by Raymond Daniel Burke | Jan 21, 2016
The text of Senate Bill 168, which would provide for the installation of electric vehicle chargers at condominiums and in homeowner associations, as well as at rental properties, is now available. The proposed legislation would void any provision in condominium and homeowner association documents that unreasonably restricts the installation of chargers, and would regulate and limit the approval process by which a homeowner could secure approval to install a charger.
Here is a link to the full text of the bill: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/bills/sb/sb0168f.pdf
by Raymond Daniel Burke | Jan 18, 2016
A bill introduced in the early stages of the 2016 session of the Maryland General Assembly would make provisions for the installation of electric vehicle chargers that impact condominiums and homeowners associations. Senate Bill 168 is sponsored by Senator Brian Feldman of Montgomery County The language of a similar bill introduced during the 2015 session (SB 762), also introduced by Senator Feldman, would void any provision in condominium and homeowner association documents that restricts the installation of chargers, and would regulate and limit the approval process by which a homeowner could secure approval to install a charger. The text of this year’s bill should be available shortly.
by Raymond Daniel Burke | Mar 15, 2013
Senate Bill 136, now pending in the Maryland General Assembly, would make condominiums, cooperative housing corporations, and homeowners associations eligible to receive grants from the Maryland Solar Energy Grant Program to contribute to the cost of acquiring and installing photovoltaic and solar water heating equipment.
by Raymond Daniel Burke | Sep 17, 2009
During 2005, in Maryland’s venerable Eastern Shore seaport town of Crisfield, an ambitious redevelopment project commenced at the City Dock. The Captain’s Galley is a luxury condominium complex consisting of a six-story building with 23 residential units, a heated pool, fitness center, boat slips, and a rooftop restaurant. One notable component of the project specifications called for the construction to result in a “Green Building” that would obtain a “Silver Certification” in accordance with the U. S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, popularly known as LEED standards. In doing so, the developer intended to qualify for more than $600,000 in tax credits.
Captain’s Galley became a memorable project, not only because it was one of the first in Maryland to incorporate the LEED rating into the contract documents, but because it became one of first anywhere to result in litigation arising, in part, from the general contractor’s alleged failure to comply with the environmental design standards. In the suit filed in the Circuit Court for Somerset County, the developer, along with other claims, sought damages for the loss of the tax credits as a consequence of the alleged failure of the building to meet the contractually specified LEED standards. (more…)
