Department Of Planning & Growth Management

THE POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT SHALL BE TO.....

.....Provide a comprehensive approach to the orderly planning and development of infrastructure within Charles County.

Goals...

A. Provide continuous evaluation of infrastructure needs and implement standards through updates to comprehensive plans, ordinances, policies, and procedures.

B. Maintain high standards of personnel efficiency and expertise to guarantee performance consistent with specialized obligations.

C. Develop and maintain a continuous program of education, promoting the most efficient use of the resources of the County pertaining to planning and growth management, the land necessary for roads, water and sewer, and facilities improvements, while emphasizing the socio-economic values of comprehensive land development and programming.

D. Improve recruitment and retention as another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.

.....Plan water supply and sewage disposal systems in a way consistent with the County master planning for the future land use and development.

Goals:

A. The overriding goal of the Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan is to implement the County Comprehensive Plan so that an ample supply of water may be collected, treated, and delivered to points of use; wastewater may be collected and delivered to points best suited for waste treatment and disposal or for water reuse.

B. To insure, through permitting and planning, that wastewater will receive adequate treatment before any discharge to State waters in compliance with applicable water quality standards and discharge permit conditions or disposed of to minimize adverse affects on legitimate water uses.

C. To improve the water quality of Charles County streams by identifying and seeking to reduce other sources of pollution.

D. To ensure a dependable supply of water for drinking, recreation, and stream augmentation for present and future generations.

E. To correct sanitary sewage and water supply problems in existing problem areas by identifying the best available and most economical water and sewer technologies and methods, whether community or individual in nature, in a manner which will protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

F. To promote the construction of new developments with publicly owned and operated community water and sewer systems in such a manner as to implement the County Comprehensive Plan and to avoid becoming an undue burden upon the financial resources of the County.

G. To plan and promote state-of-the-art sewerage sludge disposal in compliance with all Federal and State regulations and by soliciting maximum citizen input, while aggressively promoting recycling of resources whenever possible.

H. Improving recruitment and retention is another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.

.....Provide a safe efficient highway transportation system through highway master planning, and establishing and maintaining standards for highway improvements.

Goals:

A. Plan and secure all appropriate permits for new roads within the County road system.

B. Rectify safety problems as quickly as practical using the Capital Improvements Program, and access control improvements through the issuance of highway entrance permits and road ordinance administration.

C. Pursue major Capital Improvement Project activities to support road system improvements and increase the safety and capacity of our highways.

D. Continue delivery of the Capital Improvement programs on time and within budget while maintaining quality of the supervision of on-going projects.

E. Maximize production using existing manpower levels, consultants, and innovative techniques.

F. Minimize adverse social, economic, and ecological impacts associated with highway improvements.

G. Improve customer service and increase the Department's responsiveness to the citizens and elected officials by fostering a service orientation throughout the organization and making the public aware of that orientation.

H. Accommodate the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists in highway improvements.

I. Cooperate with the Towns and private sector in jointly participating in projects of mutual interest.

J. Improve staff development by expanding the Department's training program in combination with a management development program. Improved recruitment and retention is another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.

.....To plan and manage the orderly and efficient disposal of solid waste generated in Charles County in conjunction with the Comprehensive Land-Use Plan goals.

Goals:

A. The goal of County government concerning solid waste management is to control the pollution of air, land, and water resources to improve the quality of the environment, conserve natural resources, and to make the County a healthier, safer, and more pleasant place in which to live.

B. To maintain a solid waste management plan to ensure that adequate long-range planning is utilized to develop a comprehensive, economical, practical, and flexible plan which has been coordinated with all concerned agencies.

C. To develop and implement a program to address the roadside litter problem which exists in Charles County. This would be a joint effort between the Public Facilities and Planning and Growth Management departments.

D. To plan and promote state-of-the-art solid waste disposal in compliance with all Federal and State regulations and soliciting maximum citizen input, while aggressively promoting recycling of resources whenever possible.

E. Improving recruitment and retention is another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.

.....Provide for the safe construction of building improvements in the County and ensure a high quality of construction in the building industry of Charles County.

Goals:

A. To enforce all the provisions of the BOCA Basic Building Code and act on any question relative to the mode or manner of construction and materials to be used in the erection, addition to, alteration,repair, removal, demolition, installation of service equipment, and the location, use, and maintenance of all buildings and structures built throughout Charles County except in the Towns of La Plata and Indian Head, which have their own Inspection and Permits Departments.

B. To receive applications and issue permits for the erection and alteration of buildings and structures to ensure a high quality of construction and safe construction practices.

C. To inspect all permitted work associated with the erection and alterations of buildings and structures throughout the County to ensure compliance with applicable codes and insure quality of construction standards.

D. To continue to provide for a more efficient permitting process through specialized procedures to streamline the more typical projects such as garages, sheds, interior alterations, pools, woodstoves, barns, etc.

E. To coordinate with all agencies in the review process to provide better coordination of the regulation of the building industry.

F. Improving recruitment and retention is another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.

.....Provide adequate County facilities for the conduct of County business and maintain these facilities to a high standard as to represent the best image for the County government to our people and visitors.

Goals:

A. Participate in a variety of coordinating committees and planning efforts with other departments of the County.

B. Coordinate and represent Charles County in committee organizations, volunteer groups, and coordinating committees that are organized for the purpose of promoting improvement of the quality of life throughout Charles County.

C. Coordinate and represent the County on various committees associated with planned improvements and construction of future County facilities.

D. Improving recruitment and retention is another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.

.....Provide for adequate stormwater management facilities, water and sewer facilities, roads, grading and sediment control, through the implementation of ordinances and execution of plan review and inspections.

Goals:

A. To administer and enforce a stormwater management ordinance for the purpose of protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the public health, safety, and general welfare by establishing minimum requirements and procedures to control the adverse impacts associated with increased stormwater runoff.

B. To provide proper management of stormwater runoff to minimize the damage to public and private property, reduce the effects of development on land and stream channel erosion, assist in attainment of water quality standards, reduce local flooding, and maintain after the development, as nearly as possible, the pre-development runoff characteristics.

C. To administer and enforce a grading and sediment control ordinance to safeguard the natural resources of Charles County by establishing minimum requirements for stripping, excavating, and filling of land; for control of soil erosion and sediment; and to establish procedures by which these requirements are to be administered and enforced.

D. To administer and enforce a road ordinance to regulate the design, construction, improvement, maintenance and repair of roads within the unincorporated areas of Charles County, as required by the Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Ordinance.

E. Improving recruitment and retention is another area of emphasis in developing a top-flight staff.