I am often asked. “What kind of law do you practice?”  As a long-time local government attorney, most of my practice involves representing and defending litigation against governments, governmental entities, officials and their employees.  That is what I have done for most of my legal career in private practice and as a full-time attorney with Arlington, Culpeper [...]

At the end of June, the Virginia Secretary of Transportation announced a new study dated June 16, 2011 that says something we all have known for a decade or more — the state has no funds to adequately maintain our roads, let alone construct new ones, and that our roads and bridges are in a [...]

Looks like blight. Or is it? And what can a locality do about it? One of the problem issues for Virginia local governments and their officials and employees across the state is how to deal with blight. Such structures, singular or in groups, can become a large problem to a community.  Often, historic structures fall [...]

After a six-year legal battle, Arlington County, Virginia may have finally prevailed in its plan to create affordable housing one block from the Clarendon Metro station.  See official County statement here.  

The 2010 Virginia General Assembly adopted HB 1063, which is a helpful simplification of the process by which BZA decisions are appealed to circuit court. It is effective July 1, 2010, and is published at 2010 Virginia Acts of Assembly chapter 241.

In his campaign, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell proposed privatization of the state-owned ABC (liquor) stores as one way to raise revenue without raising taxes. It is important to remember that taking a use that is now public and making it private has repercusions under local land use law and can have concerns for the citizens.

Sands Anderson Marks & Miller’s environmental law team has a new post that raises some important issues. As written, could the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s proposed new storm water regulations pose an unintended obstacle to the redevelopment of our urban areas, and run counter to the many localities’ desire – and in high [...]