A person making application after the effective date
of this chapter for a building permit, a stormwater management plan, a subdivision
plat or project plan or a grading permit or sediment control permit for an
area of land of 40,000 square feet or greater not exempt from this chapter
shall provide afforestation, preferably (as determined by the Department)
on the lot or parcel of the development, in accordance with the following:
(1) A tract having less than 20% of the net tract area in
forest cover shall be afforested up to at least 20% of the net tract area
for the following land use categories:
(a) Agriculture and resource areas.
(b) Medium-density residential uses.
(2) A tract with less than 15% of its net tract area in forest
cover shall be afforested up to at least 15% of the net tract area for the
following land use categories:
(a) Institutional development areas.
(b) High-density residential areas.
(c) Mixed-use and planned unit development use.
(d) Commercial and industrial use areas.
(3) A forest that is cut or cleared below the required afforestation
level shall be reforested or afforested at a ratio of 2 to 1 and added to
the amount of afforestation necessary to reach the minimum required afforestation
level, as determined by the amount of forest existing before cutting or clearing
began.