Town of New Windsor, MD Article IV Environmental Site Delineation

§ 175-8 Preapplication review of existing site conditions.

A. A developer shall submit an environmental site delineation (ESD) to the county for review and concurrence prior to submitting an application to the county for approval of a subdivision plan, site plan, grading permit, or prior to performing any activity regulated by this chapter or the following chapters of the Carroll County Code:

(1) Floodplain Management, Chapter 114;

(2) Forest Conservation, Chapter 115;

(3) Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control, Chapter 121;

(4) Landscape Enhancement Development, Chapter 134;

(5) Stormwater Management; Chapter 191; and

(6) Water Resource Management, Chapter 218.

B. The purpose of the ESD process is to determine whether a site has any of the following characteristics:

(1) Environmental features or characteristics that could be considered sensitive;

(2) Potential for any regulated activity; or

(3) Potential for on-site or off-site impacts.

§ 175-9 Requirements.

A. An ESD shall be submitted on a base map prepared by a licensed professional engineer or surveyor including background information that fully delineates the legal ownership, configuration of the site, zoning classification, ecological setting, and place in that setting.

B. The submittal package shall include the following information:

(1) The name of the property;

(2) The name of the applicant and the property owner;

(3) The property tax map, block, and parcel number, and tax account identification;

(4) A location map showing transportation routes, political boundaries, and existing use of land;

(5) The identify of the watershed where the site is located and its code as delineated in COMAR 26.08.02.08;

(6) Water resource management area designations on the site; and

(7) The location of the site, whether county or municipal.

C. An ESD shall include a graphic representation of information that illustrates the location and configuration of the site's environmental and physical characteristics to be verified by the county. The ESD shall include the following information:

(1) Site topography illustrated at a scale of at least one inch: 200 feet with two-foot contour intervals;

(2) Slope areas between 15% and 25%;

(3) Any slopes on the site greater than 25%;

(4) Site vegetative cover types, including, but not limited to, forested, old field, pasture, scrub, hedge rows, and cultivated field;

(5) Any surface water bodies or watercourses located on the site, including lakes or impoundments and streams, swales, and ditches;

(6) Jurisdictional wetlands, including any wetlands or special state concern;

(7) Any public water supply reservoir watersheds that the site drains into;

(8) Any buffers required by this chapter or by COMAR;

(9) Any known habitat for any federal or state listed rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal species, or a letter from the Natural Heritage Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources indicating that a lack of evidence exists to support that potential;

(10) A forest stand delineation prepared for the site, in compliance with Chapter 115, Forest Conservation, of the Carroll County Code;

(11) Any wellhead protection areas;

(12) Any rock outcrops;

(13) Site soil types and boundaries;

(14) The extent and location of any carbonate rock areas;

(15) Any delineated one-hundred-year floodplain;

(16) Any physical features on the sites including, but not limited to, roads and driveways, buildings, stone walls, and any other feature;

(17) The location of any designated historic structure on the site as listed on the county's inventory of historic structures, sites, or districts or by the Maryland Historical Trust; and

(18) Any other information that is necessary as determined by the Town or the county.

D. A narrative that outlines explanatory information needed to clarify and support the graphic delineation may be required to be submitted with the ESD submittal package.

E. An ESD package shall be reviewed to determine its completeness. When it is determined that the package is complete, the county shall perform an office review and field-verify the submitted information. After the review is complete and all information is verified, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the county's approval.

§ 175-10 Development design.

A. The information collected and verified in the ESD process shall be incorporated in the development design process. Site design elements shall avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive resources on the site and shall be configured to result in low impact. Site development design shall minimize disturbance and conserve environmental resources identified on the ESD and minimize the new impervious surfaces that will result after the site is developed. The implementation of low impact development practices is intended to provide a maximum protection level for sensitive resources in a cost effective and minimally intrusive manner.

B. The following design elements shall be included in the execution of designs for subdivision and site plans:

(1) Minimization and mitigation of impacts to forest, wetland, and riparian resources; and

(2) Protection of on-site resources that may be impacted, including but not limited to on-site streams and wetlands; stream and wetland buffers; steep slopes (25% or greater); one-hundred-year floodplains; habitats of rare, threatened, or endangered species; carbonate rock areas; wellhead buffer areas; and public water supply reservoir watersheds.

C. Potential impacts to elements delineated pursuant to Subsection B shall be minimized and the proposed development design shall manage those resources to maintain viability after the site is developed.

D. The Town or county may require environmental protection measures in addition to the standards required in other chapters of the Town and County Codes.