Howard County?s Department of Planning and Zoning is “chronically understaffed,” leading to delays in addressing concerns from residents and developers, a report from County Executive Ken Ulman?s transition team states.
“We arekind of staffed up for the era when there was lots of wide open space,” Marsha McLaughlin, director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, said in response to the findings. She said the county has grown and the department?s tasks are more complex.
“The level of concern from citizens has really grown, and we need to be able to respond better to that,” she said.
The department is staffed at the same levels as in the early 1990s despite taking on several complex projects such as the Route 40 corridor and forming a new department division, McLaughlin said.
Approving plans or answering residents? questions is often delayed, said C. Vernon Gray, subcommittee chairman. For example, the staff member charged with reviewing plans for retaining walls left the department, slowing the process.
Residents tend to get involved in the zoning process when they oppose a development near their property, McLaughlin said. However, to effect change, they must be familiar with the policies and provide comment earlier in the process.
“I think having more people involved early on is really important,” she said.
Although not every resident will be entirely satisfied with the department?s decisions, the county must create a process that residents feel confident in, Ulman said.
“There are folks in the county that are disappointed with the way things have been done in the past,” Ulman said. “We want to create an environment [where] there is trust and confidence in the process.”
Highlights of report
» Analyze department staffing needs
» Create an ombudsman position that explains zoning processes to residents and developers
» Develop a user-friendly land use manual
