Overview

Peter Goldsmith works with real estate developers, multi-family companies, homebuilders, property owners, institutional organizations, and retailers to navigate the regulatory processes in Prince George’s County. He has helped clients obtain special exceptions, zoning variances, rezonings, site plan approvals, and permits, among other entitlements.

A conscientious lawyer, Peter is thoughtful about those around him and thorough in helping clients think through legal issues. He possesses a balance of creative energy, hustle, and foresight that enables him to recognize and act on opportunities others might overlook. 

Peter appears before the Prince George’s County Planning Board, the Prince George’s County District Council, the Prince George’s County Zoning Hearing Examiner, the Board of Appeals, and municipal legislatures. 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. In addition to being able to manage land use and permitting matters involving local government agencies, Peter is known for his depth of knowledge of the law and his ability to handle land use cases in the Maryland circuit and appellate courts.   

Peter has a unique background that includes previously working as a project manager and in sales for a national homebuilder. As the former Senior Counsel to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, where he worked with the Prince George’s County Planning Board and Prince George’s County Planning Department, Peter advised on matters related to master planning, zoning, subdivision, site plans, sectional map amendments, natural resources, historic preservation, the Prince George’s County Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance, the Maryland Forest Conservation Act, and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Act. As a result of this experience, Peter can anticipate pitfalls at a project’s inception that may arise later in the regulatory process.

He has learned from working both in local government and in private practice that the best outcomes occur when development teams are able to collaborate with all stakeholder. Having lived and worked in several areas in Maryland, Peter has adopted a regional approach to his land use practice, ensuring he monitors issues beyond the borders of Prince George’s County that may, nevertheless, affect his clients’ projects. 

A leader in the bar, Peter is the chair of the Maryland State Bar Association’s Land Use Committee, 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.

In an attempt to expend some of his boundless energy, Peter enjoys participating in endurance events, exploring public lands, and reading anything that allows him to exercise his untamed imagination.

Clerkships

• The Hon. Peter B. Krauser, Court of Special Appeals 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)