HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PLANNING

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors manages the affairs of the Economic Development Authority and exercises all its corporate powers.

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Board consists of thirteen members (County Code, sec. 26.102).

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ZONING

Matters relating to planning and zoning are governed by both State and County laws. The Maryland Forest Conservation Act, for example, requires all county governments to adopt local forest conservation programs (Chapter 255, Acts of 1991; Code Natural Resources Article, secs. 5-1601 through 5-1613).

George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland, October 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD
The Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board advises the County Council on the establishment of agricultural districts and the approval of purchases of easements within the County by the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation.

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the five members of the Advisory Board serve five-year terms (Code Agriculture Article, sec. 2-504.1; County Code, secs. 15.500 through 15.521).

DESIGN ADVISORY PANEL

GENERAL PLAN TASK FORCE

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
The Historic Preservation Commission advises the County Executive on the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of structures and sites that represent or reflect elements of the County's cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history. The Commission also maintains and updates the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties for Howard County; and reviews all petitions for designation to the Howard County Register of Historic Places and submits recommendations to the County Council.

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Commission consists of seven members (Code Land Use Article, secs. 8-101 through 8-501; County Code, secs. 16.600 through 16.612).

PLANNING BOARD
To the County Council and the Zoning Board, the Planning Board makes recommendations relating to the planning and zoning of the County, the adoption and amendment of regulations regarding the planning and zoning of the County, and amendments to the zoning map or zoning regulations.

Each year, the Planning Board reviews the proposed capital program and any new or substantially changed capital project. It prepares comments and recommendations on the impact of the proposed capital program on the County general plan and the growth of the County and submits these comments and recommendations to the County Executive, with a copy to the County Council.

The Board consists of five members appointed to five-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304; County Code, sec. 16.900).

SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
A soil conservation district constitutes a political subdivision of the State, and a public body corporate and politic, excercising public powers. The District's Board of Supervisors conducts surveys, investigations, and research relating to the character of soil erosion. Within the District, the Board carries out preventive and control measures, including engineering operations, cultivation methods, the growing of vegetation, changes in land use, and other measures.

The Soil Conservation District Board of Supervisors consists six members who serve five-year terms. Five members are appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee, and one is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Agriculture Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-312).

ZONING BOARD
The Zoning Board 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.

The Board is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (Code Land Use Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-406; County Code, secs. 16.200 through 16.308).

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