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NEWS RELEASE

August 2, 2007

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Howard County Proposes Panel of Experts to Advise on Future County Developments

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – County Executive Ken Ulman announced today the submission of proposed legislation to the County’s Planning Board that will establish a Design Advisory Panel (DAP) to provide recommendations to the Site Review Committee regarding future county development.

“The purpose of this panel will be to encourage excellence in site design and architecture, while still promoting design compatibility and revitalization,” said Executive Ulman. “Residents and business leaders have expressed their support for this type of panel, and I am pleased that we are ready to take this first step.”

The proposed five-member panel will include architects, engineers and planners. “Initially, we would like to utilize the expertise of the panel to review plans for senior housing and developments along Route 1,” said Marsha McLaughlin, Director of the Department of Planning & Zoning. “Then, once the design manuals have been adopted, we would look for their input on the plans proposed for U.S. Route 40 and Columbia.”

In addition, the new panel will address the important issues of aesthetics and compatibility which significantly impact the overall quality of County development. "Often we find ourselves in the difficult situation of recommending a proposal for development when all the regulatory requirements are met, but sometimes you get a feeling that some developments could be better designed, aesthetically,” said Ms. McLaughlin.

The proposed Design Advisory Panel legislation will be submitted to the Planning Board on August 9, 2007.

The Department of Planning and Zoning’s mission is to create collaborative, innovative plans and to implement strategies that effectively address growth and redevelopment challenges in order to enhance Howard County’s high quality of life.