(a) State law. Real property may be formed into a waterways improvement district in accordance with the Natural Resources Article, §§ 8-705 through 8-709, of the State Code, and this title.
(b) Petition. The County may establish a waterways improvement district on presentation to the County Executive and the County Council of a written verified petition signed by 75% of the owners of the real properties proposed to be included in the district requesting the establishment of the district. Each petition shall be accompanied by:
(1) a plat of the proposed district as recorded among the land records of the County and certified by the Office of Planning and Zoning as an accurate configuration of the area to be included within the proposed district;
(2) a description of the project to be undertaken and of the prospective economic advantage to be gained by completion of the project; and
(3) an identification of the tax accounts representing the parcels of real property in the proposed district that are to be assessed.
(c) Referral to State Department of Natural Resources. On receipt of the petition with the accompanying documents, the County Executive and the County Council shall refer the petition and accompanying documents to the Waterways Improvement Division of the State Department of Natural Resources for a report and evaluation of benefits to be achieved by creating the proposed district.
(d) Ordinance. On receipt of a report from the Waterway Improvement Division of the State Department of Natural Resources recommending the creation of the proposed district and including the estimated costs for the project, the County Executive may request the County Council to establish the district by ordinance. The ordinance shall designate the area included within the district.
(e) Denial. If the Waterways Improvement Division of the State Department of Natural Resources does not recommend the creation of the proposed district, the petition requesting the creation of a district shall be denied.
(1985 Code, Art. 6, §§ 4-102, 4-103) (Bill No. 17-88)
State Code reference – Natural Resources Article, § 8-705(a).