FY 23 Approved Budget Book

COUNTY BUDGET POLICIES AND PROCESS

The “Water and Sewer Master Plan” sets the foundation for timing and planning of public water and sewer facilities in appropriately zoned areas. The “Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program” is designed to manage land use within 1,000 feet of tidal waters and tidal wetlands. Its goal is to protect water quality and natural habitat, and to accommodate future growth based on environmentally sensitive areas. The “Rural Element Plan” addresses preservation of the County’s rural character and the promotion of agriculture as the primary economic enterprise in the rural areas. The “Land Preservation and Recreation Plan” addresses the County’s need for open space and recreational areas, and considers these areas as part of a larger system of preserved lands. It also explores the relationships between land used for recreation, in the broader context of preservation, and appropriate use of natural resources. Additional implementation tools were added, such as the “Adequate Public Facilities Program” (APF) to help manage growth more effectively in the Development Envelope. APF states that the existing public facilities for water, sewer, schools and roads must be adequate to support planned land development. 1992 - The State enacted the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act that required that certain “visions” be incorporated into County and municipal master plans. These visions included development in concentrated suitable areas; protection of sensitive areas; protection of rural areas and resources; stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay; conservation of resources; economic growth; and addressing funding mechanisms. 1996 - The Master Plan and the Land Use Element Plan were combined to strengthen the core of the planning process. The Development Envelope concept was maintained, concluding that there was sufficient capacity within the Envelope to support projected growth for approximately 18 years. Development of the 1996 plan was largely based on a community planning process involving ten Community Planning Councils whose common issues - balanced with each community’s individuality - provided guidance for a Countywide vision on land use. Additional elements were added to the 1996 Master Plan, brief descriptions of these elements follow below. “A Natural Resources Element Plan” includes methods for protecting environmental resources, including streams and their buffers, steep slopes, floodplains, and the habitats of threatened and endangered species. “A Historic Preservation Plan” explains how historic structures and archaeological sites can further an awareness of the importance of the County’s heritage among the citizens. “An Edgewood Community Plan” is a comprehensive revitalization strategy to improve physical, social, and economic conditions within the Edgewood community, which strives to guide future growth and sustain the community’s character and values.

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