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 Maryland Manual On-Line, 2020

July 31, 2020

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KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PLANNING

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, HOUSING, & ZONING

The Department of Planning, Housing, and Zoning originated as the Department of Planning and Zoning, and reformed under its present name in 2006.

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).

The Department oversees five divisions: Community Planning, Critical Areas, Enforcement, Housing, and Inspections and Permits. The Department is aided by the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Zoning Appeals.

    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.

    Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the five members of the Advisory Board serve five-year terms (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1).

    AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION
    The Board of County Commissioners appoints the seven-member Commission to three-year terms (County Code, secs. 172-1 through 172-5).

    HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
    The Board of County Commissioners appoints Commission members (Code Land Use Article, secs. 8-101 through 8-501; County Code, secs. 187-1 through 187-14).

    PLANNING COMMISSION
    The Planning Commission consists of seven members appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners. A representative of the Board of County Commissioners serves ex officio (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304; County Code, secs. 199-1 through 199-9).

    BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
    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.

    Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Appeals consists of three members and one alternate who serve three-year terms (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406).

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