The Commission supports and assists the Director of Economic and Tourism Development. Annually, the Commission also reviews the County Economic Development Strategic Plan, and meets with the Board of County Commissioners, and as requested, to review and evaluate County economic policies and issues.
Appointed to three-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners, the Economic and Tourism Development Commission consists of from seven to nine voting members. The Director of Economic and Tourism Development serves ex officio as a nonvoting member (County Code, secs. 21-1 through 21-9).
Matters relating to planning and zoning are governed by both State and County laws. The Maryland Forest Conservation Act, for example, requires all county governments to adopt local forest conservation programs (Chapter 255, Acts of 1991; Code Natural Resources Article, secs. 5-1601 through 5-1613).
The Department oversees five divisions: Community Planning, Critical Areas, Enforcement, Housing, and Inspections and Permits. The Department is aided by the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the five members of the Advisory Board serve five-year terms (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1).
AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
PLANNING COMMISSION
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Appeals consists of three members and one alternate who serve three-year terms (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406).
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
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AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD
The Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board advises the Board of County Commissioners on the establishment of agricultural districts and the approval of purchases of easements within the County by the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.
The Board of County Commissioners appoints the seven-member Commission to three-year terms (County Code, secs. 172-1 through 172-5).
The Board of County Commissioners appoints Commission members (Code Land Use Article, secs. 8-101 through 8-501; County Code, secs. 187-1 through 187-14).
The Planning Commission consists of seven members appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners. A representative of the Board of County Commissioners serves ex officio (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304; County Code, secs. 199-1 through 199-9).
The Board of Zoning Appeals holds public hearings to hear requests for variances, conditional uses, and appeals relating to the County Code. The Board hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is any error in any zoning order, requirement, decision, or determination. It also interprets district boundaries on official zoning maps. Upon appeal, in specific cases, the Board may authorize such variances as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides low-income residents with the ability to choose housing that meets their own individual needs. It receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov
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