This chapter shall be known and cited as the "City of Aberdeen
Subdivision Regulations."
This chapter is adopted pursuant to the Local Government and
Land Use Articles of the Annotated Code of Maryland and the Charter
of the City of Aberdeen.
The purpose of the Subdivision Regulations is to establish procedures
and standards for the development and subdivision of land within Aberdeen.
It is further designed to provide for the orderly growth and development
of the City; for the coordination of streets and highways within proposed
subdivisions with existing or planned streets and highways and with
other public facilities; for the dedication or reservation of recreation
and other public use areas serving residents of the subdivision; rights-of-way
or easements for street and utility purposes; for the distribution
of population and traffic in a manner that will avoid congestion and
overcrowding and will create conditions compatible with protection
of the public health, safety, and general welfare, water quality and
areas of significant/special natural features; and to facilitate adequate
provision for water, sewerage, roads, parks, and other infrastructure.
These regulations and requirements shall apply to all development
of land, including the revision of existing development, as well as
to subdivisions of land creating two or more lots within the corporate
limits of the City of Aberdeen. Any subdivision having a part of its
platted land outside the corporate limits cannot have the plat approved
by the City unless that land is annexed into the City. This chapter
shall be in addition to any other applicable regulations promulgated
by other agencies, whether stated herein or not. In case of conflict
or overlap with other requirements found within the Code of the City
of Aberdeen or any other statute, the more stringent requirement shall
apply.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall
for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings indicated. In general,
words used in the present tense include the future, and the singular
includes the plural. Any word or term not defined herein shall be
used with a meaning of standard usage.
A public or private way primarily designed to serve as a
secondary and/or service access for vehicles to the side or rear of
abutting properties whose principal frontage is on another street.
Any person who proposes to subdivide or develop land and
required to make submittals and obtain approvals pursuant to this
chapter.
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls
and intended for shelter, housing, storage, or enclosure of any individual,
animal, process, equipment, goods, or materials of any kind.
The City of Aberdeen.
The Code of the City of Aberdeen.
The City's current Comprehensive Plan adopted pursuant
to the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
A preliminary presentation and attendant documentation of
a proposed subdivision or site plan of sufficient accuracy to be used
as a basis for discussion and classification.
A local public street with only one outlet that terminates
in a vehicular turnaround, with such turnaround having an appropriate
turning radius for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
The Department of Planning and Community Development or Department
of Public Works, as applicable to the context, for the City.
Any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, estate, trust,
or any other group or combination, acting as a unit (or the agents
thereof) that undertakes or participates in the activities covered
by this chapter.
An interest in land owned by another that entities its holder
to a specific limited use or enjoyment.
A drawing to be made of official record in the office of
the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and which may be all or a portion
of a preliminary subdivision plan.
The portion of a lot abutting a road.
Those physical additions, installations, and other appropriate
items and facilities required to render land suitable for the proposed
use.
An entry.
The crossing of two or more roads at grade.
A designated area of land established by plat, subdivision,
or as otherwise permitted by law, to be used, developed, or built
upon as a unit, whether immediate or future. "Lot" shall include the
words "plot" and "parcel."
The total area within the lines of a given lot.
The property lines bounding the lot.
The horizontal distance between side lot lines measured at
the front setback line.
Any subdivision of land that is not a minor subdivision.
The division of a single lot, tract, or parcel of land into
five or fewer lots, tracts, or parcels of land for the purpose of
building development, provided that the proposed lots, tracts, or
parcels of land thereby created have frontage on an improved public
street or streets, and provided further that there is not created
by the subdivision any new street or streets.
The City Planning Commission, established in Chapter 235 of this Code.
A master drawing of a subdivision prepared for the overall
planning of a property to be subdivided and which is in accordance
with these regulations.
Construction agreements between the City and developers/contractors
for the construction and maintenance of public improvements.
A strip of land occupied or intended to be occupied by a
road, alley, crosswalk, sidewalk, railroad, electric transmission
lines, oil or gas pipeline, water line, sanitary or storm sewer, or
other similar uses.
A right-of-way that has been improved, is intended for motor
vehicle traffic, and provides access to property. Both terms are used
interchangeably in this chapter.
ROAD, ARTERIALA road that carries the major portion of the traffic entering and leaving an area of the City. Four arterial street types are defined in the Aberdeen Comprehensive Plan and listed in order from regional to local significance:
REGIONAL CONNECTOR ARTERIALThis is an arterial street with a combination of free-flow ramp and signalized points of access. It primarily provides mobility through Aberdeen for motor vehicle, truck, and commuter bus traffic, as well as access to major destinations within Aberdeen. Provision of space for bicycle and pedestrian travel is secondary to motor vehicle movement but not optional, and the design should emphasize frequent, safe crossings for cyclists and pedestrians.
COMMERCIAL PRIMARY ARTERIALAn arterial street segment that serves (or is planned to serve) a low- or medium-density commercial area that may be equally oriented to retail stores, service, and industrial use. This street emphasizes transit and motor vehicle travel, including truck movements. It also facilitates bicycle access.
VILLAGE CENTER MIXED USE ARTERIALAn arterial street segment that serves a compact mixed-use area that is fronted by (or planned to be fronted by) a variety of commercial, institutional, government, and/or residential uses. The street design emphasizes pedestrian, transit, and bicycle travel with adequate facilities provided within the street right-of-way.
RESIDENTIAL ARTERIALAn arterial street that serves and traverses a primarily residential neighborhood and is fronted by (or planned to be fronted by) residential, park, or institutional property. This street's design emphasizes bicycle and pedestrian travel, local motor vehicle travel, and transit access.
ROAD, COLLECTORA road which provides for principal internal movements within residential neighborhoods and business or industrial districts and which is a primary means of circulation between adjacent neighborhoods, which functions to distribute traffic from arterials to local and other collector roads and collects traffic from local roads and channels it into the arterial system. Three collector street types are defined in the Aberdeen Comprehensive Plan and listed in order from regional to local significance:
VILLAGE CENTER COLLECTOR STREETSCollector or local streets located in a medium- or high-density residential, commercial, or mixed-use area. These streets, often called "side streets," may include street-level shops, but do not have the same level of pedestrian and vehicular activity as arterial streets. In some locations, these streets provide service, utility, and emergency vehicle access to alleys, loading docks, and building service areas for loading and unloading goods, recyclables, and refuse. Access to the street system from off-street and garage parking may also be located on village center streets. These streets may provide pedestrians and cyclists a quieter alternative to arterial traffic. Village center streets have been further classified distinguishing West Bel Air as Main Street, the roads adjacent to Festival Square and City Hall as festival streets; all other village center streets are classified as local streets.
NEIGHBORHOOD PRINCIPAL COLLECTOR STREETSNeighborhood principal streets occur in lower-density residential areas and provide access for fronting properties and links to adjacent streets. Like village center streets, they provide a way for travel to and from home, connections to local resources, and a shared space in the neighborhood for walking, biking, talking with neighbors, and conducting everyday activities.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINOR COLLECTOR STREETSNeighborhood minor streets occur in low- and medium-density residential areas. These streets are very similar to neighborhood principal streets in form and function. The distinctive feature of these streets is their nearly exclusive orientation to providing access to residences. Since residential streets have low traffic volumes with infrequent travel by large vehicles, all users other than pedestrians can be accommodated within a relatively narrow travel way.
ROAD, LOCALA road which primarily provides direct access to abutting properties.
A public way that provides or is proposed to provide access
for pedestrian traffic to abutting properties.
A combination of materials to form a construction for use,
occupancy, or ornamentation, whether installed below or above the
surface of land or water.
The division of a parcel or tract of land into two or more
lots or parcels, or the reconfiguration of existing recorded lots
or parcels.
