Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Critical Area topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State official walks Princess Anne council through critical-area map updates
Summary
A state representative explained the model critical-area ordinance and updated maps, describing three designations (resource conservation, limited development and intensely developed areas), the growth-allocation process and a new requirement to consider climate and coastal hazards in allocation reviews.
A representative from the Maryland critical-area program told the Princess Anne Town Council that the town's critical-area maps and model ordinance reflect three planning designations and baseline state standards that guide how land along tidal waters can be developed.
The representative said the maps show a resource conservation area (RCA) for forests and undeveloped lands, a limited-development area (LDA) that covers lower-density residential and some commercial uses, and an intensely developed area (IDA) that includes commercial and dense residential districts. Each designation carries limits on lot coverage, vegetation clearing and other development standards, the official said.
"Within each of these areas, development has specific standards that they have to follow," the agency official (S4) said, adding that the model ordinance sets minimum requirements drawn from state law and regulations.
Council members asked whether the update introduced surprises for long-time residents. The presenter said the statutory 1,000-foot shoreline buffer remains the baseline distance for the critical area and described how the growth-allocation process works: municipalities can apply for growth allocation for specific parcels, but allocations must meet standards such as adjacency to existing intensive areas and now include review for climate and coastal-hazard vulnerability.
The presenter said the town's maps were last substantially updated around 2015 and that the remapping effort used improved satellite data, regional GIS cooperation and ground-truthing. The agency representative said the state is providing a model ordinance as a baseline but that towns may adopt stricter standards or opt into some optional provisions (for example, whether to allow certain non-water-dependent structures).
Council members thanked the presenters and asked for written materials and follow-up on specific mapping boundaries and acreage changes. The presenter said precise acreage figures and some timing details will be provided in follow-up materials and that town staff (including Henry) will work with the state to help residents determine compliance.
The council did not take a formal vote on the ordinance during this meeting; staff were asked to return with draft language and materials for the council and public to review.
The council moved to the next agenda item after the discussion.
