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Town of Denton, MD
Caroline County
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Table of Contents
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[Amended 3-3-2022 by Ord. No. 728, effective 3-13-2022]
A. 
The following base zoning districts are hereby established for Denton, Maryland:
SR
Suburban Residential
TR
Town Scale Residential
MR
Mixed Residential
GC
General Commercial
CBC
Central Business Commercial
RHC
Regional Highway Commercial
CM
Commercial Medical
I
Industrial
MI
Mixed Industrial
RA
Rural Agriculture
RP
Recreation and Parks
B. 
The following overlay zoning districts are hereby established for Denton, Maryland:
CA
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (Overlay Zone)
FP
Floodplain District
HD
Historic District (Overlay Zone) (Article IX)
RC
Rural Conservation (Overlay Zone)
C. 
The following floating zone districts are hereby established for Denton, Maryland:
AE
Arts and Entertainment District (§ 128-21.6)
GA
Critical Area Growth Allocation District (§ 128-37)
PN
Planned Neighborhood District (§ 128-21.3)
PRD
Planned Residential District (§ 128-84)
PUD
Planned Unit Development, Mixed-Use District (Article VII)
RD
Redevelopment (Floating Zone – eligible and applied) (§ 128-21.7)
A. 
The incorporated areas of the Town are hereby divided into zones (zoning districts), as shown on the Official Zoning Maps which, together with all explanatory matter thereon, are hereby adopted by reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Maps are on file in the Town offices.
B. 
The Official Zoning Maps shall be identified by the signature of the Town Councilpersons, attested by the Town Administrator, and bearing the seal of the Town under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Official Zoning Maps referred to in § 128-10 of the Zoning Regulation of the Town of Denton, Maryland," together with the date of the adoption of this chapter.
C. 
Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning Maps which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Zoning Maps which shall be located in the Department of Planning and Codes Administration office shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings, and other structures in the Town. Copies of the Official Zoning Maps shall also be located in the Town Administrator's or Town Clerk's Office.
D. 
Official Critical Area Overlay District Maps.
(1) 
An Official Critical Area Overlay Map has been prepared for the Town of Denton and shall be maintained in force as part of the Official Zoning Maps of the Town of Denton.[2] This map shall delineate the extent of the Critical Area Overlay District and shall correspond to the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.
[2]
Editor’s Note: The Critical Area Map is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
The Critical Area Overlay District shall include all lands and waters defined in § 8-1807 of the Natural Resources Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. They include:
(a) 
All waters of and lands under the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to the head of tide as indicated on the state wetlands maps, and all state and private wetlands designated under Title 16 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
(b) 
All lands and water areas within 1,000 feet beyond the landward boundaries of state or private wetlands and the heads of tides designated under Title 16 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland; and
(c) 
Modification to these areas through inclusion or exclusion proposed by the Town of Denton and approved by the Critical Area Commission as specified in § 8-1807 of the Natural Resources Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.
(3) 
Within the designated Critical Area, all land shall be assigned one of the following land use management classifications:
(a) 
Intensely Developed Area (IDA).
(b) 
Limited Development Area (LDA).
(c) 
Resource Conservation Area (RCA).[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection D(3)(d), Buffer Exemption Area (BEA), which immediately followed, was repealed 3-3-2022 by Ord. No. 728, effective 3-13-2022.
(4) 
The land use management classification shall be as designated in the Town of Denton Critical Area Program, Chapter 43, Critical Areas, as amended. The Critical Area Overlay District Map may be amended by the Town Council in compliance with amendment provisions in this chapter, the Maryland Critical Area Law and Critical Area Regulations.
A. 
In the event that the Official Zoning Maps become damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the Town Council may, by resolution, adopt new Official Zoning Maps which shall supersede the prior Official Zoning Maps.
B. 
The new Official Zoning Maps may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior Official Zoning Maps, but no such corrections shall have the effect of amending the original Zoning Ordinance or any subsequent amendment thereof. The Director of Planning shall certify as to the accuracy of the new Official Zoning Maps, and the maps shall be identified by the signature of the Town Councilpersons, attested by the Town Administrator, and bearing the seal of the Town under the following words: "This is to certify that these Official Zoning Maps supersede and replace the Official Zoning Maps adopted (date of adoption of maps being replaced) as part of the Zoning Regulation of the Town of Denton, Maryland."
A. 
The location of zoning districts as determined from the Official Zoning Map are subject to the following rules of interpretation:
(1) 
The regulations pertaining to a zoning district shall extend throughout the whole area bounded by the zoning district lines.
(2) 
Where a boundary line is shown to be located within a street, alley, railroad track, or other physical feature, it shall be deemed to be in the actual center of the feature.
(3) 
Where a boundary line is shown as being a specific distance from a street or other physical feature, this distance shall control and shall be measured from the center of the feature.
(4) 
Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map.
B. 
Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at variance with those shown on the Zoning District Map or under circumstances not covered under this section, the Planning Commission shall interpret the location of the zoning district boundaries.
C. 
The Official Critical Area Overlay Map shall not be used for actual determination of the Critical Area, buffer lines of 1,000 feet, 100 feet and 200 feet for the purposes of subdivision, site plan and permit applications. Such determinations shall be made by a professional land surveyor, at the applicant's expense, certified to and noted on plats provided by the applicant.