Overview

Peter Goldsmith represents residential, commercial, and industrial real estate developers, focusing on guiding clients through Prince George’s County’s and Maryland’s complex regulatory processes. His clients include multifamily and LIHTC developers, solar and energy companies, national and custom homebuilders, shopping center owners, commercial and residential property owners, institutional organizations, industrial warehouse developers, restaurants, retailers, and small businesses.

Drawing on his deep industry and regulatory experience, Peter identifies potential pitfalls early in a project’s lifecycle and advises clients proactively, often before issues arise during the formal review process. He previously served as a senior attorney to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), where he was assigned as senior counsel to the Prince George’s County Planning Department and the Prince George’s County Planning Board.

This role gave him a regulatory perspective that now enables him to anticipate agency concerns and guide clients through complex approval processes. Complementing this experience, Peter’s background in construction management and sales for a national homebuilder allows him to approach development issues from his clients’ business-focused perspective.

In his practice, Peter has secured a wide range of entitlements, including special exceptions, zoning variances, rezonings, subdivision approvals, detailed site plans, zoning text amendments, permits, certifications of nonconforming uses, and historic preservation approvals. Peter also regularly assists solar, energy, and utility companies, as well as government agencies, in navigating the mandatory referral process.

His experience includes substantial work in master planning, zoning, subdivision, site plan review, sectional and zoning map amendments, natural resources and historic preservation matters, mandatory referrals, and in navigating the Prince George’s County Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance, the Maryland Forest Conservation Act, and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act.

Peter has served for many years as Chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Land Use Committee and is a co-author of The Guide to Maryland Zoning Decisions, the leading treatise on Maryland land use law, published by LexisNexis and originally authored by Stan Abrams.

Peter regularly interacts with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning’s Prince George’s County Planning Department and the County’s Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE). He also regularly appears before:

• The Prince George’s County Planning Board;
• The Prince George’s County District Council;
• The Prince George’s County Zoning Hearing Examiner;
• Boards of Appeal;
• County and municipal legislatures; and
• Maryland’s circuit and appellate courts.

In addition, Peter is chair and founder of the Prince George’s County Real Estate and Land Use Committee and a Barrister member of the Cole-Davidson American Inn of Court, which focuses on appellate advocacy in Maryland. Peter is a lecturer at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he teaches an undergraduate course on the foundations of real estate law.

In an attempt to expend some of his boundless energy, Peter participates in endurance events and enjoys live music whenever he can.

Clerkships

• The Hon. Peter B. Krauser, Appellate Court of Maryland, Chief Judge

Honors and Awards

• Prince George’s County Bar Association President’s Award for “Dedicated Support to the Bar Association and Real Estate and Land Use” (2022)
• Maryland Building Industry Association Legislative Award
• Maryland Bar Foundation (Fellow, 2023)

Professional Memberships

• Prince George’s County Bar Association (Board of Directors, 2018–present; Real Estate and Land Use Committee, Chair, 2018–present)
• Maryland State Bar Association (Real Property Section Council, 2019-present; Land Use Committee, Chair, 2019-present; Land Use Institute Planning Committee, Co-Chair, 2019-present)
• Maryland Building Industry Association, Prince George’s County Chapter (Member)
• Cole-Davidson American Inn of Court (Barrister member, 2023-present)