Part III. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Designation Criteria
9VAC25-830-70. Purpose.
The criteria in this part provide direction for local government designation of the ecological and geographic extent of Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas are divided into Resource Protection Areas and Resource Management Areas that are subject to the criteria in Part IV (9VAC25-830-120 et seq.) and the requirements in Part V (9VAC25-830-160 et seq.) of this chapter. In addition, the criteria in this part provide guidance for local government identification of areas suitable for redevelopment that are subject to the redevelopment criteria in Part IV of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15:69 and 62.1-44.15:72 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 4VAC50-90-70 and 9VAC10-20-70 derived from VR173-02-01 § 3.1, eff. September 1, 1989; amended Virginia Register Volume 6, Issue 1, eff. October 1, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 5, eff. December 9, 1991; Volume 7, Issue 24, eff. October 1, 1991; Volume 18, Issue 9, eff. March 1, 2002; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 4, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 2, eff. October 23, 2013.
9VAC25-830-80. Resource Protection Areas.
A. At a minimum, Resource Protection Areas shall consist of lands adjacent to water bodies with perennial flow that have an intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform or are sensitive to impacts which may cause significant degradation to the quality of state waters. In their natural condition, these lands provide for the removal, reduction or assimilation of sediments, nutrients and potentially harmful or toxic substances in runoff entering the bay and its tributaries, and minimize the adverse effects of human activities on state waters and aquatic resources.
B. The Resource Protection Area shall include:
1. Tidal wetlands;
2. Nontidal wetlands connected by surface flow and contiguous to tidal wetlands or water bodies with perennial flow;
3. Tidal shores; and
4. Such other lands considered by the local government to meet the provisions of subsection A of this section and to be necessary to protect the quality of state waters.
5. A buffer area not less than 100 feet in width located adjacent to and landward of the components listed in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this subsection, and along both sides of any water body with perennial flow. The full buffer area shall be designated as the landward component of the Resource Protection Area notwithstanding the presence of permitted uses, encroachments, and permitted vegetation clearing in compliance with Part IV (9VAC25-830-120 et seq.) of this chapter.
C. Designation of the components listed in subdivisions 1 through 4 of subsection B of this section shall not be subject to modification unless based on reliable, site-specific information as provided for in 9VAC25-830-110 and subdivision 6 of 9VAC25-830-140.
D. For the purpose of generally determining whether water bodies have perennial flow, local governments may use one of the following methods as long as the methodology is adopted into the local program and applied consistently: (i) designation of water bodies depicted as perennial on the most recent U.S. Geological Survey 7-1/2 minute topographic quadrangle map (scale 1:24,000) or (ii) use of a scientifically valid system of in-field indicators of perennial flow. However, site-specific determinations shall be made or confirmed by the local government pursuant to 9VAC25-830-110.
E. A locality is not required to designate a Resource Protection Area adjacent to a daylighted stream. However, a locality that elects not to designate a Resource Protection Area adjacent to a daylighted stream shall use a water quality assessment as identified in subdivision 6 of 9VAC25-830-140 to ensure that proposed development on properties adjacent to the daylighted stream do not result in the degradation of the stream. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that practices on properties adjacent to daylighted streams are effective in retarding runoff, preventing erosion, and filtering nonpoint source pollution.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15:69 and 62.1-44.15:72 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 4VAC50-90-80 and 9VAC10-20-80 derived from VR173-02-01 § 3.2, eff. September 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 6, Issue 1, eff. October 1, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 5, eff. December 9, 1991; Volume 7, Issue 24, eff. October 1, 1991; Volume 18, Issue 9, eff. March 1, 2002; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 4, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 2, eff. October 23, 2013; amended, Virginia Register Volume 31, Issue 24, eff. August 26, 2015.
9VAC25-830-90. Resource Management Areas.
A. Resource Management Areas shall include land types that, if improperly used or developed, have a potential for causing significant water quality degradation or for diminishing the functional value of the Resource Protection Area.
B. A Resource Management Area shall be provided contiguous to the entire inland boundary of the Resource Protection Area. The following land categories shall be considered for inclusion in the Resource Management Area and, where mapping resources indicate the presence of these land types contiguous to the Resource Protection Area, should be included in designations of Resource Management Areas:
1. Floodplains;
2. Highly erodible soils, including steep slopes;
3. Highly permeable soils;
4. Nontidal wetlands not included in the Resource Protection Area; and
5. Such other lands considered by the local government to meet the provisions of subsection A of this section and to be necessary to protect the quality of state waters.
C. Resource Management Areas shall encompass a land area large enough to provide significant water quality protection through the employment of the criteria in Part IV (9VAC25-830-120 et seq.) and the requirements in Parts II (9VAC25-830-50 et seq.) and V (9VAC25-830-160 et seq.) of this chapter.
1. Local governments with few or no Resource Management Area land types evident from available mapping resources should evaluate the relationships of the following land categories to water quality protection in making their Resource Management Area designations. The department will consider the degree to which these land categories are included when evaluating the consistency of a locality's Resource Management Area designation for achievement of significant water quality protection:
a. Known Resource Management Area land types;
b. Developable land within the jurisdiction;
c. Areas targeted for redevelopment; and
d. Areas served by piped or channelized stormwater drainage systems which provide no treatment of stormwater discharges.
2. Localities with no mapping resources or with mapping resources for only portions of their jurisdiction should evaluate the relationships of the following land categories to water quality protection in making their Resource Management Area designations. The department will consider the degree to which these land categories are included when evaluating the consistency of a local government's Resource Management Area designation for achievement of significant water quality protection. Furthermore, such designations may be considered an interim designation until such time as appropriate mapping resources become available if such resources are considered by the department to be useful in determining the Resource Management Area boundaries, in which case the department will reevaluate the interim Resource Management Area designations at a later date:
a. Known Resource Management Area land types;
b. Developable land within the jurisdiction;
c. Areas targeted for redevelopment; and
d. Areas served by piped or channelized stormwater drainage systems which provide no treatment of stormwater discharges.
3. Local governments should consider extending the Resource Management Area boundary to the remainder of the lot, parcel, or development project upon which Resource Management Area-type features are present.
4. Local governments shall demonstrate how significant water quality protection will be achieved within designated Resource Management Areas, as well as by each local program as a whole, and to explain the rationale for excluding eligible Resource Management Area components that are not designated.
5. It is not the intent of the board, nor is it the intent of the Act or this chapter, to require that local governments designate all lands within their jurisdiction as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. It is also not the intent of the board to discourage or preclude jurisdiction-wide designations of Resource Management Areas when the local government considers such designations appropriate, recognizing that greater water quality protection will result from more expansive implementation of the performance criteria. The extent of the Resource Management Area designation should always be based on the prevalence and relation of Resource Management Area land types and other appropriate land areas to water quality protection.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15:69 and 62.1-44.15:72 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 4VAC50-90-90 and 9VAC10-20-90 derived from VR173-02-01 § 3.3, eff. September 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 6, Issue 1, eff. October 1, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 5, eff. December 9, 1991; Volume 7, Issue 24, eff. October 1, 1991; Volume 18, Issue 9, eff. March 1, 2002; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 4, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 2, eff. October 23, 2013; Volume 38, Issue 25, eff. August 31, 2022.
9VAC25-830-100. Intensely Developed Areas.
A. At their option, local governments may designate Intensely Developed Areas as an overlay of Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas within their jurisdictions. For the purposes of this chapter, Intensely Developed Areas shall serve as redevelopment areas in which development is concentrated as of the local program adoption date. Areas so designated shall comply with the performance criteria for redevelopment in Part IV (9VAC25-830-120 et seq.) of this chapter.
B. Local governments exercising this option shall examine the pattern of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional development within Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. Areas of existing development and infill sites where little of the natural environment remains may be designated as Intensely Developed Areas provided at least one of the following conditions existed at the time the local program was originally adopted:
1. Development has severely altered the natural state of the area such that it has more than 50% impervious surface;
2. Public sewer and water systems, or a constructed stormwater drainage system, or both, have been constructed and served the area by the original local program adoption date. This condition does not include areas planned for public sewer and water or constructed stormwater drainage systems; or
3. Housing density is equal to or greater than four dwelling units per acre.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15:69 and 62.1-44.15:72 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 4VAC50-90-100 and 9VAC10-20-100 derived from VR173-02-01 § 3.4, eff. September 1, 1989; amended, Virginia Register Volume 6, Issue 1, eff. October 1, 1989; Volume 7, Issue 5, eff. December 9, 1991; Volume 7, Issue 24, eff. October 1, 1991; Volume 18, Issue 9, eff. March 1, 2002; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 4, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 2, eff. October 23, 2013.
9VAC25-830-110. Site-specific refinement of Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area boundaries.
Local governments shall, as part of their plan of development review process pursuant to subdivision 1 e of 9VAC25-830-240 or during their review of a water quality impact assessment pursuant to subdivision 6 of 9VAC25-830-140, ensure or confirm that (i) a reliable, site-specific evaluation is conducted to determine whether water bodies on or adjacent to the development site have perennial flow and (ii) Resource Protection Area boundaries are adjusted, as necessary, on the site, based on this evaluation of the site. Local governments may accomplish this by either conducting the site evaluations themselves or requiring the person applying to use or develop the site to conduct the evaluation and submit the required information for review.
Statutory Authority
§§ 62.1-44.15:69 and 62.1-44.15:72 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 4VAC50-90-110 and 9VAC10-20-105 derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 9, eff. March 1, 2002; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 4, eff. November 21, 2012; amended and renumbered, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 2, eff. October 23, 2013.