(a)      In this article the following words have the meanings indicated, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise.

      (b)      "Adaptive reuse" means a change granted by a local legislative body, under § 4.05 of this article, to the use restrictions in a zoning classification, as those restrictions are applied to a particular improved property.

      (c)      "Development" means any activity, other than normal agricultural activity, which materially affects the existing condition or use of any land or structure.

      (d)      "Development rights and responsibilities agreement" means an agreement made between a governmental body of a jurisdiction and a person having a legal or equitable interest in real property for the purpose of establishing conditions under which development may proceed for a specified time.

      (e)      (1)      "Local executive" means the chief executive of a political subdivision.

            (2)      "Local executive" includes:

                  (i)      A county executive;

                  (ii)      A board of county commissioners;

                  (iii)      An executive head; or

                  (iv)      A mayor.

      (f)      (1)      "Local legislative body" means the elected body of a political subdivision.

            (2)      "Local legislative body" includes:

                  (i)      A board of county commissioners;

                  (ii)      A county council; or

                  (iii)      A governing body of a municipal corporation.

      (g)      "Local jurisdiction" means a county or municipal corporation and the territory within which its powers may be exercised.

      (h)      (1)      "Plan" means the policies, statements, goals, and interrelated plans for private and public land use, transportation, and community facilities documented in texts and maps which constitute the guide for the area's future development.

            (2)      "Plan" includes a general plan, master plan, comprehensive plan, or community plan adopted in accordance with §§ 3.01 through 3.09 of this article.

      (i)      "Regulation" means any rule of general applicability and future effect, including any map or plan.

      (j)      "Sensitive areas" includes:

            (1)      Streams and their buffers;

            (2)      100-year flood plains;

            (3)      Habitats of threatened and endangered species;

            (4)      Steep slopes; and

            (5)      Other areas in need of special protection, as determined in the plan.

      (k)      "Special exception" means a grant of a specific use that would not be appropriate generally or without restriction and shall be based upon a finding that certain conditions governing special exceptions as detailed in the zoning ordinance exist, that the use conforms to the plan and is compatible with the existing neighborhood.

      (l)      (1)      "Subdivision" means the division of a lot, tract, or parcel of land into two or more lots, plats, sites, or other divisions of land for the immediate or future purposes of selling the land or of building development.

            (2)      (i)      "Subdivision" includes resubdivision.

                  (ii)      As appropriate to the context, "subdivision" may include either the process of resubdividing or the land or territory resubdivided.

      (m)      "Variance" means a modification only of density, bulk, or area requirements in the zoning ordinance that is:

            (1)      Not contrary to the public interest; and

            (2)      Specified by the local governing body in a zoning ordinance to avoid a literal enforcement of the ordinance that, because of conditions peculiar to the property and not any action taken by the applicant, would result in unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty.