Reference No. CB-046-2025    Draft No. 1
Type: Council Bill Status: To Committee
Meeting Body Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee
Meeting Date 4/29/2025
Introduced Date Public Hearing Date
Effective date:    
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING WOODLAND AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION for the purpose of exempting certain applications from the applicability of the woodland conservation ordinance; providing for a standard letter of exemption for certain properties; modifying the requirements for certain development review division applications; revising the allowable uses of the Woodland Conservation Fund; modifying the alternatives for meeting conservation requirements on-site; modifying the threshold for fee-in-lieu usage; providing for credit for afforestation projects; revising the rate for fee-in-lieu credits; revising certain definitions; and revising the applicability of the tree canopy coverage ordinance.
Proposers/Sponsors: Krystal Oriadha
Code sections: 25-118 - , 25-119 - , 25-120 - , 25-121 - , 25-122 - , 25-127 -
Attachments: 1. B2025046, 2. CB-046-2025 Summary
Contact: Eric Irving, Fiscal and Legislative Specialist
Title
AN ACT CONCERNING WOODLAND AND WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION for the purpose of exempting certain applications from the applicability of the woodland conservation ordinance; providing for a standard letter of exemption for certain properties; modifying the requirements for certain development review division applications; revising the allowable uses of the Woodland Conservation Fund; modifying the alternatives for meeting conservation requirements on-site; modifying the threshold for fee-in-lieu usage; providing for credit for afforestation projects; revising the rate for fee-in-lieu credits; revising certain definitions; and revising the applicability of the tree canopy coverage ordinance.

Background
In furtherance of its policy to conserve and protect trees, tree canopy and woodlands, Prince George’s County Government adopted the Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Ordinance (Subtitle 25, Division 2). This ordinance sets forth standards and procedures governing site planning techniques and construction practices in an effort to protect sensitive environmental features for County residents and future generations. Following the passage of updates to the State Forest Conservation Act, the County adopted CB-020-2024 and CB-77-2024.
This bill modifies the woodland conservation ordinance by exempting residential development applications which propose to disturb less than 20,000 square feet of woodlands and provides for a standard letter of exemption for those projects. This bill also clarifies the definition for transit-oriented projects to capture those projects near rail stations which are afforded higher residential density. Additionally, this bill changes the application process for using alternative methods to meeting conservation requirements, first by substituting a priority statement for the variance process as well as adjusting the applicable exhaustion criteria. The bill also returns the fee-in-lieu assessment rate to those used prior to CB...

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