<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-101" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Acquisition and Disposition of Property"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “property” includes:</text> <level label="1"> <text>land;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>structures;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>buildings;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>streambeds;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>waterways;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>water rights;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>watersheds;</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>water systems and parts of water systems; and</text> </level> <level label="9"> <text>wastewater systems and parts of wastewater systems.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Commission may acquire property for the construction, extension, maintenance, or operation of a project the Commission considers:</text> <level label="1"> <text>necessary to carry out this division; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>in furtherance of this division.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If the Commission decides to acquire property within or outside the sanitary district in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, the Commission may acquire the property:</text> <level label="1"> <text>in fee; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>as an easement.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>If the Commission fails to agree on the terms of acquisition with the owner of any property, the Commission may condemn the property by filing a petition for condemnation in the circuit court for the county in which the property is situated, as provided for condemnation of land under the Real Property Article.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Commission may condemn the interest of any tenant, lessee, or other person having an interest in property that the Commission decides to acquire.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-102" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Acquisition and Disposition of Property"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, land used for cemetery purposes may not be condemned unless the Commission adopts a resolution declaring that it is necessary for the public health and safety to acquire the cemetery land, or an easement in the land, immediately by condemnation.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A resolution under this subsection may only be adopted on the affirmative vote of a majority of the commissioners from the county where the cemetery land is located.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The Commission may condemn public or private land used for cemetery purposes, or an easement in the land, without adopting a resolution in accordance with subsection (a) of this section if the land or easement is for the purpose of installing sewer lines or water lines.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Sewer lines or water lines installed on property condemned under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be constructed underground and enclosed.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The land or easement to be acquired may not disturb:</text> <level label="1"> <text>any existing grave, grave marker, or monument; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any grave site:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the title to which has been transferred as a result of a bona fide sale or exchange; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>in which burial rights have vested or been transferred as a result of a bona fide sale or exchange.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-103" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Acquisition and Disposition of Property"> <text>If the Commission does not consider the property necessary for the operation of its water, sewer, or stormwater management systems, the Commission may sell, lease, transfer, convey, or dispose of any of its real or personal property on terms and conditions that the Commission considers advantageous.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-104" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Acquisition and Disposition of Property"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“High performance building” means a building that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>meets or exceeds the current version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System Silver rating; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>achieves at least a comparable numeric rating according to a nationally recognized, accepted, and appropriate numeric sustainable development rating system, guideline, or standard approved by the Secretary of Budget and Management and the Secretary of General Services.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Major renovation” means the renovation of a building where:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the building shell is to be reused for the new construction;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the heating, ventilating, and air–conditioning (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing systems are to be replaced; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the scope of the renovation is 7,500 square feet or greater.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>It is the intent of the General Assembly that, to the extent practicable:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the Commission shall employ green building technologies when constructing or renovating a Commission–owned building not subject to this section; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>high performance buildings shall meet the criteria and standards established under the “High Efficiency Green Building Program” adopted by the Maryland Green Building Council.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, if a capital project includes the construction or major renovation of a building that is 7,500 square feet or greater, the building shall be constructed or renovated to be a high performance building.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The following types of unoccupied buildings are not required to be constructed or renovated to be high performance buildings:</text> <level label="1"> <text>warehouse and storage facilities;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>garages;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>maintenance facilities;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>transmitter buildings;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>pumping stations; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>other similar types of buildings, as determined by the Commission.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The Commission may request from the county where the proposed capital project is located a waiver from complying with subsection (c) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>On receipt of a written request of a waiver under this subsection, with approval of the county executive, the county council of the county where the proposed capital project is located may issue a waiver under this subsection if the county council determines that the use of a high performance building in a proposed capital project is not practicable.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-201" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <text>In this subtitle, “water supply, sanitary sewer, or stormwater management project” includes a:</text> <level label="1"> <text>water main, sewer, or drain or appurtenance of a water main, sewer, or drain;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>fire hydrant;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>reservoir;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>water purification plant;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>tank;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>pumping station; and</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>sewage disposal plant.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-202" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <text>The purpose of this subtitle is to provide that in emergencies the Commission, in its discretion, may condemn land or interest in land under the optional procedure provided by this subtitle before or after construction of a water supply, sanitary sewer, or stormwater management system, or part of a system, has begun.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-203" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <text>This subtitle applies only to land in Prince George’s County.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-204" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to subsection (b) of this section and §§ 21–205 and 21–206(a) of this subtitle, the Commission may enter on and take possession of remaining land or interest in land described in item (2) of this subsection and proceed with the extension or construction of a water supply, sanitary sewer, or stormwater management project if the Commission:</text> <level label="1"> <text>has acquired or is acquiring by purchase or other procedure, including the condemnation procedures provided for in the Real Property Article and Subtitle 1 of this title, at least one–half of the takings of land or interest in land required for the extension or construction of the project; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>determines that the remaining takings of land or interest in land are needed for the extension or construction of the project.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A building may not be taken under this subtitle.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-205" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The Commission’s right to enter and take possession of land or an interest in land under this subtitle takes effect immediately after the filing of a written declaration of taking in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, accompanied by payment of the estimated fair market value of the land or interest in land, as required under § 21–206(a) of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A declaration of taking may be:</text> <level label="i"> <text>combined with a petition for condemnation, filed simultaneously with or as part of the same pleading; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>filed after a petition for condemnation.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A declaration of taking shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>include a statement as to the number of takings in land or interest in land necessary for the extension or construction of the water supply, sanitary sewer, or stormwater management project;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>include a statement that the Commission has acquired or is acquiring by purchase or procedures other than the declaration of taking method at least one–half of the takings needed for the extension or construction of the project;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>contain a description of the land or interest in land being taken;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>name the Commission as plaintiff and the owner of the land or interest in land as defendant;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>be docketed by the clerk of the circuit court, unless the petition for condemnation is on file or filed simultaneously with the declaration of taking; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>identify the qualified appraiser and specify the estimated fair market value of the land or interest in land being taken, as required by § 21–206(a) of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Notice of and service on the property owner of a declaration of taking shall be accomplished in the same manner as is required for petitions for condemnation.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>If the Commission files the declaration of taking accompanied by the payment of the estimated fair market value required under § 21–206(a) of this subtitle, the date of filing shall be the operative date of the taking to determine:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the fair market value of the land or interest in land taken; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>damages, if any, caused by the taking.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-206" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>With the declaration of taking, the Commission shall pay to the owner of the land or interest in land, or to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County for the owner’s benefit, a sum that the Commission estimates to be the fair market value of the land or interest in land being taken.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Commission’s estimate of the fair market value of the land or interest in land being taken may not be less than its appraised value as evaluated by at least one experienced and qualified appraiser, whose qualifications as an appraiser have been accepted by a court of record of the State.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Payment of the estimated fair market value of land or interest in land under this section does not limit the amount that may be awarded with respect to the land or interest in land.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If the estimated fair market value of the land or interest in land is paid into the court under subsection (a) of this section, the property owner, on written request to the clerk of the court, may receive the sum paid without prejudice to any of the owner’s rights if the property owner agrees to pay back to the Commission the amount by which the sum paid exceeds the final award.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-207" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Prince George's County Quick Take"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>If the Commission and the owner of the land or interest in land being taken are unable to agree as to the compensation and damages, if any, caused by the taking, the Commission shall institute condemnation proceedings in the manner required by the Real Property Article and the Maryland Rules.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The court shall hear and determine the condemnation proceedings as soon as practicable after the application to the court.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If the condemnation petition is not filed at the same time as the Commission pays the estimated fair market value to the owner or to the court for the owner’s benefit, the Commission shall file the condemnation petition not later than 30 days after receipt of notice from the property owner that a disagreement exists as to the compensation and damages, if any, caused by the taking.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-301" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Zoning and Land Use Matters"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>“District council” has the meaning stated in § 14–101 of the Land Use Article.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>“District council” includes a designee or hearing officer appointed by the district council.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Regional district” has the meaning stated in § 14–101 of the Land Use Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>An application for amendment to the zoning map of the regional district may be referred by the respective district council to the Commission for the Commission’s review and comment.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The Commission shall review each application referred to it and shall report in writing on each application to the appropriate district council not less than 15 days before the regularly scheduled public hearing on the application.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The report shall include an analysis of the probable impact on existing and proposed sewer, water, or other Commission facilities in terms of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>treatment facilities;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>sewer lines of both program and less–than–program size;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>their respective design capacity and present volume flow to capacity relationship;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>construction schedules; and</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>proposed projects under the 6–year capital improvements program or 10–year water and sewer plan.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>With respect to an application referred to the Commission under subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall provide supplemental information requested by the district council at least 15 days before the regularly scheduled public hearing on the application or within 15 days after the Commission receives the request, whichever is later.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>On request of the district council, Commission staff shall appear before the district council to discuss information provided by the Commission under this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-401" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Urban Renewal Projects"> <text>In this subtitle, “urban renewal authority”:</text> <level label="1"> <text>means a unit of government that is engaged in urban renewal activity; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the State;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Montgomery County;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Prince George’s County; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>any unit of government in Montgomery County or Prince George’s County.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-402" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Urban Renewal Projects"> <text>If the Commission is paid or assured payment by an urban renewal authority for the Commission’s costs and expenditures in accordance with this subtitle, the Commission may cooperate with and assist the urban renewal authority in an urban renewal project undertaken by the urban renewal authority by abandoning, relocating, installing, constructing, or reconstructing water or sanitary sewer facilities in the urban renewal area.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="21-403" title_number="21" title_name="Property and Land Use Matters" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Urban Renewal Projects"> <level label="a"> <text>If an urban renewal project or an act of the General Assembly that provides for an urban renewal program requires or results in the abandonment, relocation, realignment, raising, lowering, rebuilding, or removal of any water or sanitary sewer facility of the Commission, the urban renewal authority shall pay to the Commission the entire cost less any salvage value from the old facility.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>An urban renewal authority may not allow any Commission structure to be removed, abandoned, or damaged in connection with an urban renewal project until:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the urban renewal authority has paid the Commission; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>payment to the Commission has been assured to the Commission’s satisfaction, in accordance with this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If an urban renewal project requires the construction of a new water or sanitary sewer facility by the Commission, the Commission may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>construct the facility if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the costs of the construction will be repaid through existing provisions for special assessments, including front foot benefit charges; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the payment is made or assured by the urban renewal authority; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>enter into agreements with an urban renewal authority providing for payment to the Commission over a period of time, with the terms of the contract and rate of interest determined by the Commission.</text> </level> </level> </section>