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The Garrett Park Land Use Task Force held its first meeting on Sunday, kicking off a process that will scrutinize over at least eight months the clarity, relevance and functionality of the town's land-use code.

Gene Brantly, the task force chair, said after the four-hour meeting that he was pleased with tenor of the discussions, which were held with small groups brainstorming ideas about why the task force was gathered, what members would consider a success, what the most important issues are and what the task force needs to do.

"I think there was a very energetic discussion, it was just buzzin,' " Brantly said. "One of the things I was very pleased with is that there was energetic and productive conversation between people that have been on the opposite sides of issues lately."

The task force was formed by the town council in response to a recent controversy over a single Garrett Park zoning element — the combined minimum setback — the enforcement of which led to a dispute and lawsuit against the town, a new ordinance and a referendum. The controversy surrounding that issue through months of town council meetings unearthed for some town residents a crisis of faith in the entire Garrett Park land-use code, and the council formed the task force to take a comprehensive look at those concerns.

Brantly said he expects the process to take eight to 10 months, but no definitive timeline has been set.

During the brainstorming session, several common themes emerged from task force members who had previously been at odds over the setback referendum. Those issues included a desire for more clarity and transparency in town ordinances and processes, which often have been conducted through tradition and precedent rather than textual procedure. Another prominent theme is examining the role of the county, which has a special overlay zone that only regulates Garrett Park, as well as finding a balance between preserving the park-like atmosphere of the town's open space and accommodating change and the realities of the diverse sizes of lots and housing stock in the town.

Members expressed a strong desire to find consensus among members of the task force. Brantly stated he would strive for "unanimity" in the recommendations the task force presents to the town council.

Next, the 22-member task force will divide into subcommittees. Four have been proposed:

-A Technical Definitions and Standards subcommittee to analyze the details and rules surrounding both applicable Garrett Park and county zoning regulations

-A Process subcommittee to analyze implementation procedures, enforcement, interpretation and functionality of county and town zoning ordinances

-A Research and Tools subcommittee to devise spreadsheets, historical perspective, an inventory of land-use demographics and other municipalities' solutions to zoning

-A Communications subcommittee to educate the task force, town residents and the town council about the findings of the first three subcommittees.