Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Commission consists of at least nine members who serve two-year terms (County Code, sec. 3-501 through 3-506).
Under the Department of Land and Resource Management are three bureaus: Comprehensive Planning, Development Review, and Resource Management. Also under the Department's purview is the Agricultural Land Preservation Program. The Department is aided by the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board, the Agricultural Reconciliation Committee, the Environmental Advisory Council, and the Historic Preservation Commission.
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; Code of Ordinances, sec. 73-1 through 73-3).
AGRICULTURAL RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE
Composed of five members, the Committee is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (County Code, sec. 173-4).
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
With County environmental staff, the Council researches and reviews issues of environmental concern and assists the Board of County Commissioners to protect the County's environmental heritage, conserve its natural resources, and restore environmentally degraded areas. The Council also serves as the County Tree Commission (Code of Ordinances, secs. 16-1 through 16-3).
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
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).
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
The Economic Development Commission investigates and assembles information pertinent to the economic resources and industrial opportunities of the County; and encourages the location of new industrial enterprises and the expansions of present enterprises in the County. The Commission encourages the development of recreational areas and tourist business in the County, and promotes public awareness of the County's historical background and progress.
DEPARTMENT OF LAND & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The functions of the Department of Land and Resource Management originated with the Department of Land Use, Planning, and Development, which reformed in June 2015 into two agencies: the Department of Planning, and then the Department of Land and Resource Management.
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 Agricultural Reconciliation Committee arbitrates and mediates disputes involving agricultural operations conducted on agricultural lands. The Committee issues opinions on whether such operations conform with generally accepted agricultural management practices.
The Environmental Advisory Council was created by the Board of County Commissioners as the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board in February 1993 (Resolution 269-93). It reformed as the Environmental Advisory Council in July 2004 (Code of Ordinances, sec. 04-20).
Appointed to three-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners, five members make up the Commission. An alternate member also is appointed to a one-year term (Code Land Use Article, secs. 8-101 through 8-501).
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
In Carroll County, functions of the Department of Planning formerly were the responsibility of the Department of Land Use, Planning, and Development. In June 2015, when the Department of Land Use, Planning, and Development reorganized into two agencies, the Department of Planning was established.
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
The Planning and Zoning Commission consists of seven members and one alternate appointed to five-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Code Land Use Article, secs. 2-101 through 3-304).
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