Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Town of Smithsburg, MD
Washington County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. Words in the present tense include the future, the singular number includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular. The word "shall" is mandatory, and the word "may" is permissive. The words "used for" shall include "arranged for," "designed for," "intended for," "maintained for," "constructed for" or "occupied for." The word "individual" shall mean a natural person, joint venture, joint-stock company, partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability partnership, limited-liability limited partnership, association, club, company, corporation, limited-liability company, real estate investment trust, business trust or similar legal entity or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them. The word "land" shall include water surface and land under water. The term "chapter" shall refer to this chapter and all subsequent additions or amendments thereto.
B. 
A developer shall not avoid the intent of this chapter by submitting piecemeal applications for preliminary plats or site plans. However, a developer may seek approval of only a portion of the subdivision or development, provided that the impact from all previously approved preliminaries or site plans from that development shall be considered during the adequate public facilities review of each subsequent portion of the development.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
Those facilities relating to roads, sewage disposal systems, schools, water supply and distribution systems, and interim fire-protection systems meeting established minimum standards.
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
A parcel of land that has been determined by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation as having an agricultural use assessment or a parcel of land that is primarily involved in a bona fide and continuing agricultural activity, such as the raising of farm products for use or sale, including animal or poultry husbandry, and the growing of crops such as grain, vegetables, fruit, grass for pasture or sod, trees, shrubs, flowers and similar products of the soil.
BACKGROUND ENROLLMENT GROWTH
The average annual impact of equated student enrollment changes during the preceding three years in the school attendance areas serving the proposed development as determined in § 300-21 with appropriate adjustments made in the determination by the Board of Education to eliminate student enrollment changes caused solely by school redistricting.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (BOARD)
The legislative body of Washington County, Maryland.
BOARD OF EDUCATION (BOE)
The elected Board of Education of Washington County.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The Comprehensive Plan of the Town.
COUNTY
Washington County, Maryland.
COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The Washington County Health and Human Services Department.
DEVELOPER
Any individual commencing proceedings under this chapter to effect a subdivision or development of land for himself or for another.
EXTRAORDINARY HARDSHIP
A condition that exists when strict compliance with this chapter would result in an unusually and extraordinarily severe financial economic impact on the owner or developer.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER
Father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, brother, sister, stepson, stepdaughter, or grandchild.
IMPROVEMENTS
Storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water supply lines, roads, curbs, gutters, gaslines, electricity lines, waterlines, septic tanks, wells, walks, and other accessory works and appurtenances, dwellings, farm buildings, and other principal or accessory structures.
LOT
A parcel of real property marked by the developer as a numbered, lettered or otherwise identified tract to be utilized as a unit of land intended for building development or a lot or parcel described by metes and bounds, the description of which has been recorded among the land records of Washington County, Maryland, after any necessary subdivision approvals.
MINOR SUBDIVISION
The division of a lot, tract or parcel into five or fewer lots for the immediate or future transfer of property ownership.
NEW DEVELOPMENT
Consists of new subdivisions and site plans for new construction received for approval by the Planning Commission after the effective date of this chapter. "New development" also consists of construction activity requiring a building and/or zoning permit but does not consist of construction activity for agricultural purposes, provided that, after said development, the parcel does not lose the agricultural use assessment classification as determined by the Department of Assessments and Taxation.
ORIGINAL TRACT OF LAND
A parcel of real estate unsubdivided as of the date of adoption of this chapter.
PLANNING COMMISSION (COMMISSION)
The Town's Planning Commission.
PLAT
A map, plan, chart or drawing indicating the subdivision or resubdivision of land filed or intended to be filed for the record.
REMAINING LANDS
The residual portion or tract of land which remains after lots or parcels have been subdivided from the original tract of land.
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Any lot, building or portion thereof used exclusively for dwelling units, including accessory uses, and other uses of a residential nature for the individuals residing in said dwelling units.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A land area designated, dedicated, or reserved for use as a highway, street, alley, interior walk, or for a drainage channel or other public use.
ROAD
A public right-of-way intended for vehicular traffic, including freeways, expressways, arterials, parkways, thoroughfares, collector streets, local streets, culs-de-sac, marginal access streets, avenues, boulevards, lanes and other public ways, and as now or hereafter or otherwise designated.
SIMPLIFIED PLAT
A map, plan, chart or drawing indicating the proposed subdivision or resubdivision of land filed or intended to be filed with the Planning Commission and where the intent of the subdivider is neither to develop the land nor to divide land containing existing development.
SITE PLAN
A drawing that shows all of the existing conditions of a specified area (the site) and all of the improvements and changes proposed to be made on the site. A site plan is the drawing required by the Zoning Ordinance for all new development and certain additions and must contain all applicable information as specified in the Zoning Ordinance.
STATE-RATED CAPACITY
Refers to the capacity of each school as determined by the State of Maryland. Portable classrooms shall not be used in computing the school capacity for the purposes of this chapter.
SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
Chapter 335, Subdivision of Land, of this Code and all subsequent additions or amendments thereto.
TOWN
The Maryland municipal corporation known as the "Town of Smithsburg."
TOWN ENGINEER
The duly designated Engineer of or for the Town.
ZONING ORDINANCE
Chapter 405, Zoning, of this Code and all subsequent additions or amendments thereto.