Forest Conservation Bill Poses Significant Threat to Development in Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County Council Bill No. 68-19, which was recently introduced at the request of County Executive Steuart Pittman, presents serious concerns for the development industry in Anne Arundel County. The bill introduces several key changes to the Forest Conservation Act which have the potential to make development in Anne Arundel County more challenging.  Similar…

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Baltimore County Gets Ready for 2020 Comprehensive Zoning Map Process

In September 2019, Baltimore county will kick off the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process (“CZMP”).  The CZMP is the quadrennial process through which Baltimore County redraws its zoning maps.  Every four years, the Baltimore County Council, in conjunction with the Planning Board, the Department of Planning, property owners and developers within the county undertake a comprehensive review…

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Amazon and Products Liability: What A Difference the Mason-Dixon Line Makes

Less than two months apart, two U.S. Courts of Appeal examined the same two issues involving Amazon and came to diametrically opposed conclusions on one of them.  The issues were: (a) whether the Communications Decency Act (“CDA”) insulated Amazon from liability for injuries caused by a defective product purchased on its website; and (b) whether…

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Just Say No…To The Condemning Authority’s First Offer, That Is.

Public infrastructure projects are on the rise, from new transit systems to comprehensive highway renovations and everything in between.  Behind the scenes, some governmental body is fast at work acquiring private land along the project route by power of eminent domain.  This harsh reality is endlessly vexing to anyone who stands to lose land to…

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Maryland Governor Signs into Law New Statute Assisting Commercial Lenders Seeking to Obtain Receiverships over Borrowers and/or Real Estate Collateral

There is good news for commercial lenders in Maryland seeking the appointment of a receiver over a borrower or solely over real estate collateral.  On  April 30, 2019, Governor Hogan signed into law HB 1065, which creates an entirely new set of rules when a commercial lender wishes to have a receiver appointed as one…

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New Legislation Proposed to Lower Threshold for Projects to Qualify for Baltimore City’s High-Performance Market-Rate Rental Housing Tax Credit

On May 9th, Councilman Bill Henry introduced CCB #19-389, which proposes to modify the number of rental units required to qualify a multi-family dwelling project for the City’s High-Performance Market-Rate Rental Housing Tax Credit (the “Tax Credit”) from 20 units to 10 units.  First enacted in 2014, the Tax Credit was aimed at encouraging the…

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Demystifying Life Estate Deeds in Maryland

In Maryland, you can make a beneficiary designation on your real property. This type of transaction is called a Life Estate Deed. It can be a very useful tool to avoid probate while also preserving tax benefits. There are two flavors: (1) a Life Estate Deed With Powers; and (2) a Life Estate Deed Without…

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