This half-day workshop is designed for citizens, new Critical Area property owners, realtors, and contractors who want to learn the basics of the Critical Area Program and how it applies to where they live, work, and play. Training will be presented by Critical Area Commission staff and will include a brief history of the program and how it is implemented as a partnership between state and local governments.
Development within the Critical Area and the various requirements in each land classification—Resource Conservation Area (RCA), Limited Development Area (LDA), and Intensely Developed Area (IDA)—will be covered in some detail. Topics to be discussed include regulations for building in the RCA, LDA, and IDA; the importance and functions of the Critical Area Buffer; the types of Buffer Management Plans and how they are used; and different types of shore erosion control measures and how the permit process is handled jointly by Maryland Department of the Environment, Corps of Engineers, and local governments.
