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.