land use regulation, environmental law, and sustainable development. Prior to that, he taught second grade in Atlanta as part of Teach for America and worked in historic preservation in Asheville and Shelby, NC. Lovelady earned a BA in history from Auburn University and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning as well as a JD from the University of Virginia.

Fields of Expertise City and County Planning Historic Districts Land Use Regulation Subdivision Regulation Zoning