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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 7-402 Definitions.">
  <section prefix="§" num="7-402" heading="Definitions.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Buffer.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">“Buffer” means area that:<para num="(i)">based on conditions at the time of development, is immediately landward from mean high water of tidal waterways, the edge of a bank of a tributary stream, or the edge of a tidal wetland; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">exists, or may be established in, natural vegetation to protect a stream, tidal wetland, tidal waters or terrestrial environments from human disturbance.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Inclusions.">“Buffer”  includes:<para num="(i)">an area of at least 100-feet, even if that area was previously disturbed by human activity; and</para>
        <para num="(ii)">any expansion for contiguous areas, including a steep slope, hydric soil, highly erodible soil, nontidal wetland, or a Nontidal Wetland of Special State Concern as defined in &lt;cite data-doc="Code of Maryland Regulations" data-path="26.23.01.01"&gt;COMAR 26.23.01.01&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Critical area.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">“Critical Area”  means all lands and waters defined in §8-1807 of the State Natural Resources Article.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Inclusions.">“Critical Area” includes:<para num="(i)">all waters of and lands under the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Bays and their tributaries to the head of tide;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">all State and private wetlands designated under Title 16 of the State Environment Article;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">all land and water areas within 1,000 feet beyond the landward boundaries of State or private wetlands and the heads of tides designated under Title 16 of the State Environment Article; and</para>
        <para num="(iv)">modification to these areas through inclusions or exclusions proposed by local jurisdictions and approved by the Critical Area Commission, as specified in § 8-1807 of the State Natural Resources Article.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Critical Area Management Program.">“Critical Area Management Program” or “CAMP” means the Baltimore City Critical Area Management Program, as adopted by Resolution or Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and approved by the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Development.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">“Development” has the meaning stated in &lt;cite data-doc="Code of Maryland Regulations" data-path="27.01.01.01|B.|(21)"&gt;COMAR 27.01.01.01B(21)&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Inclusions.">“Development” includes any one or a combination of the following:<para num="(1)">construction, reconstruction, modification, expansion, or demolition of structures;</para>
        <para num="(2)">placement of fill;</para>
        <para num="(3)">dredging;</para>
        <para num="(4)">drilling;</para>
        <para num="(5)">mining;</para>
        <para num="(6)">grading;</para>
        <para num="(7)">paving;</para>
        <para num="(8)">land excavation;</para>
        <para num="(9)">land clearing;</para>
        <para num="(10)">land improvement; or</para>
        <para num="(11)">storage of materials.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Disturb.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">“Disturb” means to alter or change land in any way.</para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Inclusions.">“Disturb” includes any amount of clearing, grading, or construction activity.</para>
      <para num="(3)" heading="Exclusions.">“Disturb” does not include gardening or maintenance of an existing grass lawn.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(g)" heading="Non-water dependent project">“Non-water dependent project” has the meaning stated in &lt;cite data-doc="Code of Maryland Regulations" data-path="27.01.13.01"&gt;COMAR 27.01.13.01&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    <para num="(h)" heading="Non-water dependent structure">“Non-water dependent structure” means a temporary or permanent structure or activity which, by reason of its intrinsic nature or operation, is not required to be located in or over State or private tidal wetlands.</para>
    <para num="(i)" heading="Significant development.">“Significant development” means any development that would:<para num="(1)">disturb any land in the Buffer;</para>
      <para num="(2)">disturb 10,000 or more square feet of land in the Critical Area;</para>
      <para num="(3)">result in any disturbance, caused by use, development, or destruction of vegetation, to land in an area designated under the Critical Area Management Program as a “Designated Habitat Protection Area”; or</para>
      <para num="(4)">involve an expenditure for improvements to the property equal to or greater than 50% of the assessed value of the property, as recorded in the State Department of Assessment and Taxation’s database.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(j)" heading="Water-dependent facilities.">
      <para num="(1)" heading="In general.">“Water-dependent facilities” means land uses or structures that:<para num="(i)">are associated with industrial, maritime, recreational, educational, or fisheries activities;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">require a location within the Buffer near the shoreline; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">are dependent on the water by reason of the intrinsic nature of their operation.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)" heading="Inclusions.">“Water-dependent facilities” include:<para num="(i)">ports;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">intake and outfall structures of power plants;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">industries that withdraw water from surface waters regulated by this State, requiring a Water Appropriation and Use Permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">marinas and other boat-docking structures;</para>
        <para num="(v)">public beaches and water-oriented recreation areas; and</para>
        <para num="(vi)">fisheries.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(3)" heading="Exclusions.">“Water-dependent facilities” does not include private piers that are installed and maintained by riparian landowners and are not part of a subdivision that provides community piers.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 16-581</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 20-374</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 20-464</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
