In this chapter the following terms have the meaning indicated. Any term not defined in this chapter shall have the meaning as defined in any chapter of the Carroll County Code (“the Code”). Any term not defined in the Code in any chapter shall have its generally accepted meaning.
AGRICULTURAL LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. Those methods and procedures used in the cultivation of land to further crop and livestock production and conserve related soil and water resources.
AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE. A building located on a farm and used in connection with agricultural land management practices, but not including a dwelling or garage.
APPLICANT. An individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity that undertakes or participates in the activities covered by this chapter.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Any construction project by the county, incorporated municipalities, or Carroll County Board of Education, including but not limited to roads, storm drains, sewers, water lines, reservoirs, schools, and associated appurtenances.
CLEARING. The removal of trees and brush from the land for development purposes while leaving the rootmat intact, but not including the mowing of grass or agricultural land management activities.
CONCEPT PLAN. The first of three required plans that includes the information necessary to allow an initial evaluation and approval of a proposed project.
DEVELOPER. A person who engages in development or who owns property upon which a development is proposed or accomplished.
DEVELOPMENT. The subdivision of land and those divisions of land referred to as off conveyances, and/or any change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to: construction; reconstruction; structural alterations; relocation or enlargement of any structure, road, driveway or appurtenance; grading; dredging; filling; paving; clearing; excavation; dumping; extraction or storage of soil or minerals; the storage of equipment or material.
DISTRICT. The Carroll Soil Conservation District.
EARLY GRADING PERMIT. Limited authorization from the county to proceed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter prior to issuance of the grading permit.
ENGINEER. A professional engineer licensed in this state.
ENVIRONMENTAL SITE DESIGN (ESD). Using small-scale SWM practices, nonstructural techniques, and better site planning to mimic natural hydrologic runoff characteristics and minimize the impact of land development on water resources. Methods for designing ESD practices are specified in the Design Manual.
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA. An area comprised of woodlands, steep slopes, wetlands, sensitive habitats, or floodplains as determined by the county.
EROSION. The process by which the land surface is worn away by the action of wind, water, ice, or gravity.
FILLING. Any act by which soil, earth, sand, or similar material is deposited or placed that changes the existing surface area.
FINAL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN. The last of the three required plan submittals that includes the information necessary to allow all reviews, approvals, and permits to be issued by the county.
FINE GRADED. The condition of an area after final grading has occurred and left in a mowable state with no stones over two inches in diameter or width and no grade variation over two inches.
FLOODPLAIN. The area which, after ultimate development of its watershed based on current zoning, would be inundated by water runoff from a 100-year storm.
FOREST. A biological community dominated by trees and other woody plants covering an area of 10,000 square feet or greater. This area shall have a tree density of at least 100 living trees per acre with at least 50% of those trees having a two-inch or greater diameter at four and one-half feet above the ground. A FOREST may include duff, leaf litter, understory, and forest areas that have been cut but not cleared. FOREST does not include orchards or Christmas tree plantations.
FOREST HARVEST. The cutting or removal of at least 5,000 square feet of forest or developed woodland within any one-year interval.
GRADING. Any disturbance of the earth, including but not limited to clearing, stripping, stockpiling, excavating, scarifying, filling, or any combination thereof.
GRADING PERMIT. Written authorization from the county to proceed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
GRADING PLAN. A plan prepared by a professional engineer, land surveyor, landscape architect or architect, licensed to practice in this state, showing existing and proposed contours.
GRADING UNIT. The maximum contiguous area allowed to be graded at a given time.
HIGHLY ERODIBLE SOILS. Those soils with a slope greater than 15% or those soils with a soil erodability factor, K, greater than 0.35 and with slopes greater than 5%.
LAND SURVEYOR. A professional land surveyor registered by this state.
MASS GRADING. Grading of over 75% of the area labeled as “limits of grading and construction” on the approved soil erosion and sediment control plan.
PERMITTEE. Any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this chapter.
PERSON. Includes the federal government, the state, any county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state, or any of their units, or an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, fiduciary, or representative of any kind, or any partnership, firm, association, public or private corporation, or any other entity.
REVIEWING AGENCIES. The agencies designated by the county to review plans and permit applications for compliance with federal, state, county, and local regulations and guidelines.
SEDIMENT. Soils or other surface materials transported or deposited by the action of wind, water, ice, or gravity as a product of erosion.
SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. The second of three required plans; site plans are for commercial/industrial and preliminary plans for residential; submittals include the information necessary to allow a detailed evaluation and subsequent approval of a proposed project.
SOIL CONSERVATION WATER QUALITY PLAN (SCWQP). A comprehensive plan that covers the entire farm and addresses natural resource management on agricultural lands and utilizes best management practices (BMPs) that control erosion and sediment loss and manage runoff.
SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN. A plan designed to minimize erosion and prevent off site sedimentation, by containing sediment on site or by passing sediment-laden runoff through a sediment control measure prepared and approved in accordance with the specific requirements of an approval authority, and designed in accordance with the Standards and Specifications.
STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS. The 2011 Maryland Standards and Specifications for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control and any subsequent revisions adopted by the Maryland Department of the Environment.
SUBDIVISION. Any division of a parcel of land into two or more lots or parcels for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership, sale, lease, or development, including those divisions referred to as off conveyances.
VARIANCE. The modification of the minimum grading and sediment control requirements of this chapter for specific circumstances when strict adherence to the requirements would result in unnecessary hardship and would not be necessary to fulfill the purpose of this chapter.
WATERCOURSE. Any natural or artificial stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, waterway, gully, ravine, or wash, in and including any adjacent area that is subject to inundation from overflow or flood water.
WETLANDS. An area that meets the conditions for a WETLAND according to the Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands, dated January, 1987, or subsequent revisions.
(2004 Code, § 121-1) (Ord. 2012-09, passed 12-11-2012; Ord. 2018-10, passed 11-29-2018)