Members of a committee trying to update Ellicott City's master plan are struggling to find money to complete it, regardless of whether the final document can be ready before comprehensive rezoning of Howard County begins.

Since an application for a $10,000 Community Legacy grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development was denied, the panel of residents has been looking for other ways to pay for an editor for a 45-page draft.

More than 50 people met for a year to develop a preliminary plan, which addresses issues including development, senior housing and signs along the U.S. 40 commercial strip. The last master plan for the area was developed in the 1970s.

County Councilman Christopher J. Merdon, an Ellicott City Republican who has spearheaded much of the project, said he is seeking county funds to hire a consultant or a staff member to finish it. In addition, "there have been some expressions of interest in the private sector," he said, especially from Ellicott City businesses, although he said he does not believe that would be ideal.

"It's a public document," he said. "I think it's the government's responsibility to create and implement this document, but if that's our only option, then we'll pursue it."

Once the plan is approved by the County Council, its authors believe, the ideas in the proposal can influence comprehensive rezoning, scheduled to begin early next year.

"Legislators tend to listen to the community if it's presented in a logical and easy-to-read document," said Janet Kusterer, co-chairman of the plan's historic district committee and president of Historic Ellicott City Inc.

Merdon said it would take about $20,000 - or two months for a full-time county staff member - to complete. Additional public meetings also would be necessary.

Because four committees prepared individual reports, a land planning consultant would "make sure the plan is in harmony with county law and general plan," he said.

The county denied a request for $20,000 in the 2003 budget. Howard County Executive James N. Robey has agreed to revisit the issue this winter because he "would have a better picture" of where the county stands fiscally. He also said he would like to fund the project if the money is available.

Regardless of the plan's completion, county officials believe that the ideas from the draft can guide comprehensive rezoning efforts.

"The misunderstanding is that [changes] would have to wait 10 years," said Joseph W. Rutter Jr., the county planning director.

If the final document contains significant zoning concerns, a second rezoning could occur once the County Council adopts the master plan, Rutter said.

"We're aware of the issues they've raised," he said. "We'll address what they want to carry forward."

But "the council has a lot more flexibility in making changes" before comprehensive rezoning is adopted, Merdon said. "Those changes don't need to meet the same criteria as they would after comprehensive rezoning."

He believes, however, that the plan could be completed before the council approves comprehensive rezoning, perhaps in late summer or early next fall. The master plan committee estimated it would be eight months after the plan was finished before the County Council could take action.

Although Kusterer does not believe that postponing comprehensive rezoning is the best answer, "We felt a document in hand could guide the way things went," she said. "I wouldn't want to hold up the work while we're waiting for this. Parts of this can be acted on even without a finished product."

Jared Spahn, president of Old Town Construction and of the Ellicott City Business Association, which applied for the grant, agrees.

"That's only a small percentage of what the document is trying to do. It's not all about zoning development," Spahn said.

The county's 2000 general plan called for master plans for Ellicott City, North Laurel and Elkridge.