To regulate and restrict the location and use of structures
and land for trade, industry, residence and other purposes and to
regulate and restrict the location, height, and size of structures
hereafter erected or altered, the size of yards and other open spaces,
and the density of population, the following zoning Districts are
established:
A. Residential Districts:
(1)
R-1 Low Density Residential District.
(2)
R-2 Mixed Residential District.
(3)
R-3 High Density Residential District.
B. Business and Commercial Districts:
(1)
C-1 Community Commercial District.
(2)
C-2 Highway Commercial District.
(3)
C-3 Town Center Commercial District.
C. Commercial and Industrial Districts:
(1)
MCI Mixed Commercial/Industrial District.
(2)
MWD Maritime Water-Dependent District.
D. Maritime Districts:
(1)
MRec Maritime Recreational District.
(2)
MC Maritime Commercial District.
E. Special Critical Area Districts:
(1)
O Critical Area Overlay District.
(2)
GA Growth Allocation Floating Zone District.
The district classification of the territory within the incorporated
Town of Rock Hall shall be as shown on the map designated as the "Zoning
District Map, Rock Hall, Maryland," dated, signed by the Mayor and
attested by the Town Clerk upon adoption. This Zoning District Map
and all notations, dimensions, references and symbols shown thereon
pertaining to such districts shall be as much a part of this chapter
as if fully described herein and shall be filed as part of this chapter
by the Town Clerk. Said map shall be available for public inspection
in the office of the Town Clerk. Said map shall be marked "Original
copy, not to be altered or removed from the office of the Town Clerk
except on court supoena." This map, together with subsequent applicable
amendments, shall be conclusive as to the current zoning status of
land.
At least every six years, the Planning Commission shall review
the zoning regulations and District Map for consistency with the Comprehensive
Plan, deficiencies or difficulties in administration, or for any other
reason the Commission may determine.
Where uncertainties exist with respect to the district boundary,
the following applies:
A. Where a boundary is given a position within a street, alley, or easement,
the boundary shall be deemed to be the center of the right-of-way
or the street, alley, or easement.
B. If the actual location of a street, alley, or easement varies from
the location shown on the map, the actual location shall control.
C. Where a boundary is shown as being located a specific distance from
a street or other physical features, this distance shall control.
D. Where the district boundary approximately coincides with lot lines,
the lot line shall be construed to be the district boundary unless
otherwise indicated.
E. Where district boundaries do not coincide with lot lines and streets,
and where no dimensions are shown, the location of the boundary shall
be determined by use of the scale shown on the map.
All areas within the limits of the incorporated Town of Rock
Hall which are underwater are considered to be within a zoning district
and controlled by applicable district regulations. District boundaries
over water areas are located by noted or scaled dimensions, by relation
to physical features, by coincidence with the Town boundary or by
a straight line projection of the district boundaries as indicated
on the Zoning District Map. Straight line district boundaries over
water areas shall be assumed to continue as straight lines until they
intersect with each other, a designated channel, or with the Town
boundary.
Official Critical Area Overlay District Maps shall be prepared
and maintained in force as part of extent of the Critical Area Overlay
District ("O") that shall correspond to the Chesapeake Bay Critical
Area.
A. 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:
(1)
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 9 of the Natural
Resources Article, Annotated Code of Maryland; and
(2)
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 9 of the Natural Resources Article, Annotated Code of
Maryland; and
(3)
Modification of these areas through inclusion or exclusions
proposed by the Town of Rock Hall and approved by the Commission as
specified in § 8-1807 of the Natural Resources Article,
Annotated Code of Maryland.
B. Within the designated Critical Area all land shall be assigned one
of the following land use management classifications:
(1)
Intensely Developed Area (IDA).
(2)
Limited Development Area (LDA).
(3)
Resource Conservation Area (RCA).
C. The land use management classification shall be as designated in
the Town of Rock Hall Critical Area Program, as amended. The Critical
Area Overlay District Maps may be amended by the Mayor and Council
in compliance with amendment provisions in this chapter, the Maryland
Critical Area Law, and Critical Area criteria.
The Mayor and Council may elect to adjust the Critical Area Boundary to delete areas of the Town from the Critical Area District. The Mayor and Council may also elect to add areas to the Critical Area. Any adjustments or changes shall be treated as amendments to the Critical Area Overlay District ("O") on the Official Critical Area Overlay District Map for the Town of Rock Hall and may be approved only after review and approval by the Critical Area Commission. Procedures and requirements for amending the Critical Area District Maps are as set forth in Article
XI.