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Zoning Bulletin December 10, 2011 ' Volume 51 No. 23 <br />defeat the ZO's goal of eventually eliminating nonconforming uses; <br />standards remained in place for allowing modernization and repair <br />of billboards. The court held that the valid portion of the ZO could <br />therefore be read and enforced independently of the invalid portion. <br />Zoning News from Around the Nation <br />CALIFORNIA <br />A state appeals court recently held "that California law allows cit- <br />ies and counties to ban [medical marijuana dispensaries]." "In the case, a <br />three -judge panel in the 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside ... con- <br />cluded that the state's medical marijuana laws do not prevent cities and <br />counties from passing regulations on dispensaries, including bans." <br />Source: Los Angeles Times; www.latimes.com <br />INDIANA <br />State Representative Matt Ubelhor (Republican- Bloomfield) recently <br />announced plans to introduce a zoning referendum bill that will be spe- <br />cific. only to Greene County. If successful in the general assembly, voters in <br />Greene County will have a chance to voice their opinion on a county -wide <br />zoning/land use management ordinance in a referendum vote on the No- <br />vember 2012 election ballot. <br />Source: Greene County Daily World; http:llgcdailyworld.cora/ <br />MARYLAND <br />The Howard County Council has voted to "table a .controversial bill <br />that would have streamlined the county zoning appeals process." The bill <br />"would have allowed the Board of Appeals to hear zoning cases appealed <br />from the hearing examiner `on the record,' meaning neither side would be <br />allowed to present new evidence." The council reportedly tabled the bill to <br />"allow more time to study the process and come up with efficiencies that <br />satisfy everyone." <br />Source: Baltimore Sun; http:llwww. baltimoresun. corn <br />PENNSYLVANIA <br />The state legislature is considering House Bill 1950 and Senate Bill <br />1100, which would "eliminate or severely restrict the ability of local gov- <br />ernments to enact zoning ordinances applicable to Marcellus Shale gas <br />drilling operations and establish a standard `model' ordinance that all <br />townships would have to follow." <br />Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; www.post-gazette.com <br />© 2011 Thomson Reuters 11 <br />