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Council updates Critical Area definitions to align with Maryland code
Summary
Bill No. 2026-7, amending the definition of "Critical Area" in county code to reflect Maryland Code, Natural Resources §8-1807 and modern mapping, was adopted unanimously by the Council (4-0, Nichols absent).
The County Council adopted Bill No. 2026-7 on July 21, 2026, revising Chapter 68 (Chesapeake Bay Critical Area) to update the definition of "Critical Area" so it is consistent with Maryland Code, Natural Resources §8-1807 and current mapping. Executive Operations Manager Irene Barnes opened the public hearing; Karen Tolley, mayor of Church Creek, said the amendments were adopted by Church Creek.
After no further comments, the Council voted to adopt the bill (Pfeffer, Detmer, Kramer, Travers — ayes; Nichols absent). The ordinance change replaces language based on 1972 wetland maps with the state-aligned definition, bringing the county's code into consistency with current statutory references and mapping practices.
