CRITICAL AREA MITIGATION & PLANTING PLAN
The policies of the Dorchester County Critical Area Protection Program provide that forested
vegetation will be maintained and increased, forests and developed woodlands conserved,
and forested areas expanded. Tree removal associated with development activities will be
minimized, and mitigated where appropriate. Forests are a protected land use, and should be
managed so that maximum values for water quality, wildlife, timber, recreation, and other
resources can be maintained.
This form is used to calculate and document the amount of afforestation or mitigation
required to meet the policies of the Critical Area Protection Program. The property owner
and/or his agent must complete this plan and submit it to the Dorchester County Planning
and Zoning Office for approval prior to disturbance (if disturbance is more than ten trees or
1000 square feet, a Two-Year Planting Agreement may be required and recorded in the
Dorchester County Land Records). Once approved, this Plan becomes an official record that
tracks proposed forest clearing and/or tidewater buffer impacts, and the manner in which
they will be mitigated.
A. PROPERTY BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Property Owner __________________________________________________
Property Address _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Owner's Address (if different) ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Phone Number(s): Home ____________ Work ____________ Cell _______________
Email Address (optional) _____________________________________________
Tax Map# ____
Block ___
Critical Area Overlay:
B.
Parcel ____
RCA ___
LDA ___
Lot ___
Size _______
IDA ___
BEA ____
PROPOSED DISTURBANCES
____ New development/redevelopment in the 100' tidewater buffer/BEA
(new building, addition to home, replacement structure)
____ Shore erosion control: clearing or grading for access and construction
____ Single point of access to shoreline (walkway, boardwalk, pier)
____ Clearing of forest outside the tidewater buffer (new subdivision, additions, new
construction, site clearing, etc.)
____ Other (removal of invasive vegetation, dead and dying trees, rubble debris )
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
List any plat notes or covenant restrictions regarding Habitat Protection Areas, limits of
clearing, and/or conservation easements:
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Describe the proposed project, and address the square footage of any clearing, new
disturbances in the buffer, and/or afforestation requirements. For clearing and afforestation,
the amount of existing forest cover must be provided.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Justification for the disturbances: _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
How will the area be managed for the long-term? __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
C.
CALCULATION OF MITIGATION
Multiply the area of disturbance or the number of woody plants removed (trees and shrubs)
by the mitigation ratio that corresponds to the type of project. Using the following table,
insert the correct mitigation ratio.
Square feet of disturbance: _______________ # of Trees/shrubs removed: __________
Mitigation or Afforestation Requirement: ____________________ (Acres/square feet)
Total Planting Requirement: ____________________________
MITIGATION RATIOS and PLANTING REQUIREMENTS
Type of Disturbance or Clearing
Mitigation Ratio
Clearing in the Critical Area without approvals
(violations)
Clearing > 30% of existing forest cover
Clearing > 20% and < 30% of existing forest
cover
Clearing < 20% of existing forest cover
New development/redevelopment in the 100'
Buffer; Appeal case #
2
3:1
3:1
1.5 :1
1:1
3:1
Type of Disturbance or Clearing
New development/redevelopment in the 100'
tidewater buffer in a BEA. Approval date:
Access to the shoreline through the Buffer, e.g.
boardwalk, sidewalk, path; BP #
Clearing to access and install Shore Erosion
Control Measures. BP # ____________
Mitigation Ratio
2:1
2:1
1:1
15% Afforestation: Subdivision #: __________
or BP #: ______________
15% of parcel minus site's
existing forest cover
Afforestation to establish the Buffer:
Subdivision #: ______________
Or BP #: ______________
Size of 100' Buffer minus
existing woody vegetation in
the Buffer
Offsets for sites that exceed maximum
impervious surface limits
1:1 in addition to any other
mitigation required for the
same footprint
D.
PLANTING PLAN
Location, in order of priority (circle all that apply)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
On-site within the Buffer
On-site adjacent to the Buffer
On-site within the Critical Area
Off-site in the Critical Area. This option requires prior approval by this office.
Payment into a Fee-in-Lieu Fund. This option can only be used after all other
options have been fully explored. Documentation of alternatives attempted
must be provided.
Planting Units to Meet Planting Requirements
All planting specimens must be species native to the immediate vicinity surrounding the
project site. All plants must be spaced to allow them to reach their full overstory at maturity.
Select one or more of the following planting units that will meet the planting requirements.
Planting units must be planted in their entirety, even if the coverage exceeds the planting
requirement. Using a site plan, show the location where each planting unit will be installed.
Show the location of the 100' tidewater buffer line and 1,000' Critical Area boundary, if
relevant.
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Plant Types and Square Footage Values
*Note: all species must be native to the Coastal Plain of Maryland; complete species list is available on request
Overstory trees: 100 sf
 Examples: oak, maple, pine, poplar, alder, hickory, walnut, beech, pecan, gum,
cypress, elm, birch, ash, willow, and cherry
 Acceptable size: minimum 1.5" caliper above root collar, 6' tall, and “ball and burlap”
or 5 gallon container
Understory trees: 50 sf
 Examples: locust, persimmon, hackberry, mulberry, sassafras, pawpaw, holly, redbud,
cedar, serviceberry, hornbeam, and crabapple
 Acceptable size: minimum 2' tall and 3 gallon container (5 gallon encouraged)
Shrubs: 25 sf
 Examples: arrowwood, inkberry, viburnum, laurel, azalea, pepperbush, buttonbush,
plum, blueberry, sumac, waxmyrtle, bayberry, magnolia, dogwood, spicebush, witch
hazel, chokecherry, and winterberry
 Acceptable size: minimum 1 gallon container (3 gallon encouraged)
Example Planting Unit A: 100 sf
Overstory tree x 1
Example Planting Unit B: 400 sf
Overstory tree x 1
Shrubs x 4
Example Planting Unit C: 500 sf
Overstory tree x 1
Understory tree x 1
Shrubs x 4
Example Planting Unit E: 5000 sf
Overstory tree x 14
Understory tree x 10
Shrubs x 25
Example E layout (suggested)
O = Overstory tree
U = Understory tree
S = Shrub
O
S
S
S
O
S
S
S
U
O
S
U
S
O
O
S
U
S
O
U
S
4
S
U
O
S
U
S
O
O
S
U
S
O
U
S
S
U
O
S
U
S
O
O
S
S
S
O
S
S
Note: spacing of
plants allows for
protection of
understory trees
and development
of habitat
Provide a list of the planting units selected, and itemize the line item costs for each plant. If
the plantings are to be provided by a professional landscaper or nurseryman, a copy of the
estimate or purchase order must be provided. If the plantings are do-it-yourself, the cost of
labor is to be calculated at $12.00 per hour, with sweat equity based on 20 minutes planting
time per plant.
It is the applicants' responsibility to install the plantings in a manner that will ensure their
survival. Line item costs for mulch, fertilizer, and watering do not need to be provided unless
these services are provided by a professional nursery who guarantees their work. In such
cases, property owners are encouraged to negotiate a minimum two-year guarantee for
professional landscaping services. The Planting Agreement with Dorchester County will
require a two-year survival period.
I certify that these statements are true and accurate, and that the trees to be
removed for this project are on property I own. I hereby grant permission to
Dorchester County staff and officials to enter my property for inspections of this
Planting Plan.
I shall notify the Dorchester County Planning and Zoning Department within 48
hours of completion of the plantings. These plantings shall be installed in the first
growing season prior to construction of the project, or concurrent to the
conclusion of the project, but no later than one year from the date of this Plan
unless written approval is requested from the Department.
Applicant Signature _________________________________________________
Date _______________________
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
This Planting Plan has been reviewed and approved by Dorchester County
Planning and Zoning: ________________________________________
Date __________________________
Plantings completed on ______________________
Revised 2-22-2008
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