Legislation pending to tighten Critical Area laws statewide
February 25, 2008 - Legislation is pending before the General Assembly which could further restrict development activity in Maryland's "Critical Area" (areas generally within 1,000 feet of the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Coastal Bays). Among other proposed changes, the 100-foot Critical Area buffer would be increased to a 300-foot buffer in certain circumstances, "lot coverage" would include all man-made elements on a lot, and no new "lot coverage" would be allowed in the buffer without a variance approved by the local jurisdiction and the Critical Area Commission. In addition, future shoreline stabilization would have to be non-structural and there would be expanded enforcement and increased penalties for violations. To view the pending legislation - Senate Bill 844/House Bill 1253 - see the General Assembly's website at http://mlis.state.md.us/2008RS/bills/sb/sb0844f.pdf