The Department is responsible for three divisions: Agriculture and Seafood, Business Development, and Tourism.
DEPARTMENT OF LAND USE & GROWTH MANAGEMENT
![[photo, Department of Land Use and Growth Management, Patuxent Building, 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/sm/images/1198-1-08353b.jpg)
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).
Department of Land Use & Growth Management, Patuxent Building, 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, Maryland, November 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board's five members serve five-year terms (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1; County Code, secs. 189-1 through 189-4).
AGRICULTURAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Committee consists of five members (County Code, secs. 108-1, 254-1 through 254-8).
COMMISSION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Commission consists of seven members who serve four-year terms (County Code, sec. 159-1).
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
LAND USE BOARD
PLANNING COMMISSION
The Commission consists of seven members appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 2-105; County Code, sec. 172-1).
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
A soil conservation district constitutes a political subdivision of the State, and a public body corporate and politic, excercising public powers. The District's Board of Supervisors conducts surveys, investigations, and research relating to the character of soil erosion. Within the District, the Board carries out preventive and control measures, including engineering operations, cultivation methods, the growing of vegetation, changes in land use, and other measures.
The Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors consists six members who serve five-year terms. Five members are appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee, and one is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (Code Agriculture Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-312).
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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 Agricultural Reconciliation Committee arbitrates and mediates disputes involving agricultural operations conducted on agricultural lands. The Committee issues opinions on whether such operations conform with generally accepted agricultural management practices.
The Commission on the Environment investigates, analyzes, and makes recommendations on environmental issues, such as groundwater contamination, aquifer capacity and projected supply, sludge application, compost, incineration of contaminants, hazardous waste, and air and water pollution.
The Historic District Commission was established to assist the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners in preventing the destruction or encroachment upon historic sites and areas within St. Mary's County (Code Local Government Article, sec. 10-325; County Code, secs. 162-1 through 162-3).
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Land Use Board consists of fifteen members who serve terms of from one to four years (County Code, secs. 165-1 through 165-4).
The Planning Commission originated as the Planning and Zoning Commission and reformed under its present name in 1974. The Commission makes and approves plans it recommends to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption.
The St. Mary's Soil Conservation District was established in November 1941, and its legal charter issued by the State in January 1942.
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e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us