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<section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="1-414" title_number="1" title_name="Definitions; General Provisions" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Home Rule Counties">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In addition to implementing the planning principle in § 1–201(b)(8) of this title, the ecology element shall address:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the protection of the environment and natural resources, including agricultural resources, mineral resources, and water and air quality;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the protection of significant architectural, scenic, cultural, historical, or archaeological resources;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the conservation, use, and protection of natural resources;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>the preservation and enhancement of prime agricultural land and strategies to encourage the compatibility of land use with agricultural and forestry operations;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>the protection of a reliable supply of water and its uses and limitations;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>preventing the degradation of the above resources due to future development patterns proposed in the land element;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>greenhouse gas emissions from any additional vehicle miles traveled likely to result from future development patterns proposed in the land element;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>sensitive areas in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>water resources in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The ecology element shall be informed by the following State plans:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Maryland’s Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, as described in § 2–1205 of the Environment Article;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, as described in § 5–906 of the Natural Resources Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, as required under the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department of Planning shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>provide a charter county with the best available population, demographic, economic development, and housing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other standard sources; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>facilitate, to the extent possible, the provision of data relevant to the preparation of the ecology element from other State and federal agencies.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The ecology element may include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an inventory of natural, historical, and environmentally sensitive resources;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>an evaluation of the issues, problems, and opportunities associated with these resources; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>strategies and policies for the appropriate use, preservation, and protection of these resources that are consistent with the strategies and policies established for other plan elements.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The ecology element shall include a sensitive areas subelement in accordance with this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The sensitive areas subelement shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>include goals, objectives, principles, policies, and standards designed to protect sensitive areas from the adverse effects of development;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>be informed by current State and federal requirements regarding the protection of sensitive areas; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>indicate what additional measures, if any, the charter county proposes to implement beyond the requirements described in item (ii) of this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A charter county shall consider wildlife movement and habitat connectivity when enacting, adopting, amending, or executing a plan in accordance with § 1–405 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Department of Natural Resources shall provide a charter county with a statewide forest resource inventory at least every 5 years, to be available for the local comprehensive plan review by the charter county required under § 1–419(a) of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Department of Planning shall coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and the State Highway Administration to provide each charter county with updated information on habitat connectivity concerns and current and planned wildlife crossings.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Before the plan is adopted, the Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources shall review the sensitive areas subelement to determine whether the proposed plan is consistent with the programs and goals of the departments.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The ecology element shall include a water resources subelement in accordance with this subsection.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Considering available data provided by the Department of the Environment, the water resources subelement shall identify:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>drinking water and other water resources that will be adequate for the needs of existing and future development proposed in the land element of the plan; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>suitable receiving waters and land areas to meet stormwater management and wastewater treatment and disposal needs of existing and future development proposed in the land element of the plan.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department of the Environment shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>provide, on request of a charter county, technical assistance on the development of the water resources subelement; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>review the water resources subelement to determine whether the proposed plan is consistent with the programs and goals of the Department of the Environment reflected in the general water resources program required under § 5–203 of the Environment Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
