For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Any term not defined in this chapter shall have the meaning as defined in Chapter 158 or any other chapter of the Code. Any term not defined in the Code in any chapter shall have its generally accepted meaning.
AASHTO. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
ACCESSORY DWELLING, ATTACHED. A portion of a single-family dwelling that shall provide complete, independent living facilities for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation within the main dwelling unit, which may be internal, may be separated from the main dwelling unit by a continuous common wall, or may be separated by not more than 15 feet of livable floor area, but which is separate from the main dwelling unit's cooking, bathroom(s), and living areas.
ACCESSORY DWELLING, DETACHED. A dwelling unit (excluding mobile home) on the same lot as the primary dwelling unit, but physically separated from the primary dwelling unit. A DETACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING unit shall provide complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent facilities for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
ADJACENT. Lying near or close to; adjacent implies that the two objects are not widely separated, though they may not actually touch; lots separated by a street shall be considered adjacent.
ADJOINING. Two or more parcels that share a common property line or point of intersection of two property lines.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL. The Director of the Department of Land and Resource Management, the Director of the Department of Public Works, or the Chief of the Bureau of Development Review, or their successor agencies.
BUREAU. The Bureau of Development Review or its successor agency.
COMAR. The Code of Maryland Regulations.
CONTIGUOUS. Two or more parcels sharing a common property line, other than a point.
DATE OF APPROVAL. The date of the written approval letter from the Chair or Secretary of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
DEPARTMENT. The Department of Land and Resource Management, or its successor agency.
DESIGN MANUAL. The Manual used by the Department of Public Works for the engineering of roads and storm drains.
DEVELOPER/OWNER. An individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity that undertakes or participates in the activities covered by this chapter.
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.
DEVELOPMENT RIGHT. The potential for the creation of residential subdivision lots based on the area and existing zoning classification of the parcel.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Department under which the Bureau of Development Review, or its successor bureau is assigned.
EASEMENT. A grant by a property owner for the use of land for a specific purpose by another person or for the protection of an environmental resource area.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE AREAS. Streams, stream buffers, 100-year floodplains, habitats of threatened and endangered species, steep slopes, carbonate rock areas, reservoir watersheds, Use III waters, wellhead buffers, and wetlands.
FEMA. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAT. A drawing of any portion of the subdivision which is desired to be made an official record in the Land Records of Carroll County, and which may be all or a portion of an approved preliminary subdivision plan.
HANGOVER PARCEL. As designated by owner, the part on either side of the road of a parcel, tract, or remainder crossed by a publicly maintained street or road, where the street or road is not owned in fee simple by a government agency.
LOT, BUILDABLE. Separately described parcel legally created in accordance with Chapter 158 or its predecessor law which allows or would have allowed, without a variance, the construction of a single-family dwelling or if in the C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, or I-2 Districts, allows or would have allowed without a variance the construction of a building to house any principal permitted use. The term does not imply that such lot has met or will meet Carroll County Health Department standards and requirements for water and sewer or other applicable governmental approvals which shall be obtained prior to the granting of a building permit.
LOT, OFF CONVEYANCE. A buildable lot which was created by a legal division subsequent to April 23, 1963, but created without being described on a lawfully recorded subdivision plat.
LOT, SUBDIVISION. A lot which was legally divided subsequent to April 23, 1963, and which is described on a lawfully recorded subdivision plat.
MAJOR SUBDIVISION. A subdivision of four or more new lots, not including the remainder or remaining portion, or a division of property which creates, involves, or is contiguous to or in the path of a planned new road, street, or highway.
MDE. The Maryland Department of the Environment.
MINOR SUBDIVISION. A subdivision of no more than three new lots, not including the remainder or remaining portion and which does not create, involve, or is not contiguous to or in the path of a planned new road, street, or highway.
PARCEL. A piece of land described in a deed or final plat recorded in the land records of Carroll County.
PLANNED COMMERCIAL CENTER (PCC). Three or more retail stores, service establishments, medical facilities, or other commercial uses designed as a unit and primarily served by common accessories such as signs, parking lots, and walkways.
PLANNED PUBLIC PROJECT. A project shown on the duly adopted county Master Plan, and all other duly adopted county plans.
PRELIMINARY SUBDIVISION PLAN. A master drawing of a subdivision prepared for the overall planning of a property intended to be subdivided.
PRODUCTIVE CROPLAND. At least 50% of the parcel or lot classified by the United States Department of Agriculture’s soil conservation land classification system as Class I, II, or III soils.
REMAINDER. The portion of a tract remaining after one or all eligible off conveyances have been created.
REMAINING PORTION. In the A District, the land remaining after residential subdivision lots have been created from a legally established parcel of land through the subdivision process.
RESULTING LAND. The land derived from the reduction of lot sizes when clustering pursuant to this chapter, which shall constitute a single lot.
SEPTIC MINOR SUBDIVISION. Up to seven new lots for purposes of the applicability of the Carroll County Health Department approval of on site disposal systems. All development proposals will be required to comply with all other processing and County Code provisions applicable to subdivisions.
SETBACK LINE. The line that is the required minimum distance from the street right-of-way line or any other lot line that establishes the area within which a structure must be erected or placed.
SIMPLIFIED SITE PLAN. A plan for a developed property proposing additions or modifications that meet the specific guidelines as outlined in § 155.050.
SITE PLAN. A plan that provides layout and construction design details for projects as required under § 155.050
SLOPE EASEMENT. The area secured by easement beyond the right-of-way limits for the purpose of flattening or constructing slopes, side ditches, or stream changes.
STEEP SLOPES. Areas with slopes greater than 25%.
STREAM. Part of a watercourse, either naturally or artificially created, that contains intermittent or perennial base flow of groundwater origin, but not including ditches that convey surface runoff exclusively from storm events.
SUBDIVISION.
(1) The division of any tract or parcel of land into two or more lots or parcels for immediate or future sale. Any division of land involving a new street or involving property identified by the county as all or a part of a planned public project shall be a SUBDIVISION.
(2) This term does not include a conveyance to or from a state, federal, or local government or a public utility if for utility right-of-way purposes; or a transfer to an adjoining property owner if the transfer is made with the following statement in the deed:
“The land conveyed herein is being transferred to an adjoining landowner to enlarge the grantee’s existing property and shall be considered merged under the Subdivision Regulations of the county with the existing property of the grantee. Such land conveyed is not intended for development, other than accessory structures, and in order to be eligible for development requires approval under the then applicable governmental regulations.”
SUBDIVISION PLAT. A drawing of the subdivision showing lots, streets, and other information which may be required by this chapter.
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS. The provisions of this chapter, as may be amended, and the previous subdivision regulations as were adopted from time to time in accordance with applicable laws.
TRACT. A piece of land described in a deed or final plat recorded in the land records of Carroll County.
USE-IN-COMMON DRIVEWAY (UIC). A private driveway serving two or more properties which provides vehicular access to a public road.
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.
WELLHEAD BUFFER. An area which extends a minimum of 200 feet by 200 feet around any existing or proposed community water supply well or well site, unless modified by the Planning and Zoning Commission, as may be designated on the adopted Water and Sewer Master Plan or the Carroll County Master Plan, other duly adopted County plans, or identified during the development process.
(Ord. 2022-19, passed 10-20-2022)