BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The means for residents to comment on Howard’s development decisions often already exist — but finding the ways to do so can be nearly impossible, said members of a task force examining participation in land-use issues.

“Too often people come in at the tail end of the process, and then they want to be heard,” said William Erskine, a land-use lawyer and co-chairman of the Public Engagement in Land Use task force.

For example, many residents lament the long hours they spend looking for planning information online, Erskine said.

But they can sign up through the county’s Web site, howardcountymd.gov/DPZ/DPZ_HomePage.htm, for electronic notifications, he said.

In its final report released this week, the task force recommended ways to improve communications between county planners and residents, a persistent concern among Howard residents.

Topping the recommendations was creating a brochure outlining how to file an appeal and receive notices on a particular project and a summary of land-use principles.

The 23-member group — consisting of members of the development community and residents, who tend to be on opposite sides of the land-use debate — met for about four months.

“There is a clear need to provide information in an easily accessible format to interested individuals and community organizations,” the task force wrote in the final report.

Also included in the final report were recommendations that didn’t have unanimous support from members.

For example, all but one member agreed that a public committee or task force should be convened to weigh in early on major land-use legislation.

The county has consulted a committee in some cases, such as with downtown Columbia planning, but not in others, such as with legislation to create a design panel for new development.

“Public hearings are a minimalist way to get public input. They are not substitute for conferring with representatives of the public in the formative stages,” said Bridget Mugane, a task force member and president of the Howard County Citizens Association.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com