A.
The Farm and Forest District consists of farmland and woodland tracts,
along with some scattered residential communities. This District also
consists of large undeveloped lands containing a significant portion
of sensitive soils and/or steep slopes. This Primary District is intended
to:
1.
protect and preserve prime farming regions as identified by the presence
of Class I, II, or III or Group 1 or 2 soils (as defined by the Soil
Survey of Calvert County, Maryland, prepared by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, as amended from time to
time);
2.
protect lands in proximity to Agricultural Preservation Districts
and actively farmed areas;
3.
protect and preserve unique or significant environmental features
as identified by the presence of large contiguous forested areas,
forest interior dwelling bird habitat, wildlife habitat and/or environmentally
sensitive areas;
4.
protect and manage watersheds and water supplies;
5.
maintain historic and scenic landscapes;
6.
and promote forestry, the growing of crops and animal husbandry.
B.
This District is also intended to permit agritourism, ecotourism
and heritage tourism uses that promote and do not conflict with the
protection and preservation of agricultural, scenic, natural and historic
resources; to limit the amount and impact of residential development;
to prohibit sewer and water service areas, schools, fire and rescue
stations and other uses intended to serve the general public; and
to prohibit uses, other than agritourism, ecotourism, and heritage
tourism, that may require increasing the traffic capacity of rural
roads.
C.
In accordance with the Calvert County Right to Farm Law (Article
99, Calvert County Code), it is intended that in this District there
shall be no basis for recourse against the effects of any reasonable
farming or forestry operation, as permitted in this District, and
conducted in a reasonable manner in accordance with good husbandry
or forestry practices, including but not limited to noise, odor, vibration,
fumes, dust or glare.
A.
The Rural Community District consists of a patchwork of single-family
communities, farms and woodland tracts. This Primary District is intended
to maintain a mix of farms, forests and residential uses; to serve
as a receiving area for development rights transferred from the Farm
and Forest District; to manage watersheds and water supplies; to maintain
historic and scenic areas; to protect fish and wildlife; to promote
forestry, the growing of crops and animal husbandry.
B.
It is the intent to maintain a lower residential density within the
Rural Community District while allowing the use of Transferable Development
Rights and to avoid drawing traffic onto rural roads by prohibiting
commercial uses, sewer and water service areas, and other uses intended
to serve the general public.
C.
It is intended that there shall be no basis for recourse against
the effects of any reasonable farming or forestry operation, as permitted
in these Districts, and conducted in a reasonable manner in accordance
with good husbandry or forestry practices, including but not limited
to noise, odor, vibration, fumes, dust or glare.
This Primary District is intended to provide for residential
development, together with such public buildings, schools, churches,
public recreational facilities and accessory uses, as may be necessary
or are normally compatible with residential surroundings.
The purpose of the Wetlands District is to protect watercourses
and tidal and non-tidal wetlands from environmentally harmful development.
A.
This Primary District is intended to provide available space for
light industrial uses, free from other uses which might affect such
development. Industrial Parks are encouraged in this District.
B.
Light industries include those which manufacture, process, store,
package or distribute goods and materials and are normally dependent
on raw material produced elsewhere. Uses that may have adverse impacts
such as noise, odor, or dust on neighboring properties require a special
exception from the Board of Appeals.
This District is not intended for retail sales establishments
such as department stores, general stores, home improvement stores,
convenience stores, etc. However, it is the intent to permit the sale
of unusually large items that require the use of heavy freight transport
and generate low automobile traffic volumes. Such uses may include
building materials sold in bulk, heavy machinery and equipment, and
large vehicles such as farm tractors and large boats.
C.
Permitted, conditional, or special exception uses allowed in the
Employment Center (EC) District shall be permitted in the I-1 Light
Industrial District if the following conditions are met:
The Rural Commercial District was created to provide a zoning
classification for existing commercial enterprises located outside
Town Centers and Marine Commercial Districts at the time of the 1984
Comprehensive Rezoning. The intent is to limit the amount of Rural
Commercial zoned land; to prohibit any additional Rural Commercial
zoning; to keep development within this zoning classification small
in scale and rural in character; to limit uses to those serving the
immediate neighborhood with convenience goods and services, and to
ensure attractive and appropriate design.
This Primary District is intended to provide for businesses
which supply and cater to marine activities and needs. In considering
applications for any new marine commercial zoning, the Planning Commission
shall require the applicant to prove the following:
A.
That the activities will not significantly alter existing water circulation
patterns or salinity regimes;
B.
That the water body upon which these activities are proposed has
adequate flushing characteristics in the area;
C.
That disturbance to wetlands, submerged aquatic plant beds, or other
areas of important aquatic habitats will be minimized;
D.
That adverse impacts to water quality that may occur as a result
of these activities, such as non-point source run-off, sewage discharge
from land activities or vessels, or from boat cleaning and maintenance
operations, is minimized;
E.
That shellfish beds will not be disturbed or be made subject to discharge
that will render them unsuitable for harvesting;
F.
That dredging shall be conducted in a manner, and using a method,
which causes the least disturbance to water quality and aquatic and
terrestrial habitats in the area immediately surrounding the dredging
operation or within the Critical Area, generally;
G.
That dredged spoil will not be placed within the buffer or elsewhere
in that portion of the Critical Area which has been designated as
a Habitat Protection Area except as necessary for:
H.
That interference with the natural transport of sand will be minimized.
A.
The Town Center District is intended to include all property comprehensively
zoned Town Center and governed by Town Center Master Plans and Zoning
Ordinances. The purpose of this District is to provide attractive,
pleasant and convenient places to live, work, and shop in a town-like
setting; to promote strong business growth; to provide an alternative
to scattered, strip commercial development along MD 2, 4, and 2/4;
to expand the choice of housing options for all ages and incomes;
to reduce dependence on motorized vehicles by providing public transit
alternatives and requiring that pedestrian circulation be addressed;
to reduce residential growth in agricultural areas; and to provide
cultural and recreational amenities serving the entire population.
B.
North Beach, Chesapeake Beach, Prince Frederick, and Solomons are
designated as major Town Centers. Major Town Centers are to serve
as regional centers, providing goods and services that attract visitors
from the entire County and/or from outside the County (as in tourism).
Multi-family housing (apartments and townhouses) are permitted in
major Town Centers.
C.
Dunkirk, Owings, Huntingtown, St. Leonard and Lusby are designated
as minor Town Centers. Unless the Town Center Master Plan determines
otherwise, minor Town Centers are to serve as local convenience centers
and should not allow multi-family housing.
D.
Within the Town Centers, a property may be developed under Ordinance
No. 10-97, entitled "Development Rights and Responsibility Agreements",
adopted by the Board of County Commissioners March 11,1997.
[Amended 10-13-2010]
A.
The Employment Center (EC) District is intended to best utilize the
County labor force by providing areas adjacent to the Town Centers
where attractive and appropriately designed office parks, flex space,
light manufacturing, warehousing, educational facilities and research
and development companies may develop.
B.
Within the EC District, properties may be developed under Ordinance
No. 10-97, entitled "Development Rights and Responsibility Agreements",
adopted by the Board of County Commissioners March 11, 1997. All non-residential
uses permitted in Town Centers may be permitted in the EC District
under the terms of a Development Rights and Responsibility Agreement
approved by the Board of County Commissioners after a determination
by the Board of County Commissioners that the use meets the intent
of the EC District.
