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Worcester County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Subtitle ZS4

I Overlay Zones

§ ZS 4-101 Purpose; effect; procedure.

(a) 
Purpose. It is the legislative intent of the County Commissioners to provide for overlay zones for specific properties for specific periods of time by which they may commit to maintain certain zoning classifications and text requirements of the Worcester County Zoning and Subdivision Control Article.
(b) 
Effect of overlay zone. Pursuant to a resolution, the County Commissioners may establish an overlay zone to:
(1) 
Commit to zoning classifications that will not be changed and shall remain as enacted at the time of such resolution.
(2) 
Commit to zoning regulations in the text of the Worcester County Zoning Ordinance and subdivision regulations in the text of the Worcester County Subdivision Regulations in effect as of the time of the resolution.
(3) 
Commit to density in effect as of the time of the resolution that will not be changed.
(c) 
Procedure. An overlay zone shall be established pursuant to negotiation between the County Commissioners with the consultation of the Planning Commission and the developer. Formal requirements shall be as follows:
(1) 
A resolution shall be adopted by the County Commissioners, at any regular session of the County Commissioners, establishing the overlay zone.
(2) 
Prior to the establishment of an overlay zone by resolution, the County Commissioners shall hold at least one public hearing, upon the giving of notice in accordance with § ZS 1-114 hereof.
(3) 
Changes in zoning classifications, zoning regulations or subdivision regulations shall not affect the area of the overlay zone during that time period established by the resolution.
(4) 
The developer may, at the developer's expense, record a plat showing the overlay zone, as well as the text of the overlay zone resolution, among the land records of the County.
(5) 
Applicants for the overlay zones shall provide the County Commissioners and the Planning Commission with such information, data, drawings and plats as may be reasonably required.