Critical Area Reviews and Permit Approvals
For project seeking Critical Area approvals, the following materials must be submitted. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
1. Existing Conditions
Two copies of the existing conditions plan, showing the boundaries of the Critical Area, Critical Area buffer, and or DHPAs on site (if applicable), Critical Area site area tabulations, the extent of any existing development, all existing trees, and the sizes of any existing trees to be removed on site or within the right-of-way.
2. Proposed Site Plan
Electronic copies of the proposed site plan (use the Site Plan Review Committee Requirements), including the extent and total area of proposed disturbance in the Critical Area and buffer, and the locations and types of any proposed stormwater best management practices.
3. Landscape Plan
Electronic copies of the proposed landscape plan, including calculations for any required afforestation, mitigation for tree removal, or buffer mitigation, locations and labels of proposed plantings, and a plant list that includes quantities, species, and sizes of proposed landscaping. See the 2020 CAMP manual for afforestation and tree removal mitigation requirements. See the 2020 CAMP Manual for buffer mitigation requirements. Appropriate planting details must be included with the landscape plans. A copy of the CAMP Program Certification and Landscape Maintenance Agreement, which can be found in the CAMP Manual, must be copied onto the landscape plan and signed with the permit set.
4. Nutrient Reduction Calculations
Electronic copies of the Critical Area Commission’s nutrient reduction spreadsheet showing the proposed pollution reduction method(s); also include the nutrient reduction spreadsheet with submissions to DPW for stormwater and sediment and erosion.
5. Habitat Protection Assessment
Electronic copies of the Habitat Protection Assessment and the “Habitat Assessment Field Form” if there will be any encroachment in a Designated Habitat Protection Area. You must request these forms from the Planning Department.
Once the Department of Planning receives the complete submission, it is reviewed and a copy is sent to the Critical Area Commission in Annapolis as required by the Critical Area Act. The Department of Public Works will review the applicant’s runoff pollution reduction requirements and the proposed best management practices. Determinations of afforestation, mitigation, and all additional requirements are the responsibility of the Department of Planning. Once all these agencies have specified if the project meets the requirements, and any fee-in-lieu payments (if required) have been made, the Department of Planning will sign off on the building permit application.