CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREA

Calvert County Critical Area Program

What You Need To Know:
ALL of Neeld Estate is in the Critical Area. . .   Every Property

A map, outlining the Critical Areas of Calvert County is posted in the Planning & Zoning Office in
Prince Frederick.
The Critical Area for Neeld Estate extends all the way to Tobacco Road. (Our community is surrounded by water)
This land is 'critical' because the health of the Bay, including the plant and animal life living in it is
impacted by what you do on your property.  

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What Activities Are Regulated in the Buffer?
* No cutting or clearing is allowed without a permit.
* No structure or building is allowed without a permit.
* Grading, adding fill material, or shore erosion control methods require permits.*
* Dead trees may be removed without a permit.
* Trees posing immediate threat to a structure may be removed without a permit, but with prior Planning
   & Zoning approval.
* The lower one-third of branches on mature trees may be pruned without a permit, but with prior Planning and 
  Zoning approval.
* Invasive vines may be removed without a permit, but with prior Planning & Zoning approval.
* Maintenance of existing lawns is permitted.
* Stiff penalties are imposed for unauthorized clearing in the buffer zone.

1. What is the Critical Area?
In 1984, the Maryland General Assembly resolved to reverse the deterioration of the Bay*s environment by enacting the Chesapeake Bay Protection Act. In 2002, the Act was amended to include the Atlantic Coastal Bays. The Act required the 16 counties, Baltimore City, and 44 municipalities surrounding the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays to implement a land use and resource management program designed to mitigate the damaging impact of water pollution and loss of natural habitat, while also accommodating the jurisdiction*s future growth. The Critical Area Act recognizes that the land immediately surrounding the Bays and their tributaries has the greatest potential to affect water quality and wildlife
habitat and thus designated all lands within 1,000 feet of tidal waters or adjacent tidal wetlands as the *Critical Area.

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2. Who and What does the Critical Area Act affect?
The Act affects all those who live or own property within 1,000 feet of tidal waters or tidal wetlands.
All development or use of land located within the Critical Area is affected in some way. Just because land is in the Critical Area however, does not mean it can*t be developed and used.

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3. What is the Critical Area Commission and how does it affect me?
The 29-member Critical Area Commission was created by the 1984 Chesapeake Bay Protection Act to design the Critical Area Criteria which are the basis of 63 local Critical Area Programs. The Commission reviews and approves local jurisdiction Critical Area Programs and amendments to those programs. *The Commission staff reviews and comments on subdivisions, site plans, variances and other local development proposals within the Critical Area. While a State agency, the Critical Area Commission reviews and comments on development proposals within the Critical Area. Each local jurisdiction maintains sovereignty in creating, adopting, and implementing its local program in accordance with the Commission*s Criteria.