Partner Gifford Hampshire Quoted in Washington Post Article

Blankingship & Keith partner Gifford Hampshire was quoted in the Washington Post article Residents sue Arlington County over ‘missing middle’ zoning change (April 21, 2023).

A group of single-family homeowners in Arlington have filed a lawsuit against local lawmakers over the "Expanded Housing Options" zoning change. The homeowners allege that the county board and planning commission failed to comply with Virginia state code and did not conduct adequate studies to assess the potential negative impacts of the zoning amendments. They claim that it will crowd schools, clog streets and storm drains, and cut down trees.

Mr. Hampshire, a lawyer for the homeowners said, “Both in terms of substance and procedure, the amendment was defective and outside the authority that localities like Arlington have to amend zoning. They have to do the required studies to make sure the amendments don’t have negative impacts on the county and its residents…Yet the County Board rushed this to completion.”

The article is available on the Washington Post website.