The legal controversies over a zoning amendment approved in 2019 went all the way to the top court in the state of Maryland, but by the time the court ruled, the Bowie City Council had already repealed the amendment in question.
A decision by the Maryland Supreme Court would have cleared the way for the redevelopment of townhomes on land occupied by a struggling airport in Prince George County, if the Bowie City Council hadn’t already changed its mind about a zoning amendment required to make the project happen.
“Many community members opposed the amendment, which singled out the Freeway Airport property to allow for higher-density housing than some surrounding areas,” according to an article by Madeleine O’Neill. “A group called the Concerned Citizens of Prince George’s County challenged the text amendment in court after it passed in 2019.”
“The airport is intended to be the only property affected by the amendment — which the Concerned Citizens group pointed to as evidence that the change violated the ‘uniformity requirement’ by treating a single property favorably,” reports O’Neill.
The Maryland State Supreme Court found, however, that the zoning amendment “furthered a valid public purpose and did not discriminate between similarly situated properties” (because there are no similarly situated properties).
But this story has a twist: a change of elected representatives on the Bowie City Council began their tenures in the intervening years and rescinded the zoning amendment before the Supreme Court could rule.
“The Concerned Citizens group asked to dismiss the case because the new bill rendered the legal battle moot,” according to O’Neill. “But the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case anyway,” expecting that the issues at stake in the case would set precedent for future land use decisions.
FULL STORY: Md. Supreme Court upholds zoning amendment to allow PG County airport redevelopment
Landmark Climate Decision Rules in Favor of Montana Youth
The ruling in Held v. Montana is the first of its kind in the United States, according to reports.
$4.2 Billion in Washington State Transportation Funding Rescued by the Courts
The Washington Supreme Court struck down an initiative that would have cost state and local governments an estimated $4.2 billion in transportation funding.
Court Decision Clears the Way for East River Greenway Bike Bridge
A community group had sued to prevent the construction of a bridge in Clara Coffey Park in New York City. The court ruled in the favor of the city's plans.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie