A group of volunteers has finished making suggestions on how to revitalize U.S. 1 in North Laurel, and now the findings will be summarized by Howard County planners and shared with the county's elected leaders.

Planners will make presentations to the County Council and Planning Board next week on what might be done to improve U.S. 1.

"Now it's our turn to do the work," Myna Hilsenrath, a county planner, told the volunteers at a meeting this week.

The group, called the Route 1 Revitalization Committee, met for the last time this week. The volunteers had been gathering monthly for two years to discuss possible changes for the road, which the county has targeted for redevelopment.

After the group's first year, county planners produced the first phase of the report. It addressed quick fixes such as cleanup efforts and planting trees that would help spruce up the road - mainly a mixture of low-end retail stores, motels and residential housing.

The second phase of the study focused on longer-term projects such as rezoning, environmental quality and community well-being.

Volunteers offered a variety of suggestions, including increasing bus service, providing incentives for businesses to locate near rail stations and possibly establishing community centers. But most said that rezoning was their most important work because a lack of zoning had contributed to the deterioration of U.S. 1.

Many zoning changes were proposed by the volunteers, including rezoning for affordable housing areas, employment districts and activity centers, where pedestrian-oriented businesses, offices and homes could be included.

The county should identify desirable land uses and design formats and offer landowners incentives to meet those criteria, volunteers said.

"This provides the skeleton for us to grow and identify a process to revitalize the area," said Steven H. Adler, a Republican candidate for county executive who was co-chair of the committee.

While the volunteers have fulfilled their obligation, they were urged to continue paying close attention to the road and to encourage others to get involved in the redevelopment process.

"There's a perception that this is only for the community along the corridor ... but it's a Howard County issue," said Kevin Doyle, co-chair of the committee.

Doyle noted that U.S. 1 is one of the only commercial areas capable of large-scale redevelopment and could help the county expand its tax base by bringing more business to the area.

"If Howard County doesn't do this, you're not going to be able to maintain the lifestyle you're used to ... at the tax rate you're used to," Doyle said.