§ 27A-302. Functional Overlays.

(a)

Purpose and Intent.

Functional Overlays serve several purposes in this Subtitle.

(1)

They provide an inventory of existing resources that may be impacted by development in a UC District, and help identify site and lot issues pertinent to the review of development.

(2)

They coordinate district-wide resources, facilities, or functions for the purpose of minimizing surplus infrastructure, sharing resources, ensuring coordinated provision of public utilities, and integrating impacts of development and use.

(3)

establish functional transportation networks that inventory existing and proposed Rights-of-Way and ensure an Urban Center or Corridor Node is adequately served by transit, is accessible and pedestrian-friendly, facilitates bicycle use, preserves the character of existing residential communities, and minimizes dependence on single-occupancy automobiles, fostering the necessary balance of transportation and land use to allow the UC Districts to develop and function.

(4)

They identify the contribution of each property and facility to the overall working of the district.

(5)

They identify the existing Regulated Environmental Features and seek to ensure that the proposed Regulating Plan avoids and minimizes impacts to these features to the fullest extent possible.

(6)

They identify the preferred locations for park and recreation facilities, ensure that all residents of an Urban Center or Corridor Node will have equitable access to a variety of indoor and outdoor facilities, and provide a basis for determination of acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of public and private parks and recreational facilities.

(b)

Preparation and Relationship to Regulating Plans.

(1)

Functional Overlays consist of maps, technical studies, and other data as required by the Planning Director or Designee, and shall be submitted with proposed Regulating Plans.

(2)

Functional Overlays shall be prepared prior to the development and approval of a Regulating Plan. The existing conditions inventories and functional relationships established by these overlays are essential to the development of a Regulating Plan, and the implementation of the Urban Centers and Corridor Nodes Development and Zoning Code.

(3)

Functional Overlays shall be prepared as directed by the Planning Director or Designee during the pre-application conference (in the case of a Zoning Map Amendment), or during the preparation of a Sectional Map Amendment, and shall be certified by the Planning Director or Designee prior to review of a proposed Regulating Plan.

Functional Overlay Areas.

(c)

Functional Overlays shall include but not be limited to:

(1)

An environmental overlay reflecting the locations of Regulated Environmental Features as determined in an approved Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) prepared in conformance with the Environmental Technical Manual. This information shall be used in the rest of the development process under this Subtitle to identify Regulated Environmental Features in both the Regulating Plan and in individual Permit Site Plan applications.

(2)

A transportation network overlay that will show how networked elements will be accommodated on a given Street in a given Block, and how each Block is served. This overlay shall provide the functional basis for the designation of Street types and typical sections, as well as the design of lane widths, intersection radii, crosswalks, traffic calming measures, sidewalks, trails, transit stops, and other geometric design features. Each Block shall have frontage on at least one Street which will be designed for the transportation uses (such as truck access for loading) needed by the uses within that Block. The routing of truck and transit vehicles from adjacent areas, as well as expected traffic volumes, within the area of the proposed UC District must be considered in the preparation of the transportation overlay. The transportation overlay will also show how the transportation network connects within the Regulating Plan and to the external functional network elements at the outer edge, where the UC District connects to the rest of the County. Development of the transportation overlay should be coordinated with transportation agencies to the extent feasible. At a minimum, the transportation network overlay includes:

(A)

The location and width of all existing and proposed public and private rights-of-way;

(B)

The use and relationship of each right-of-way for pedestrians, bicycles, transit buses, light-rail, delivery trucks, motorized personal vehicle, and automobile traffic;

(C)

Countywide master plan roadways (if any), transit lines, trails, and bikeways;

(D)

Location of existing and proposed utilities, including water, sewer, electric, gas, and cable, and any other information deemed necessary to ensure public utilities have sufficient space within the subject property, or if proposed within the right-of-way, appropriate documents shall be submitted indicating that all parties are in agreement;

(E)

Existing and proposed transportation facilities including traffic controls, on-Street parking, lighting, Streetscape, and signage;

(F)

Potential transit upgrades;

(G)

Pedestrian and bicycle enhancements;

(H)

Costs of implementation and the ability to utilize County, state, and other funding programs to implement the transportation network;

(I)

The ability of proposed actions to meet the transportation goals of the General Plan and applicable master plan or sector plan; and

(J)

The location, access routes, and relationship of any isolated commercial or industrial property to existing single-family residential properties, with emphasis on prohibiting commercial and service traffic (including delivery trucks) from accessing property through residential neighborhoods whenever possible.

(3)

A historical and archaeological resources overlay (to be documented by a qualified professional according to Maryland Historical Trust standards) that shows:

(A)

The location of all historic and archeological resources in the UC District, including buildings, sites, structures, and objects;

(B)

An inventory identifying archeological resources; and

(C)

Methods of protection, protected areas, and existing and proposed interpretive features.

(4)

A public facilities overlay, showing:

(A)

The location of existing public facilities, including parks and recreation facilities;

(B)

The location of all required and proposed dedications for public use;

(C)

Potential impacts on surrounding public facilities, including school population, fire and police response, water and sewer usage, parks and recreation facilities, and libraries; and

(D)

The development schedule and cost estimates for all new public facilities, including parks and recreation facilities, proposed within the UC District.

(5)

A development phasing overlay, which would show the planned development process moving towards completion and build-out of the Regulated Plan and Illustrative Plan, and the development of needed infrastructure to support that process. This overlay shall also identify where development of a parcel or lot is contingent on another parcel or lot, or a required infrastructure element such as an access road.

(CB-1-2010)