3748

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 794

CONCENTRATED IN THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN CORRIDOR;

(6)  THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS OF MARYLAND
IS ENHANCED THROUGH THE RESTORATION OF THE QUALITY AND
PRODUCTIVITY OF THE WATERS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES;

(7)  THE RESTORATION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS
TRIBUTARIES IS DEPENDENT, IN PART, ON MINIMIZING FURTHER ADVERSE
IMPACTS TO THE WATER QUALITY-₇- AND NATURAL HABITATS, AND SCENIC
QUALITIES OF THE SHORELINE AND ADJACENT LANDS;

(8)  THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF CURRENT PIECEMEAL
DEVELOPMENT IS INIMICAL TO THESE PURPOSES; AND

(9)  THERE IS A CRITICAL AND SUBSTANTIAL STATE
INTEREST FOR THE BENEFIT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS IN
FOSTERING MORE SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IN A CONSISTENT AND
UNIFORM MANNER ALONG SHORELINE AREAS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND
ITS TRIBUTARIES SO AS TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO WATER QUALITY , AND
NATURAL HABITATS, AND SCENIC QUALITIES.

(B) IT IS THEREFORE THE PURPOSE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN
ENACTING THIS SUBTITLE TO:

(1)  ESTABLISH A RESOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES BY FOSTERING MORE SENSITIVE
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY FOR CERTAIN SHORELINE AREAS SO AS TO
MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO WATER QUALITY , AND NATURAL HABITATS, AND
SCENIC QUALITIES; AND

(2)  IMPLEMENT THE RESOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM ON A
COOPERATIVE BASIS BETWEEN THE STATE AND AFFECTED LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING
THEIR PROGRAMS IN A CONSISTENT AND UNIFORM MANNER SUBJECT TO
STATE CRITERIA AND OVERSIGHT.

8-1802.

(A) (1) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)  "COMMISSION" MEANS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL
AREA COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN THIS SUBTITLE.

(3)  "DEVELOPMENT" MEANS ANY ACTIVITY THAT MATERIALLY
AFFECTS THE CONDITION OR USE OF DRY LAND, LAND UNDER WATER, OR
ANY STRUCTURE.

(4)  "INCLUDES" MEANS INCLUDES OR INCLUDING BY WAY OF
ILLUSTRATION AND NOT BY WAY OF LIMITATION.

(5)  "LOCAL JURISDICTION" MEANS A COUNTY, OR A
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION WITH PLANNING AND ZONING POWERS, IN WHICH
ANY PART OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREA AS DEFINED IN THIS
SUBTITLE, IS LOCATED.