CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PLANNING

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

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DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & CODES

The Department of Planning and Codes began in January 1985 as the Department of Planning and Codes Administration. It reformed as the Department of Planning, Codes, and Engineering in August 2008, and later reorganized under its present name.

Health & Public Services Building, 403 South Seventh St., Denton, Maryland, August 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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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).

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.

Composed of five members, the Advisory Board is appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Code Agriculture Article, sec, 2-504.1; County Code, secs. 74-1 through 74-8).

AGRICULTURAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE
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 Committee consists of five members who are appointed to four-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (County Code, sec. 149-4).

BURIAL SITES PRESERVATION BOARD
Authorized in 2007, the Burial Sites Preservation Board was made part of the Department of Planning and Codes Administration, which became the Department of Planning, Codes, and Engineering in 2008 (County Code, secs. 89-1 through 89-8).

The Board's members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to four-year terms. Annually, the Board selects its chair and vice-chair.

PLANNING COMMISSION
The Commission consists of seven members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Six serve five-year terms, and one County Commissioner member serves ex officio concurrent with his or her official term (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304).

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).

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, members of the Board of Zoning Appeals serve three-year terms (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406).

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