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Practice Of Real EstateState SpecificHARD

A property owner in Anne Arundel County wants to add a 500-square-foot addition to her home located within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The local jurisdiction's Critical Area program limits total impervious surface coverage on her lot to 15% of the lot area. Her lot is 10,000 square feet, and the existing impervious surfaces already cover 1,400 square feet. The proposed addition would add 500 square feet of impervious surface. Which of the following is the most accurate statement about whether the addition can be approved without a variance?

Correct Answer

A) The addition cannot be approved without a variance because the total impervious coverage after construction would be 19%, exceeding the 15% limit.

The lot is 10,000 square feet, so the 15% impervious surface limit allows a maximum of 1,500 square feet of impervious coverage (10,000 × 0.15 = 1,500 sq ft). The existing impervious surfaces are 1,400 square feet. Adding the proposed 500-square-foot addition would bring the total to 1,900 square feet, which equals 19% of the lot area (1,900 ÷ 10,000 = 0.19). This exceeds the 15% cap by 400 square feet. Without a variance from the local jurisdiction, the addition cannot be approved under the Critical Area program's impervious surface standards.

Answer Options
A
The addition cannot be approved without a variance because the total impervious coverage after construction would be 19%, exceeding the 15% limit.
B
The addition can be approved because the total impervious coverage after construction would be 19%, which is within the 15% limit.
C
The addition cannot be approved because any new construction within the Critical Area requires a state-level permit from the Critical Area Commission.
D
The addition can be approved because the Critical Area Act does not regulate additions to existing residential structures.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

chesapeake_baycritical_areaimpervious_surfacesvariancelot_coverageanne_arundel_countycomplex_reasoning

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