Legislative Items of Interest to: Route 40 Business Association

By:

Rowan Glidden (V.P., G.W. Stephens, Jr. & Assoc., Inc.), Chair- Legislative Discussions - February 5, 2014

Aberdeen Bus. Mtg./Work Session 02-3-14 (4PM). Bus. Mtg./Work Session 02-10-14 (4PM). Next Council meeting 02-24-14 (7PM). Ord. No. 13-O-09 Revision of Transit Oriented Development Code was introduced in November; Public Hearing held 1-27-14. Considering county wide Water & Sewer Authority. Harford County Water Non-Moratorium From the Executive Summary of the Annual Growth Report, The Maryland Department of the Environment is currently reviewing the Water Supply Capacity Management Plan submitted by the Maryland American Water Company, a private water company which serves the Town of Bel Air and parts of the Greater Bel Air area. Currently, all new preliminary plans, recorded plats, and building permits in the Maryland American service area are on hold until the conclusions of this plan review are received. Every local agency we have contacted states that there is No Moratorium in place. However, the hold on issuing approvals is having the same effect. The evaluating agency at this point appears to be the Water Supply Program in the Water Management Administration within the MDE. Harford County Regional Water & Sewer Authority Formation Study The efforts to create the regional authority continue. Municipalities are investigating enabling legislation to allow vote on the issue. MD Stormwater Remediation Fee State Legislature is about to go into session. STAY TUNED. The Harford County SWM Fee Task Force met twice over the summer. Their task is to review fee structure to raise the revenue required. Their final report has not been published on the County webpage.
* Neither Aberdeen nor Havre de Grace is subject to the SWM Remediation Fee, at this time.

TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) a term related to the Fed/State assigned maximum allowed quantity of discharge of any number of water born or dissolved elements, nutrients, or chemicals within a given watershed. (http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/TMDL/TMDLIm
plementation/Pages/Accounting_For_Growth.aspx)

The State of MD is preparing a program called Accounting for Growth which will involve nutrient offsets to be required for developing land that drains to the Chesapeake Bay. Read their webpage for up to date details.
LAND USE OR ZONING ORDINANCES

County Council Bills Approved in Dec. 2013 Bill 13-51/ (Accessory Structures in AG) changes allowed size on parcels over 5 AC. Bill 13-52(AG Buffer) Limits buffering requirements for AG businesses to the associated parking lot. County Council Bills Introduced in Jan. 2014 Bill 14-1 (Zoning Code Update) cleans up definitions. Brings Forest Conservation Section in step with MDE Model Ordinance; Possible issue with 30-in. trees. Havre de Grace Next Council meeting 02-17-14 (7PM). No relevant resolutions or ordinances were introduced in January.

Circulation: Emailed to Active Members of the Route 40 Business Association

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