Minor Buffer Management Plan

THE TOWN OF CENTREVILLE 101 LAWYERS ROW CENTREVILLE, MD 21617

410-758-1180 FAX 410-758-4741 WWW.TOWNOFCENTREVILLE.ORG

TOWN OF CENTREVILLE

Minor Buffer Management Plan Less Than 5,000 S.F.

This form should be completed by the property owner or responsible party for any disturbance of natural vegetation, new development or redevelopment that increases lot coverage within the Critical Area. Once completed and approved, this form will constitute your Buffer Management Plan and will provide our office with an official record of your proposed impact and the way in which you plan to offset that impact. (i.e.:

mitigation) Please contact the Town Office at 410-758-1180 for any assistance in completing this form.

Buffer Management Plan: A plan is required at the time of permit application for disturbance within the Critical Area Buffer less than 5,000 square feet of disturbance. The Critical Area Buffer is a minimum 100-feet and must be expanded for contiguous nontidal wetlands, hydric soils, steep slopes, and/or highly erodible soils.

A licensed professional shall be required for over 5,000 square feet of disturbance.

Buffer Establishment: A plan is required at the time of permit application, when development or redevelopment activity occurs on a lot or parcel that includes a buffer to tidal waters, a tidal wetland, or a tributary stream and that development or redevelopment activity is located outside the Critical Area Buffer and/or the Buffer is not fully forested or established in woody or wetland vegetation. Buffer Establishment

cannot exceed 5,000 square feet with this form. A licensed professional shall be required for over 5,000 square feet of disturbance.

A Minor Buffer Management Plan shall include:

1. A plan that shows the proposed limit of disturbance (a minimum ten-foot area around construction), the

total number and size of trees to be removed, if applicable, and the arrangement of the planting to be done; the plan should also show the location of the Critical Area Buffer on the lot.

2. A landscape schedule that shows the proposed species type, the quantity of plants, the size of plants to

be installed, and the planting date.

3. A maintenance plan for the control of invasive species, pests, and predation that shows invasive species

and pest control practices, the provision of at least 2 years of monitoring, and a reinforcement planting provision if survival rates fall below the standards.

4. An inspection agreement that grants permission to the local jurisdiction to inspect the plantings at

appropriate times.

PART 1 PROPERTY BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Date:

Property Owner: Phone No.

Mailing Address:

Project Address (if different):

Owner’s Email:

Tax Map: Grid: Parcel: Lot: Subdivision:

Critical Area Designation:  RCA  LDA  IDA Page | 2

MINOR BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLAN

PART 2 PROPOSED DISTURBANCE(S)

Please check the purpose(s) for your proposed disturbance(s) to the Buffer:

 New development/redevelopment (i.e. new building, addition to home, replacement of structures) Please include associated permit/variance #: .

 REQUIRED Buffer Establishment for new subdivision.

 Other (please explain):

PART 3 MITIGATION RATIOS

Different types of Buffer disturbance will require different mitigation ratios. The purpose of the mitigation is to improve the Buffer functions where possible. The table below provides the mitigation ratio for different types of Buffer disturbance. Please note: mitigation ratios are cumulative.

ACTIVITY MITIGATION RATIO

Development or redevelopment of water-dependent facilities 2:1 Variance 3:1 Violations (a $500 fine shall also be assessed) 4:1 Mitigation Ratio = from table above

STEP 1 CALCULATION OF MITIGATION FOR MINOR BUFFER DISTURBANCE

Permanent Buffer disturbance X mitigation ratio from table above = square feet

– AND–

Area of canopy removed = _____(square feet)

PART 4 MINOR BUFFER ESTABLISHMENT

At the time of application, if the buffer is not fully forested or is not fully established in woody or wetland vegetation, an applicant shall establish the buffer to the extent required in the following table:

Lot Created Before Local Lot Created After Local Development Category Program Adoption Program Adoption Establish the buffer based on New development on a vacant lot total lot coverage outside the Fully establish the buffer Buffer New subdivision or new lot Fully establish the buffer Page | 3

MINOR BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLAN

New lot with an existing dwelling Establish the buffer based on total lot coverage outside the Buffer unit Conversion of a land use on a parcel Fully establish the buffer or lot to another land use Establish the buffer based on net increase in lot coverage outside the Addition or accessory structure Buffer Substantial alteration Establish the buffer based on total lot coverage outside the Buffer Are there any special plat notes or restrictions concerning your Buffer (ex. Wetlands, habitat protection areas,

BEA, conservation easements?  Yes  No If yes, please explain:

STEP 2 MITIGATION FOR BUFFER ESTABLISHMENT

Lot coverage outside the Buffer = square feet

OR

Area of Buffer to be established (when full establishment required) = __________square feet

PART 5 HOW TO CONVERT SQUARE FEET TO NUMBER OF TREES

A local jurisdiction shall apply the following planting credits for the type and size of the vegetation proposed:

Minimum Size Eligible for Maximum Credit Maximum % of Vegetation Type # of Plants Credit Allowed (sq. ft.) Credit Canopy Tree 2-inch caliper and 8-feet high 200 N/A Canopy Tree 1-inch caliper and 6-feet high 100 N/A Understory Tree 1-inch caliper and 6-feet high 75 N/A Large Shrub 1 gallon and 4-feet high 50 30 Small Shrub 1 gallon and 18-inches high 25 20 Herbaceous 1 quart 2 10 perennial* Planting Cluster 1* 1 canopy tree; and 3 large 300 N/A

shrubs or 6 small shrubs of sized listed above Planting Cluster 2* 2 understory trees; and 3 large 350 N/A shrubs or 6 small shrubs of sizes listed above Page | 4

MINOR BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLAN

STEP 3 TOTAL PLANTINGS REQUIRED AND SPACING

Number of Buffer Mitigation Plants = Number of Buffer Establishment Plants = Number of Trees to be Replaced = These options are available only for buffer establishment and buffer mitigation of less than 1 acre.

Recommended spacing for canopy trees is 20 feet on center, for understory trees 10 feet on center, and for shrubs 5 feet on center.

PART 6 FEE IN LIEU

The current rate for fee in lieu is $1.50 per square foot of Buffer mitigation required as calculated above.

Buffer mitigation required (sf) X $1.50 = Amount to be paid $

BUFFER PLANTINGS LOCATION

All mitigation shall be located within the Critical Area. The plantings should be located according to the following order of preference:

1. On-site: Within the 100’ Buffer (required first mitigation area).

2. On-site: Immediately adjacent to existing Buffer

3. On-site: Elsewhere in Critical Area (outside buffer)

4. A local jurisdiction may authorize off-site planting in the buffer if this option is part of a local

Critical Area program approved by the Commission or the subject of a written agreement between the local jurisdiction and the Commission.

5. All plantings must be native to Maryland’s Coastal Plain.

JUSTIFICATION:

Please provide a brief explanation of your proposed project in the space below:

{Examples: (1) 600 square feet partially cleared for shore access, canopy will be maintained, and disturbance will be limited to three (3) saplings and several shrubs; the path will consist of wood chips. (2) Removal of 3,000 square foot area of poison ivy along shore access pathway; method of removal includes digging and chemical spraying of individual plants with an approved herbicide; any resulting bare areas will be mulched to

prevent soil erosion; no removal of trees or shrubs. (3) 700 square feet of Buffer disturbance on a BEA for an attached addition to a single-family house; no removal of trees or shrubs}. (For trees within the Critical Area Buffer) Page | 5

MINOR BUFFER MANAGEMENT PLAN

SCHEMATIC DRAWING

Please attach a schematic drawing to scale identifying areas of impact to the Buffer, including specific trees or shrubs if possible, and the proposed location for replanting within the Buffer. Show the location of the Critical Area Buffer. Indicate on the drawing the specific types of vegetation which will be removed and the specific types and amount of vegetation which will be used for mitigation. Pictures or photos of existing conditions are

accepted.

CERTIFICATION

I certify these statements to be true and accurate and that any trees to be removed are on my property. I hereby grant Town of Centreville officials’ permission to enter my property for inspections of this Buffer Management Plan.

Applicant Signature: Date:

I will notify the Town of Centreville officials immediately following the Buffer plantings to verify compliance with this Buffer Management Plan. Buffer plantings must take place within days of the approval of this Plan.

Applicant Signature: Date:

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

APPROVAL INFORMATION:

This Buffer Management Plan is approved as of Expiration Date:

Signature of Authorized Town of Centreville Official: Date:

Printed Name:

INSPECTION RECORD:

Signature of Authorized Town of Centreville Official:

Date:

Signature of Authorized Town of Centreville Official:

Date:

NOTES: