Opinion ID: 2068552
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First Construction Permit

Text: On 15 November 2002, the Zoning Administrator for the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) issued to Cresmont a permit to construct a seven-story residential apartment complex consisting of twenty-six apartments and a parking lot with thirty-three parking spaces. At the time, the Property was a vacant lot. Petitioners filed a negative appeal [2] to the Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals (the Board). They alleged, among other things, that the project violated § 10-504(a) [3] of the Zoning Code of Baltimore City (the Code or the Zoning Code), which, at the relevant time, required passage of an ordinance by the City to authorize the use of land as a parking lot. The Board ruled against Petitioners, reasoning that § 10-504(a) did not apply to accessory off-street parking for newly-erected structures. Construction of the building and parking lot began in August 2003. On 4 November 2003, however, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, on Petitioners' petition for judicial review, reversed the Board, concluding that the Code did not exempt accessory uses from the requirements of § 10-504(a). Shortly thereafter, the Director of Permits for the DHCD revoked Cresmont's construction permit. The City, which sided with Cresmont in the litigation, appealed to the Court of Special Appeals. The intermediate appellate court dismissed the appeal on the ground that the provision of the Code authorizing judicial review was not in effect when the City filed its appeal. Mayor of Balt. v. Armstrong, No. 02096, September Term 2003, 163 Md.App. 704 (filed 10 Aug. 2005).