We are pleased to report that three students in the Environmental Law Clinic achieved a significant victory for the residents of Pleasant Chase, Jessup, Maryland. They had been retained by the local homeowners' association to challenge the conditional use zoning application of Chase Land LLC to continue operating the Savage Stone quarry adjacent to their homes. The students participated in four nights of hearings before the Howard County Hearing Examiner cross-examining opposing witnesses, putting on direct testimony and later filing a closing and reply brief. On May 13, they received an overwhelmingly favorable decision from the Hearing Examiner denying the quarry's application. The students, Eve Austin, Joe Dowdell, and Brad Wicker, all graduating this semester, should be congratulated for their hard work and perseverance overcoming substantial challenges and vindicating the rights of the residents.
