Stuart Barr is a land use and zoning attorney focused on real estate development approvals through building relationships, strategic planning, and working with expanding businesses.
A long-time Montgomery County resident, Stuart has a passion for large and small projects that make a difference in and around the community. He thrives on working with municipalities to execute great projects to the highest standards understanding that these developments will become part of the community’s fabric.
Stuart concentrates on land use, planning, zoning and rezoning (local map amendments), real estate development and redevelopment, and master plans and sector plans in the City of Gaithersburg, the City of Rockville, and all jurisdictions of Montgomery County. He is highly adept at all stages of development and the entitlement process including due diligence, sketch plan, subdivision (preliminary plan), resubdivision, minor subdivision, site plan and site plan amendment, project plan, record plats, variances, administrative appeal, nonconforming uses, and zoning text amendments.
Stuart also works on a variety of real estate easements, development agreements, impact taxes, Transferable Development Rights (TDRs), Building Lot Termination (BLT), building permit, use and occupancy (U&O) permit, and other permits, water and sewer category changes, administrative law, annexation, and historic preservation (Historic Area Work Permits).
Stuart assists the firm’s retail and development clients with new locations and represents the firm’s institutional clients on expansions with a particular focus on special exception (conditional use) approvals for life care facilities, nursing homes, gas stations, country clubs and golf courses, community swimming pools, and private schools.
In addition, he represents property owners under threat of condemnation (eminent domain) in order to achieve just compensation for their property. Stuart’s clients appreciate his commitment to finding creative solutions to difficult problems, as demonstrated in both his level of detail and his consideration of many options for each challenge.
A resident of Gaithersburg, Stuart enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, staying active with the community, playing basketball, and traveling to various destinations, particularly National Parks.
Honors & Awards
•Named Exceptional Volunteer by Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (2010)
•Named Rising Star in the field of Land Use/Zoning by Maryland Super Lawyers (2010-2013)
•Named Rising Star in the field of Land Use/Zoning by Washington, DC Super Lawyers (2010-2013)
Community Involvement
•Bethesda Chevy Chase Rotary Club (Member, 2011-present)
•Lakelands Community Association (Chair, Design Review Committee, 2014-Present)
•Corridor Cities Transitway Area Advisory Committee (2014-2015)
Insights
Publications
•Helping You Navigate Land Use and Related Issues Amid Coronavirus: Agency Operations & Procedures Update March 25, 2020
•Opportunity Zones 101: What You Need to Know March 4, 2019
•Montgomery County Considers Adoption of Amended Version of 2012 International Green Construction Code September 2, 2014
•Montgomery County Adopts Significant Changes to Water Quality Protection Charge (aka the Rain Tax) July 10, 2013
•Beware of Historic Preservation Pitfalls June 10, 2013
•Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Project Moving Forward November 7, 2012
•Rapid Transit Update: Corridor Cities Transitway Project and County Transit Task Force Recommendations September 4, 2012
•Montgomery County Considers Significant Changes to Water Quality Protection Charge March 1, 2012
•Montgomery County Expands Commercial/Residential (CR) Family of Zones: New CRT and CRN Zones December 1, 2011
•Montgomery County Extends Validity Period for Development Approvals and Enacts Zoning Changes in Residential Zones May 18, 2011
•Green Age Dawns On Montgomery County August 2, 2008
•Montgomery County Considers Workforce Housing While Rockville Deals With Adequate Public Facilities January 2, 2006
Events
•How Will Retail Trends Affect Future Development in Montgomery County? September 15, 2017
•Development Trends: Montgomery County's Projects of Today and Plans for Tomorrow September 23, 2016
•Transit Oriented Development Opportunities Seminar December 11, 2013
News
•Johnson Property Plans Approved in Gaithersburg January 19, 2018
•Kimco Receives Redevelopment Approval for Kentlands Market Square December 19, 2017
•Stuart Barr Installed as Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber Chair December 4, 2015
•Stuart Barr Named Chair-Elect of Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber November 14, 2014
•Lerch Early Attorneys Join in Dedication of Habitat for Humanity's Maple Hill Project September 22, 2014
•Stuart Barr Named B-CC Rotary Club Secretary June 16, 2014
•MTA Names Stuart Barr to CCT Area Advisory Committee March 6, 2014
•Stuart Barr Named Secretary-Elect for BCC Rotary December 17, 2013
•Stuart Barr Named Chair of Economic Development Committee December 17, 2013
•Lerch Early Lawyers Named to 2013 Super Lawyers List April 26, 2013
•Lerch Early Lawyers Named to 2013 Super Lawyers List December 12, 2012
•Stuart Barr Appointed to Dept. of Permitting Services Advisory Committee August 2, 2012
•Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground on Maple Hill Community in Gaithersburg March 22, 2012
•Lerch Early Lawyers Named to 2012 Super Lawyers List December 14, 2011
•Stuart Barr Named to Germantown-Gaithersburg Chamber of Commerce Board March 18, 2011
•Lerch Early Lawyers Named to 2011 Super Lawyers List December 16, 2010
•Stuart Barr Named Exceptional Volunteer September 30, 2010
•Stuart Barr Moderates CCT Briefing May 24, 2010
•Lerch Early Lawyers Named to 2010 Super Lawyers List December 31, 2009
•Corridor Cities Transitway Coalition Invites Stuart Barr to Join Board of Directors July 5, 2009
•Stuart R. Barr and William A. Goldberg Named Principals January 2, 2009
