Board adopts housekeeping amendments to Chesapeake Bay preservation ordinance (Ord. 2604)

Public works staff presented housekeeping amendments to Ordinance 2604, the county's Chesapeake Bay preservation ordinance, to align local definitions with state guidance and to remove unused or conflicting terms.

Staff explained the primary change clarified use of diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) rather than nursery "caliper" measurements for mature-tree determinations and removed two unused definitions that were mistakenly carried over from DEQ model language. The revisions also incorporate 2021 state regulatory amendments and updates to cross-referenced erosion and stormwater-management rules. Staff said the public hearing in July produced one supportive comment and no opposition.

The board voted to adopt the ordinance amendments by voice vote. Staff thanked the board for additional review during prior meetings and said they will publish the revised ordinance text in the county code.