§ 32-4-103. PURPOSES OF THE TITLE.

(a)

In general. This title is adopted for the following purposes:

(1)

To protect and provide for the public health, safety, and general welfare of the county;

(2)

To implement the future growth and development of the county in accordance with the Master Plan;

(3)

To provide for adequate light, air, and privacy;

(4)

To secure safety from fire, flood, and other danger;

(5)

To prevent overcrowding of land;

(6)

To protect the viability of the county's existing communities by ensuring that new development and redevelopment is compatible with the neighborhood and minimizes adverse environmental, traffic, and economic impacts on the surrounding community;

(7)

To preserve and protect existing business and industry and provide a system of regulatory controls on development that will foster the growth of business, employment, and the economic tax base of the county;

(8)

To provide adequate and efficient transportation, water, sewerage, drainage, schools, parks, street lights and sidewalks, open space tracts, playgrounds, and other recreation facilities and other public requirements and facilities;

(9)

To provide the most beneficial relationships between the uses of land and buildings and the circulation of traffic throughout the county, having particular regard for:

(i)

The avoidance of congestion in the streets and highways;

(ii)

The provisions of access for firefighting and other emergency equipment; and

(iii)

The pedestrian traffic movement appropriate to the various uses;

(10)

To provide for the proper location and width of streets and building lines;

(11)

To establish reasonable guidelines, standards of design, and procedures for development, in order to:

(i)

Further the orderly and beneficial layout and use of land; and

(ii)

Ensure that the same standards are applied to all applicants and developments;

(12)

To ensure proper descriptions of property boundaries;

(13)

To encourage the wise use and management of natural resources throughout the county in order to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the community and the value of property;

(14)

To preserve the natural beauty and topography of the county and ensure appropriate development with regard to these natural features;

(15)

To provide for open spaces in order to:

(i)

Offer recreational opportunities close to home;

(ii)

Enhance the appearance of neighborhoods through the preservation of natural green spaces;

(iii)

Counteract the effects of urban congestion; and

(iv)

Encourage participation by all age groups in the use and care of local open space tracts;

(16)

To ensure an adequate supply of land suitable for development; and

(17)

To simplify and clarify the development review and approval process.

(b)

Fulfillment of development policies and purposes. Compliance with this title and the Comprehensive Manual of Development Policies fulfills the development policies and purposes set forth in § 32-4-102 of this subtitle and subsection (a) of this section, respectively.

(1988 Code, § 26-167) (Bill No. 1, 1992, § 2, 3-2-1992; Bill No. 79-01, § 2, 7-1-2004)