Formerly under the Department, the Office of Economic Development, the Permits and Inspections Division, and the Planning and Land Management Division were reconstituted as separate departments in March 2015 (County Code, Chapters 150-161).
Today, four boards assist the Department: the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board, the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Advisory Group, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The five members of the Advisory Board are appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Code, Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1).
MARCELLUS SHALE NATURAL GAS ADVISORY GROUP
PLANNING COMMISSION
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board of Zoning Appeals consists of five members who serve three-year terms (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406; County Code, secs. 157.001 through 157.193).
DEPARTMENT OF PERMITS & INSPECTIONS
The Department of Permits and Inspections formerly was the Permits and Inspections Division under the Department of Planning and Community Development. In March 2015, the Division became the Department of Permits and Inspections.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND LAND MANAGEMENT
The Department of Planning and Land Management started as the Department of Planning and Land Development, and reorganized as the Planning and Community Development Division under the Department of Planning and Community Development in February 2014. The Division further reformed as the Department of Planning and Land Management in March 2015.
AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD
The Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board advises the Board of County Commissioners on the establishment of agricultural districts and the approval of purchases of easements within the County by the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.
The Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Advisory Group was authorized by the Board of County Commissioners in March 2015.
The Planning Commission consists of seven members and two alternates appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304; County Code, sec. 32.15).
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
The Board of Zoning Appeals hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is any error in any zoning order, requirement, decision, or determination. It also interprets district boundaries on official zoning maps. Upon appeal, in specific cases, the Board may authorize such variances as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty.
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