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DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING
CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE GUIDE
SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR
COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS
REVISED MAY 2006
This guide applies to Category I and Category II Site Plan Applications for the following uses, where permitted by the Zoning Ordinance:
- Commercial uses and conversion from residential to commercial
- Uses that are accessory to commercial uses if the current use will be intensified or the traffic pattern will be altered
- Industrial uses
- Institutional uses and public facilities
- Places of worship
- Places of public assembly
- Day Care Centers with 20 or more clients
- Marinas
- Multi-family dwellings (3 or more units)
- Single-family attached dwellings (3 or more units). Exception: Pilot program for workforce housing in the Rural Community District (See Section 3-1.03 of the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance).
- Accessory apartments over a business
- Manufactured Home Communities
Category I Site Plans are reviewed by the Planning Commission and include the following:
- Attached residential dwelling development of three or more units and manufactured home communities.
- Institutional, local governmental, commercial, and industrial development are also Category I site plans if any of the following criteria are met:
- The cumulative square footage of any new non-residential construction (new buildings and additions to existing buildings) is more than 5,000 sq. ft; or
- The vehicular traffic within an existing development project will be altered; or
- The proposed development includes an automobile filling and/or service station, car wash, fast food restaurant, bank or any use involving a drive-through/drive-up service.Category II Site Plans are reviewed by the Director of Planning & Zoning and include all other site plans that do not meet the criteria for Category I Site Plans (above).
All site plans are subject to review by other agencies.
PLOT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS
Commercial Plot Plan Review facilitates minor commercial accessory uses, minor remodeling without additions, and farm buildings. See separate Customer Assistance Guide for Non-Residential Plot Plan applications.
SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS
STEP 1: Review the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance (available from the P&Z Dept., in the public library, or on-line by clicking here).
- Refer to Article 3 for the "Land Uses by Zoning District." Approval from the Board of Appeals (zoning), in the form of a Special Exception or a Variance, may be necessary before Site Plan approval is granted.
- Refer to Article 4, Development Submittal Requirements for details regarding the review process.
- Refer to Article 6, Non-Residential Development Requirements for regulations such as setbacks, landscaping and screening, height limits, parking, outdoor lighting, signs, and architectural review of properties outside the Town Centers.
- Refer to Article 8, Environmental Requirements if the property is in the Critical Area or contains wetlands, steep slopes, etc.
- Refer to specific Town Center Ordinances, which take precedence over the County Zoning Ordinance, for setbacks and requirements for architectural review of structures and signs. Signs require a separate permit application.
STEP 2: Submit a Concept Review Application to the Technical Evaluation Group through the Department of Planning & Zoning. Application and checklist available from Planning & Zoning.
- Category I Site Plans must receive Concept Review before a complete application is submitted. See Concept Application & Checklist for instructions.
- Category II Site Plans have optional concept review or direct submission of formal site plan review application.
STEP 3: Submit Site Plan Application to the Technical Evaluation Group through the Department of Planning & Zoning. Obtain an application package with checklists; follow instructions for waiver requests.
- All site plan application submissions must be by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call 410-535-1600 x2378. See application calendar (attached) for submission dates. Note the four-week review time.
PLAN PREPARATION
Site Plans shall be prepared and certified by an engineer, architect, landscape architect or land surveyor duly registered to practice in the State of Maryland.
Exception to professional seal for Minor Commercial Uses: A scale drawing may be accepted which provides the location, boundaries, dimensions, use of existing structures, roads, driveways, access, etc. for which site plan approval is requested. Applicants may purchase topography from the County Technology Services Dept. to use as a basis for their scale drawing. To order, contact the GIS Coordinator at (410) 535-1600 ext. 2307. If a record plat is required, the plat must be prepared under a professional seal according to the Subdivision Regulations (Sections 7-1.07.B.7, 7-1.07.C.4, and 7-1.09.B.2).
(See instructions below Step 8 regarding building architectural construction drawings - Calvert County Fire Prevention Requirements and MD State law requirements for designer's seal).
SUBMITTAL PACKAGE CHECKLIST: To be completed by the applicant or the applicant's agent and submitted with individual complete packages for distribution.
DESIGN CHECKLIST: To be signed by the plan preparer and submitted with the application.
STEP 4: Apply separately to the following agencies for processes beyond the scope of review by the Technical Evaluation Group: Environmental Health Department, State Highway Access Permit Office, Engineering Bureau (for road construction plan review and Public Works Agreement processing), Water & Sewerage Division (for Public Works Agreement processing), State Fire Marshal, and State and Federal wetland permits. Note: The Department of Planning & Zoning has separate processes which may need to be followed and which may include: architectural reviews, subdivision record plat review, and inventory of archaeological features (may be requested for properties in the Town Centers).
STEP 5: Receive Technical Evaluation Group comments and revise site plans as necessary. Procedure: Technical Evaluation Group meets on the fourth Wednesday to receive new applications and to complete their initial four-week review of current applications. A package of agencies' review comments is provided after four (4) weeks to the applicant by Planning & Zoning. Revisions are submitted through the Planning & Zoning Department.
STEP 6: (Does not apply to Category II Site Plans.) Category I Application is placed on the Planning Commission Agenda. Procedure: Site plan applications meeting the criteria of Category I are presented to the Planning Commission by Planning & Zoning staff at their evening meeting held on the third Wednesday of the month. The applicant or agent must attend. The Planning Commission grants conditional approval and directs staff to grant final approval when all conditions (if any) have been addressed. Applicant is notified in writing of Planning Commission action.
STEP 7: Obtain final signatures on site plan original. Procedure: Present site plan to Planning & Zoning for signatures by the following agencies: Planning & Zoning, County Engineer, Water & Sewerage, Health Dept, Fire/Rescue, and Soil Conservation. Note: First and last signatures must be Planning & Zoning. Some agencies require paper copies at this time.
STEP 8: Provide mylar reproduction set and paper copies for distribution by Planning & Zoning.
STEP 9: Apply to Inspections & Permits Division for grading and building permits.
- Application numbers (AP#) are assigned by Inspections & Permits when the application is accepted. The status of the application can then be checked on-line at: www.co.cal.md.us/permlkups/default.aspx
(a) See required "Checklist for Permit Application Package". This checklist is provided by the Planning and Zoning Dept. with final site plan approval.
(b) See "Calvert County Fire Prevention Requirements for Permit Applications"
(c) DESIGNER'S SEAL: Maryland Dept of Labor, Licensing & Regulation - General Information: 410-230-6001, www.dllr.state.md.us Occupational & Professional Licensing Information: 410-230-6220
Commercial/Public Use: Maryland law requires the seal of an architect on the original plans for construction, alteration or repair of any building for public use, defined in the law as any place of assembly, employment, health care, education, business or occupancy by the public. An engineer's seal is sufficient, and an architect's seal is not required, on plans for commercial buildings that are not for public use.
Residential/Private Use: Neither an architect's nor an engineer's seal is required on original plans or on subsequent plans for repair or alteration of one or two-family dwellings and farm buildings; or on plans for residential buildings intended for the personal use of the customer or a member of the customer's immediate family.
Multi-family: Plans for three or more attached residential units require the seal of an architect.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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Planning & Zoning
150 Main Street Room 304
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Fax: 410-414-3092
See list of contacts below for Phone #'s
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Inspections & Permits
150 Main Street Room 201
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-2155
Fax: 410-535-2129
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Soil Conservation
P.O. Box 657
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-1521 x3
Fax: 410-535-0591
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Health Dept.-Environmental Health
150 Main Street, Suite 100
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
410-535-3922
Fax: 410-535-5252
Well & septic system, commercial kitchen,
food & drink
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Fire Marshal
Southern Regional Office
200 Duke Street
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
443-550-6820
Fax: 443-550-6822
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State Highway Access Permits
707 N. Calvert Street
Room C302
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-545-5582 or
800-876-4742
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County Planning & Zoning Department Contacts:
Planner I-Site Plans 410-535-1600 x2378, Submission and process
Public Advocate 410-535-1600 x2642, Status of projects and information tracking
Principal Planner 410-535-1600 x2339, Site design review, Planning Commission
Planning Commission Administrator 410-535-1600 x2636
Environmental Planner 410-535-1600 x2501, Forest Conservation, Critical Area, etc.
Historic Preservation Specialist 410-535-1600 x2504, Archaeology and Historic District Commission
County Public Works Department Contacts: (County Services Plaza, 150 Main Street, Suite 202)
Engineering Bureau 410-535-2204 (stormwater management, grading, and County roads access, Critical Area review in Intensely Developed Areas, Site Plan Completion review and bonding)
Public Works 410-535-1600 x2568 (traffic impact analysis)
Water & Sewerage Division 410-535-1600 x2329
Public Safety Department Contacts: (Courthouse, 175 Main Street)
Fire/Rescue/EMS Division 410-535-1600 x2406, Fire lane and water supply for fire prevention.
Economic Development Contacts: (Courthouse Square, 205 Duke Street)
410-535-4583 or 1-800-331-9771
Handicapped Accessible Requirements:
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
111 18th Street, NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20036
1-800/USA-ABLE www.ada.gov
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