ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                            S.B. 694

(1)     To establish a Resource Protection Program for the Chesapeake and
the Atlantic Coastal Bays and their tributaries by fostering more sensitive
development activity for certain shoreline areas so as to minimize damage to water
quality and natural habitats; and

(2)     To 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)     "Atlantic Coastal Bays" means the Assawoman, Isle of Wight,
Sinepuxent, Newport, and Chincoteague Bays.

(3)     "Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area" means the initial planning area
identified under § 8-1807 of this subtitle.

(4)     "BUFFER" MEANS AN EXISTING, NATURALLY VEGETATED AREA, OR
AN AREA ESTABLISHED IN VEGETATION AND MANAGED TO PROTECT AQUATIC,
WETLANDS, SHORELINE, AND TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS FROM MAN-MADE
DISTURBANCES.

(5)      "Chesapeake Bay Critical Area" means the initial planning area
identified under § 8-1807 of this subtitle.

[(5)] (6) "Commission" means the Critical Area Commission for the
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays established in this subtitle.

[(6)] (7) "Critical Area" means the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and
the Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area.

[(7)] (8) "Development" means any activity that materially affects the
condition or use of dry land, land under water, or any structure.

[(8)] (9) "Growth allocation" means the number of acres of land in the
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area or Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area that a local
jurisdiction may use to create new intensely developed areas and .new limited
development areas.

[(9)] (10) "Includes" means includes or including by way of illustration
and not by way of limitation.

[(10)] (11) "Land classification" means the designation of land in the
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area or Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area in accordance
with the criteria adopted by the Commission as an intensely developed area or
district, a limited development area or district, or a resource conservation area or
district.

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