UPPER CHESAPEAKE
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Legislative and Regulatory Issues Impacting the counties in the Upper Chesapeake
July 2023
Harford County: Bill 23-005 Moratorium-Warehouse The bill creates a 90-day moratorium on the issuance of any approvals or permits for the development of any warehousing and wholesaling, processing, distribution and local delivery facilities on property zoned Village Business District - VB, General Business District - B3, Commercial Industrial District - CI, Light Industrial District - LI and General Industrial District - GI in Harford County. The stated purpose of the bill is for the county to study and reconsider zoning and development regulations with respect to the above facilities. The bill was amended in council to provide that the moratorium will not apply to projects that have already acquired a vested right to completing the project by completing significant construction. The moratorium will also not apply to projects where warehousing is a tertiary function of the project. MBIA advocated against this legislation. March 2023 Harford County: Bill 23-005 Moratorium-Warehouse County Executive Cassilly has requested that this bill be put before the county council. The bill will create a 6-month moratorium on the issuance of any approvals or permits for the development of any warehousing and wholesaling, processing, distribution and local delivery facilities on property zoned Village Business District - VB, General Business District - B3, Commercial Industrial District - CI, Light Industrial District - LI and General Industrial District - GI in Harford County. The stated purpose of the bill is for the county to study and reconsider zoning and development regulations with respect to the above facilities. MBIA will be advocating against the legislation JULY 2022 Harford County: Bills 2022 11-13 Harford county has introduced sweeping legislative changes to the requirements for development inside the critical overlay areas. The change mis introduced as a series of three Bills 22 11-13. The legislation introduces a slew of definition changes, expands the required buffer area for wetlands, changes when variances will be awarded, raises the fee-in-lieu for incomplete mitigation and introduces a 10% guidance rule for fee in lieu for water purification. MBIA will submit comments on the legislation to the Harford County Council. The next legislative session is scheduled for September 6th. The legislation appears to be in response to a state mandate. Legislation Under Consideration Bill 22-11 Updates, to Zoning Definitions Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program. The bill adds definitions to multiple different development terms and sets new mitigation requirements in the critical area overlay. Bill 22-12 -Bill 22-13 Makes several revisions to the current County Code regarding the Chesapeake Bay Critical Overlay Area. The bills amend the County Code and Master Plan, HarfordNEXT, to include the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program, critical area maps and manual as amended; and update the requirements for the development of land within the Critical Area. The changes must also be approved by the Maryland Critical Area Commission. JUNE 2022 Legislation Under Consideration Bill 22-11 Updates to Zoning Definitions Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program. The bill adds definitions to multiple different development terms and sets new mitigation requirements in the critical area overlay. Bill 22-12 -Bill 22-13 Makes several revisions to the current County Code regarding the Chesapeake Bay Critical Overlay Area. The bills amend the County Code and Master Plan, HarfordNEXT, to include the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Program, critical area maps and manual as amended; and update the requirements for the development of land within the Critical Area. The changes must also be approved by the Maryland Critical Area Commission. MAY 2022 Bill 22-003 Perryman Peninsula Moratorium This bill would establish a temporary moratorium on would establish a temporary moratorium on the approval of site plans and permits for the construction of new buildings on the Perryman peninsula. The bill would establish a 15-person study group to study the transportation issues in the area. The moratorium was adopted with the amendment proposed by MBIA to add a traffic expert to the panel. APRIL 2022 Bill 22-003 Perryman Peninsula Moratorium This bill would establish a temporary moratorium on would establish a temporary moratorium on the approval of site plans and permits for the construction of new buildings on the Perryman peninsula. The bill would establish a 15-person study group to study the transportation issues in the area. The group currently does not contain in its makeup a dedicated traffic expert. MBIA has submitted a letter requesting that a traffic expert be added to the study group. AUGUST 2021 Water Fee Legislation Resolution No. 41-2021 this measure would require that wastewater fees be completed at the time of issuance. JULY 2021 Legislation We are currently tracking the following legislation in Harford County. Updates will be made available as the come up. Bill No. 21-001 was adopted in Harford county. The bill made some definition changes to the term “Community Solar Energy Generating Systems” and put min place new restrictions on how they can be placed in residential and industrial structures and landscapes. The bill passed and is now in force. Resolution No. 009-21 This is the 2021 Spring update to the Master water and sewer plan. This bill has been adopted and entered into effect. JUNE 2021 Legislation We are currently tracking the following legislation in Harford County. Updates will be made available as the come up. Bill No. 21-001 was adopted in Harford county. The bill made some definition changes to the term “Community Solar Energy Generating Systems” and put in place new restrictions on how they can be placed in residential and industrial structures and landscapes. The bill remains under consideration. May 2021 Legislation We are currently tracking the following legislation in Harford County. Updates will be made available as the come up. Bill No. 21-001 was adopted in Harford county. The bill made some definition changes to the term “Community Solar Energy Generating Systems” and put in place new restrictions on how they can be placed in residential and industrial structures and landscapes. APRIL 2021
Legislation We are currently tracking the following legislation in Harford County. Updates will be made available as the come up.
Legislation
We are currently tracking the following legislation in Harford County. Updates will be made available as the come up. Resolution 6-21: Authorizing the filing of all grant applications with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development by Harford County, Maryland for grant assistance under any of its programs, and authorizing the receipt of these funds. Master Water & Sewer Plan Updates Resolution 19-20, the Fall 2020 update for the Master Water & Sewer Plan, was adopted on October 13. Master Water & Sewer Plan Updates
Resolution 19-20, the Fall 2020 update for the Master Water & Sewer Plan, will be heard on October 6.
Harford County Water & Sewer System Fees
Bills 20-002 and 20-003, which alter the water & sewer system fees, were heard on March 10. Bill 20‐002 reduces the annual increase in Connection Charges from 6.0% to 4.5%. Bill 20-003 increases the service charges for all customer types. Both were adopted on March 17, 2020. MARCH 2020
Harford County to adopt 2018 I-Codes and 2020 Electrical Code
On December 17th Harford County introduced the following bills:
http://hcgweb01.harfordcountymd.gov/legislation/ |