The Howard County Council has clarified the duties of an advisory group to review opportunities for residents to weigh in on development issues.
The council on Monday night passed an amended version of a bill, introduced by Councilwomen Mary Kay Sigaty, D-District 4, and Jen Terrasa, D-District 3, creating the task force.
Some residents were unclear on the scope of the task force, which would study public participation in the land-use process ? not ways to overhaul the process itself.
“It was confusing in the beginning,” said Council Chairwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1, adding the amendment narrows down what the task force would review.
The original bill was “so broad and so challenging a task, especially given the time frame,” said Councilman Calvin Ball, D-District 2, adding the council “passed something I think reflected many of the concerns we heard.”
The amended version also added members named by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
Those changes were to ensure input from commercial developers, a concern business owners raised, said Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5.
The council approved several other notable bills Monday night, including:
» Bill 78 – An act creating an
Environmental Sustainability Board.
The 13-member panel of experts, which includes a student member, would advise on environmental issues. The council voted to require the group to make recommendations to the County Council, as well as County Executive Ken Ulman.
» Bill 76: An act removing the five-year time limit that surviving spouses of fallen rescue workers can receive a property tax credit.
The 100 percent credit expires if the spouse remarries, and removing the five-year cap brings Howard in line with other jurisdictions, police officials said.
