A bill aiming to give community and homeowner associations legal standing in state court ? and the potential power to challenge unpopular development proposals ? died in a House committee Monday, lawmakers said.
Supporters of the bill called its death disappointing but expected. Legislators said current state law, which requires lawsuits to name individual property owners who have a stake in the case, opens individuals to threats of countersuits if they don?t back off opposition.
But members of the House of Delegates? judiciary committee issued an unfavorable report after coalitions for developers, Realtors and local governments testified against the measure last week. They said the bill enables association boards to represent views that residents might not share.
“It still has incredible merit,” said Sen. Jim Brochin, D-District 42, who cross-filed bills in the state Senate. “I?m sure the bills could have gotten through committee and the Senate floor. It?s unfortunate, but we?re going to try again next year.”
The Maryland Association of Counties said the proposals contained language that could produce unintentional consequences. For example, Baltimore County Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, D-District 2, said the bills would enable residents to appeal in court more than 600 changes the county makes in its comprehensive zoning process every four years.
