Smart Growth Models and Guidelines for Managing Maryland's Growth

Preparing a Sensitive Areas Element for the Comprehensive Plan

This report suggests a method for local jurisdictions to prepare the Sensitive Areas Element of their comprehensive plans. The publication covers four environmentally sensitive areas that require protection under the 1992 Planning Act: streams and their buffers, 100-year floodplains, habitats of threatened and endangered species, and steep slopes. The booklet's purposes are to demonstrate how a Sensitive Areas element can be developed, to provide examples of environmental protection policies and regulations, and to define a work program for local governments seeking basic technical assistance.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter One: The Act

  • Statutory Framework
  • Sensitive Areas and Comprehensively Planned Growth
  • Principles for Protection
Chapter Two: Preparing the Plan Element
  • Background Information
  • Goals, Objectives, Policies Element
  • Sensitive Areas Element
  • Other Plan Elements
  • Implementation
Chapter Three: Technical Guidelines
  • Introduction
  • Section One: Streams and Their Buffers
  • Section Two: 100-Year Floodplains
  • Section Three: Habitats of Threatened and Endangered Species
  • Section Four: Steep Slopes
  • Section Five: Model Legislative Findings

Published: May 1993