After jointly hosting a "town meeting" on a bill to change the county's land development rules, County Council members Allan Kittleman and Chris Merdon will submit at least three amendments to the bill, Kittleman said. 

One would include wetlands in the county's computation of net acreage, thus reducing the land available for development. Another would give some landowners the option of dividing their land evenly into 3-acre lots across a parcel, rather than clustering development in certain areas of the parcel in order to preserve open space. 

The third would maintain the use of the word "waiver" for exceptions to land development rules, rather than "alternative compliance," as has been proposed. 

Republicans Kittleman and Merdon represent the west county and Ellicott City, respectively, on the council. About 40 people attended their Oct. 3 meeting at Glenelg High School to discuss a series of proposals from the county's Department of Planning and Zoning. 

Some of the proposals would allow more commercial activity on land in the county's agricultural land preservation program, in an effort to encourage more participation in the program, said Marsha McLaughlin, the department's deputy director. Other proposals would tighten loopholes in existing subdivision rules for rural land, she said. 

The County Council will hold a public hearing on the proposals, which have been introduced as a bill, Oct. 15. 

At their town meeting, Kittleman and Merdon heard from residents who questioned allowing commercial ventures, such as "pick-your-own" farms, on land surrounded by residential neighborhoods. 

They heard from a veterinarian who wondered why the county would not consider his proposal for a large-animal surgical center, despite the county's interest in preserving agriculture-related industries, and from others who voiced suspicion that the rules changes would help, not hurt, developers. 

Net acres are computed now by subtracting steep slopes and flood plain. Adding wetlands to the list would mean fewer houses could be built on some sites.