David M. Plott

David Plott has over 30 years of experience representing clients in land use, environmental, and administrative matters. His practice operates at the intersection of law, planning, politics, community relations, and land use and environmental policy, and he plays an influential role in the land use, conservation and economic development issues of the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland.  Mr. Plott has cultivated a reputation as a trustworthy, skillful, and perceptive advocate. He leverages his long relationships with business and community groups and government decision-makers to forge consensus and bring various stakeholders into agreement.

Mr. Plott represents commercial, industrial and residential developers; regional and national builders; nonprofits; senior housing; alternative energy developers; nursing homes; private schools; property owners; and industrial, commercial, and retail businesses before state and local administrative agencies, boards, and legislative bodies in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. He has extensive experience with the laws and regulations relating to the Chesapeake Bay and riparian rights, and handles rezonings, special exceptions and variances, subdivision and site plan approvals, critical area reclassifications, zoning text amendments, and other land use matters.  He negotiates and drafts development agreements, contracts, covenants and easements.

He has a substantial background in environmental and land use policy, including previously working as a natural resources planner for the state of Maryland. In that role, he became familiar with the work of planners, environmental consultants, and engineers, and gained insight into the public sector’s approach to land use and environmental regulation.

Mr. Plott frequently appears before city and county legislative bodies, hearing officers and Boards of Appeal. He represents clients in appeals of administrative decisions before state courts. He applies his knowledge of the law and understanding of the opposition’s arguments to find creative avenues to resolve complex and contentious cases and achieve his clients’ desired results. He frequently works with the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County offices of Planning and Zoning, Public Works, Inspections and Permits, the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission, State Highway Administration, and other state and county agencies. He is well-versed in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County zoning and development regulations, as well as state Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, land use, wetland, and forest conservation law and regulations.

Mr. Plott has lectured on environmental and land use policies and regulations, and has drafted legislation related to growth management, zoning, forest conservation, vested rights, and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. He previously served as chair of the board and general counsel to the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, where he forged important connections in the business community.

University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1989, with honors

Duke University, Master of Environmental Management, 1979

Franklin & Marshall College, B.A., 1977

  • Linowes and Blocher LLP, Partner, 1999–2020
  • Linowes and Blocher LLP, Associate, 1989–1998
  • Maryland Department of State Planning, Natural Resources Planner, 1982–1989

110 Compromise Street, Annapolis

Revised City Zoning Code to facilitate redevelopment of a mixed-use maritime project on the Annapolis City Dock

Brookfield Homes

Obtained special exception approval for a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) and secured Board of Education approval for a school redistricting so the PUD could be developed with non-age–restricted housing

Brightview Senior Living

Obtained special exception approvals for multiple assisted living facilities

Attman Properties

Secured a rezoning from low-density residential to commercial for a significant property near the Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport

Annapolis Yacht Club

Obtained special exception approval for the Yacht Club’s new Family Activity Center in Eastport

BWI Airport Fast Park

Received special exception approval for a new off-airport parking facility

Chesapeake Marine Tours

Negotiated a long-term lease with the City of Annapolis

Chick-fil-A

Obtained special exception approval for a new restaurant in Annapolis

DMS Development

Negotiated agreement with adjacent community and secured special exception approval for a new planned commercial complex

Elm Street Development

Secured Planned Unit Development special exception approval

First Centrum Corporation

Successfully lobbied for amendments to the Annapolis City Code, secured special exception approval for two seniors housing communities, and successfully defended the approvals through the appeal process

Genesis Healthcare

Obtained approvals for both the expansion of existing nursing homes and construction of a new nursing home

Homeport Farm LLLP

Secured a Critical Area Growth Allocation that facilitated development of a new waterfront community and creation of a new 25-acre county waterfront park near Annapolis

Home Builders Association of Maryland

Successfully lobbied for amendments to the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Law through the Maryland General Assembly

Investment 360, LLC

Worked with Anne Arundel County to draft legislation allowing eating disorder treatment facilities in the county and secured special exception approval for redevelopment of a vacant nursing home into a new inpatient eating disorder treatment facility

The Key School

Represented the school in securing and defending approvals for development of the Fusco Athletic Park

Koch Homes

Obtained special exception and subdivision approvals for a new estate home community

OGOS

Successfully defended special exception approval for a community solar project before the Allegany County Circuit Court and Court of Special Appeals

The Nature Conservancy

Assisted with the preservation and sale of an approximately 300-acre waterfront farm

Lennar Multifamily Communities

Represented client on applications and approvals for a new 293-unit apartment building and garage in the Parole Town Center

Southern Maryland Oil

Obtained special exception and variance approvals to facilitate the reconstruction and modernization of multiple automobile gasoline stations

PreFlight Parking

Represented client in purchasing and developing a new off-airport parking facility

Papa John’s USA, Inc.

Secured approvals for new pizza carryout restaurants

Walmart Stores, Inc.

Represented client on successful appeal of denial of transportation impact fee credits and on securing zoning approvals at multiple store locations

Sunoco

Obtained approvals for reconstruction and modernization of automobile gasoline stations

Wright Investment Group

Represented client from initial application through decisions from the Court of Special Appeals, Anne Arundel County Council, and Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission that resulted in commercially zoned land being removed from the Critical Area

Maryland

Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce
Chairman, 2012-2014
General Counsel and Vice Chairman

Anne Arundel County Bar Association

Maryland Building Industry Association, Member, Board of Directors, Anne Arundel County Chapter

Leadership Anne Arundel

Maryland Bar Association, Member, Environmental Law Section

Recognized by Super Lawyers as a 2020 Maryland Super Lawyer in Land Use/Zoning December 6, 2019

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Edition in Land Use and Zoning Law. August 26, 2019

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for 2018-2019

Anne Arundel County General Development Plan Steering Committee, Vice Chairman

Anne Arundel County Home Builders Association Award

Department of State Planning Certificate of Commendation

Maryland Planning Association Award for Public Education