Ch. 758

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(I)      THE DEGREE TO WHICH PROPOSED FEE OR EASEMENT
PURCHASES WILL PROTECT THE LOCATION, PROXIMITY, AND SIZE OF CONTIGUOUS
BLOCKS OF LANDS, GREEN BELTS OR GREENWAYS, OR AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY.
OR NATURAL RESOURCE CORRIDORS;

(II)    THE NATURE, SIZE, AND IMPORTANCE OF THE LAND AREA TO
BE PROTECTED, SUCH AS FARMLAND, FORESTS, WETLANDS, WILDLIFE HABITAT
AND PLANT SPECIES, INCLUDING RARE. THREATENED, OR ENDANGERED SPECIES,
VEGETATIVE BUFFERS, OR BAY OR WATERFRONT ACCESS; AND

(III)   THE QUALITY AND PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE
LAND;

(2)     THE DEGREE OF THREAT TO THE RESOURCES AND CHARACTER OF
THE AREA PROPOSED FOR PRESERVATION, AS REFLECTED BY PATTERNS AND
TRENDS OF DEVELOPMENT AND LANDSCAPE MODIFICATIONS IN AND
SURROUNDING THE PROPOSED RURAL LEGACY AREA;

(3)     THE SIGNIFICANCE AND EXTENT OF THE CULTURAL RESOURCES
PROPOSED FOR PROTECTION THROUGH FEE SIMPLE PURCHASES, INCLUDING THE
IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC SITES AND SIGNIFICANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREAS AND
THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE PROPOSED FEE OR EASEMENT PURCHASES WILL
PROTECT THE CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES;

(4)     THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE RESOURCE-BASED INDUSTRIES OR
SERVICES PROPOSED FOR PROTECTION THROUGH LAND CONSERVATION, SUCH AS
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, RECREATION, AND TOURISM;

(5)     THE OVERALL QUALITY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE RURAL
LEGACY PLAN, INCLUDING:

(I)      THE DEGREE TO WHICH EXISTING PLANNING. ZONING, AND
GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES CONTRIBUTING CONTRIBUTE TO LAND
CONSERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL RESOURCES:

(II)    THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE PROPOSED PLAN IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE APPLICABLE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, INCLUDING PROTECTION OF
SENSITIVE AREAS AND MINERAL RESOURCES;

(II) (III) HOW WELL EXISTING OR NEW CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS ARE COORDINATED WITH THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION PLAN;

(III) (IV) HOW WELL THE PLAN WILL MAXIMIZE ACQUISITION OF
REAL PROPERTY INTERESTS IN CONTIGUOUS BLOCKS OF LAND WITHIN THE RURAL
LEGACY AREA WHILE PROVIDING FOR PROTECTION OF ISOLATED ACQUISITIONS
IMPORTANT TO THE PLAN;

(IV) (V) PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTION OF RESOURCES, SUCH AS
VOLUNTARILY GRANTED OR PURCHASED EASEMENTS, FEE ESTATE PURCHASES, OR
GIFTS OF LANDS;

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