An October 29 Baltimore Sun article reported that Howard County’s Department of Planning and Zoning has launched a new online town hall, called EngageHoward, which will allow citizens to receive information about and comment on land use projects without the need to attend a public hearing.

We know our residents and business owners are busy, and not everyone can attend public meetings,” County Executive Ken Ulman said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “We want to have more people involved in the public dialogue. EngageHoward is a way for people to contribute on their own schedule, and offer input on the planning issues that matter to them.”

The article stated that EngageHoward’s first topic and test case would be the naming of parking lots in Ellicott City.

“We think the community will have fun and get ‘engaged’ with this topic,” Marsha McLaughlin, director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, said in a statement.  …”We look forward to seeing the great ideas community members will offer.”