§ 5B-109. Purpose and Intent.

(a)

Intent. To implement a Prince George's County Critical Area Program countywide in response to and compliance with legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 1984 to address the decline of the quality and productivity of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The decline was found to have resulted, in part, from cumulative effects of human activity that caused increased levels of pollutants, nutrients and toxins, as well as a decline in protective land uses such as forest and agricultural lands in the Bay region. In 2002, the Atlantic Coastal Bays were added by the Maryland General Assembly to the Critical Area Program because these waterways also had begun to experience similar declines.

(b)

Purpose. In accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland, Natural Resources Article, Section 8-1801, et. seq., Prince George's County adopted it's Critical Area Program on May 30, 1990 and as amended from time to time for the following purposes:

(1)

To establish a resource protection program for the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their tributaries by fostering more sensitive development activity for identified shoreline areas so as to minimize impacts to water quality and natural habitants;

(2)

To implement a resource protection program on a cooperative basis between Prince George's County and the State in order to implement a comprehensive, uniform and consistent Program that is subject to State Criteria and oversight; and

(3)

To administer an effective Program that will positively affect the quality of life, health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Prince George's County by enhancing and/or restoring the quality and productivity of the waters of the county associated with the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Coastal Bay, and their tributaries.

(c)

Goals. The goals of Prince George's County's Critical Area Program are:

(1)

To minimize adverse impacts on water quality resulting from pollutants that are discharged from structures or run off from surrounding lands;

(2)

To conserve fish, wildlife, and plant habitat; and

(3)

To establish land use policies for development in the Critical Area that accommodate growth, as well as address the environmental impacts that the number, movement, and activities of people may have on said area.

(d)

Policies. The policies of the Prince George's County Critical Area Program are generally intended to accommodate already existing land uses and growth within the Critical Area, while providing for the conservation of habitat and protection of water quality and include the following:

(1)

Protection of threatened and endangered species, those species in need of conservation and their habitats, which occur in the Critical Area;

(2)

Conservation of wildlife habitat in the Critical Area;

(3)

Protection of those wildlife habitats that tend to be least abundant or which may become so in the future if current land-use trends continue;

(4)

Protection of those wildlife habitat types which are required to support the continued present of various species;

(5)

Protection of those wildlife habitat types and plant communities which are of local significance; and

(6)

Protection of Natural Heritage Areas.

(CB-75-2010)