1900

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 680

(a) (1) The Agricultural Preservation Advisory
Board shall designate certain portions of the county as
having the greatest potential for maintaining a viable level
of agricultural or forest production- The criteria the
board uses shall include, but not be limited to:

[i.] (I) Present land use

[ii.] (II) Percent of cropland

[iii.] (III) Suitability of the soil

[iv.] (IV) Amount of contiguous farm land

(2)    The area specified in section [276]
277(a)(1) shall be called the "Designated Agricultural
Area". Wooded parcels may be included in the designated
agricultural area.

(3)    Any person who owns land within a
designated agricultural area is     not required to join an
agricultural preservation district.     The program is entirely
voluntary.

278.

(a)    The Board of County Commissioners shall designate
certain portions of the county, not in a designated
agricultural preservation area, as a transfer zone. The
Board of County Commissioners may ask for recommendations
from the Planning Commission of Calvert County.

(b)    The owner of the development right is permitted
to increase the density of residential use of the property
he owns within the transfer zone according to section [278]
279.

279.

(a)    One development option per acre of land is
allocated within an agricultural preservation district.

(b)    Five development options shall be subtracted for
each residence located on a parcel in an agricultural
preservation district.

(c)    Those persons who own property within a transfer
zone may create one additional single family residential
building lot for each five development rights purchased.
The density may not exceed one dwelling per two and one—half
acres, unless the County Commissioners develop criteria
permitting higher density where favorable conditions exist.
In no case shall the total density exceed one family
dwelling per acre.

(d) The County Commissioners shall grant five
development rights for each one acre lot authorized in the