Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Commission consists of fifteen members who serve three-year terms.
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).
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the five members of the Board serve five-year terms (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1).
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).
SEAFOOD RECONCILIATION BOARD
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to four-year terms, the Board consists of five members.
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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 County Executive with County Council consent (Code Agriculture Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-312).
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Appeals consists of three members and one alternate who serve three-year terms (Code Local Government Article, sec. 10-305).
BUILDING CODES, PERMITS & INSPECTIONS
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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 Planning Commission makes and approves plans they recommend to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption.
The Seafood Reconciliation Board mediates and arbitrates disputes involving seafood operations, and issues binding opinions to decide whether such operations are conducted in a manner consistent with generally accepted seafood industry management practices.
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 Board of Zoning Appeals holds public hearings to hear requests for variances, conditional uses, and appeals relating to the County Code. The Board hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is any error in any zoning order, requirement, decision, or determination. It also interprets district boundaries on official zoning maps. Upon appeal, in specific cases, the Board may authorize such variances as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty.
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