1. Defined
Bus, Rail Terminal/Station means any structure and land used for bus and train arrivals and departures. Bus, Rail Terminal/Station does not include bus or train maintenance (see Section 3.5.13.D, Repair (Commercial Vehicle)).
2. Use Standards
Where a Bus, Rail Terminal/Station is allowed as a limited use, bus or train storage is prohibited.
1. Defined
Helipad, Heliport means a designated area, either at ground level or elevated on a structure, that is used on a regular basis for the landing and takeoff of rotorcraft. Helipad, Heliport includes support facilities such as refueling services, maintenance and cargo loading areas, tie-downs and hangars, administration offices, and other appropriate terminal facilities.
2. Use Standards
Where a Helipad, Heliport is allowed as a conditional use, it may be permitted by the Hearing Examiner under Section 7.3.1, Conditional Use, and the following standards:
a. All applications for Helipad, Heliport must provide noise analysis sufficient to make a finding of noise compatibility around the facility (the primary impact area) and along and under the principal access routes (the secondary impact area). The primary impact area includes the rotorcraft facility and the area within a 4,000 foot radius from the helipad. The secondary impact area includes all areas in the County along and under the principal access routes to the rotorcraft facility excluding the primary impact area.
b. The Helipad, Heliport noise analysis must include a description of detailed operational procedures that would minimize noise levels affecting sensitive land uses in both the primary and secondary impact areas (“fly neighborly” procedures). Based on use of these procedures and worst-day noise scenario with peak usage of the facility, projected rotorcraft noise level (in terms of day-night average sound level or DNL) must be developed using models approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (see FAA Advisory Circular 150/5020-2). This worst-day operational scenario becomes the maximum allowable limit for the type, weight, and noise characteristics of the rotorcraft proposed to use the facility; proposed number of operations; and approximate time of day that landings and departures could occur.
c. Rotorcraft operations are noise compatible if ambient DNL noise levels at noise sensitive areas with rotorcraft operations (post-rotorcraft ambient noise levels) exceed pre-rotorcraft ambient DNL levels by one decibel or less. If rotorcraft operations already exist in the vicinity, the cumulative impact of all operations must be calculated to determine compliance.
d. Instead of monitoring ambient conditions, the following noise- compatible land use planning goals for various land use types and densities must be used, as shown in the following table:
i. Maximum Compatible Sound Levels
Approximate Density Residential | Day/Night Average Sound Level (DNL) in A-Weighted Decibels |
Less than or equal to 1 unit per acre | 55 dBA |
2 units to 15 units per acre | 60 dBA |
Multi-unit and high rise | 65 dBA |
ii. Based on this table and the compatibility standard of allowing only a one-decibel increase in the ambient levels, the following table designates maximum rotorcraft sound levels:
Maximum Rotorcraft Sound Levels
Approximate Density Residential | Day/Night Average Sound Level (DNL) in A-Weighted Decibels |
Less than or equal to 1 unit per acre | 49 dBA |
2 units to 15 units per acre | 54 dBA |
Multi-unit and high rise | 59 dBA |
iii. Where ambient noise levels significantly differ from those in the Maximum Compatible Sound Levels table, measurements or modeling may be performed to establish compatibility standards appropriate to the ambient environment. Office, commercial, and industrial land uses will not be reviewed for noise impacts with the following 2 exceptions: (1) situations where it appears likely that workers will be subjected to noise levels in excess of LEQ1 = 75 dBA for an 8-hour period; (2) in CBD or Transit Station areas, where amenity spaces are provided, if it appears that noise impacts may be of such magnitude as to significantly reduce the usefulness or inhibit the proper function of these spaces for their intended purpose. In addition to the cumulative noise standards, the Hearing Examiner may designate additional conditions for use in the public interest which may include, but not be limited to, restricting the number of rotorcraft operations, restricting the hours of operation of the facility, restricting operations of high noise generating rotorcraft during noise-sensitive hours, or any combinations of these restrictions.
e. With the exception of operations on the helipad, all on-ground operations must satisfy the standards of Chapter 31B. In particular, heliport maintenance operations must satisfy these standards.
f. All applications for a Helipad/Heliport must also contain the following information:
i. An aerial photograph showing the primary impact area, as defined in Section 3.6.6.B.2.a, at a scale no less than one inch equals 400 feet showing the location of the proposed Helipad/Heliport; the approach and departure routes and altitudes within the primary impact area; the location of all residences, schools, churches, hospitals, and other areas used for the open assembly of people, and other noise sensitive uses that exist, have been approved for development, or are master planned within the primary impact area.
ii. A map showing the intended flight paths and altitudes within the secondary impact area, as defined in Section 3.6.6.B.2.a. This map must indicate the proposed routes and altitude restrictions, if any, found to be acceptable by the Federal Aviation Administration.
iii. Information concerning the type of rotorcraft facility proposed (helipad/heliport); the nature of the use (public use/private use); type, weight and noise characteristics of rotorcraft that would use the facility; the proposed number of operations and approximate time of day that landings and departures would occur for each type of rotorcraft; and finally, the facility's proposed operating hours.
iv. A plan must be submitted for the Hearing Examiner's approval that complies with all the heliport design guideline recommendations in the Federal Aviation Administration's Heliport Design Guide, Advisory Circular No. 150/5390-1B, dated August 22, 1977, as amended. These guidelines are the minimum standards for the design and approval of a Helipad/Heliport plan. Exemptions to specific standards contained in the heliport design guide may be approved by the Hearing Examiner, but only after receiving a recommendation for approval of the requested exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration.
v. For elevated facilities, an architectural drawing must be submitted which has been certified by a structural engineer licensed by the State of Maryland as demonstration that the structure will support the static and dynamic loads of rotorcraft proposed to use the facility, and that the fire safety regulations, as established in NFPA Publication #418, current edition, or any other regulations in effect at the time of application, have been satisfied.
vi. A copy of the “Notice of Landing Area Proposal,” a copy of the Federal Aviation Administration's response to the Notice of Landing Area Proposal, and a copy of the Air Space Determination from the Federal Aviation Administration must be submitted.
vii. In addition to the above requirements, the Hearing Examiner may require any additional information and analyses that may be relevant as the evidence of record and the public interest require.
g. Permission for a private use Helipad, Heliport may be granted by the Hearing Examiner for a 5-year period or such shorter period as the Hearing Examiner may specify in granting the conditional use. The conditional use may be renewed by the Hearing Examiner for additional periods, a maximum of 5 years each, if the same findings required for the initial approval by the Hearing Examiner can still be made.
h. Operators of approved Helipad, Heliport must maintain an accurate log of all rotorcraft operations, specifying each operation that occurs including the type of rotorcraft and the date and time of the operation. This log must be available for inspection by DPS as part of any inspection of operations for conditional uses. Failure to maintain the log or failure to make the log available to DPS as part of an inspection is a violation of the conditional use approval.
Defined
Railroad Tracks means fixed guideways for the movement of trains.
1. Defined
Taxi/Limo Facility means any structure or land for the dispatch or storage of taxis, limousines, or other vehicles for hire.
2. Use Standards
Where a Taxi/Limo Facility is allowed as a limited use, vehicle storage is prohibited.