§ 1A09.1. Findings and legislative goals.

A.

Findings.

1.

Master Plan 2010, adopted by the County Council in February 2000, identifies specific resource preservation areas where valuable cultural, historic, recreational and environmental resources are located and should be protected for the health of the local community and the community at large.

2.

While the resource preservation areas identified in the Master Plan are predominantly in the rural part of Baltimore County, there are certain areas of environmental significance that are located throughout Baltimore County that require protection.

3.

An R.C.8 Zone allows limited development, compatible with the rural and urban community, and at the same time protects environmental resources.

4.

The County recognizes the importance of retaining certain areas for environmental protection.

B.

Legislative goals. The Baltimore County Council seeks to achieve the following goals in the R.C.8 Zone:

1.

To preserve and protect total ecosystem function, including riparian and aquatic ecosystems;

2.

To protect forests, streams, wetlands and floodplains;

3.

To protect the water quality of reservoirs, watercourses, the Chesapeake Bay and regional biodiversity;

4.

To respect historic sites in their settings;

5.

To provide a quality recreational experience to visitors;

6.

To protect remaining prime and productive soils, environmental resources in areas not currently protected by the R.C.2 or the R.C.7 Zone;

7.

To maintain the unique character of certain rural and urban areas by preserving its natural, environmental, historic, cultural, recreational, scenic, architectural and archaeological resources not protected by the R.C.7 Zone;

8.

To provide for the environmentally sound use of land and forest resources, and to prevent forest fragmentation, especially in areas of extensive interior forest;

9.

To implement state and federal mandates for the protection of natural resources and rural legacy;

10.

To enhance local character and environmental protection by locating buildings in harmony with site conditions;

11.

To preserve the traditional character of communities by limiting the scale and intensity of development;

12.

To maintain the scale and character of area roads by limiting growth in the volume of traffic generated by local development.