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With hundreds of new housing units under construction or approved, some recent proposals by developers to add to Easton’s housing stock have garnered pushback from residents.

Most projects, though, don’t receive that public input until developers come before a town board like the Planning Commission. Resident Maury Schlesinger is looking for that to change.

“Most projects, the only way somebody’s going to find out that they’re more than half-baked is if they pay attention to the agendas for the Planning Commission,� Schlesinger said.

He wrote a proposal to the commission last month asking for the town to require meetings between the developer and residents for large-scale residential projects and potentially some commercial uses. While there’s no official drafted legislation yet, Schlesinger’s proposal draws from similar rules in jurisdictions like Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

At its July meeting, the Planning Commission was receptive to Schlesinger’s ask.

“I think that’s fair to the communities to have a formal process to listen and be heard before it comes to us,� said commission member Victoria McAndrews.

Commission Chair Philip Toussaint said the community meetings could benefit developers, too.

“I think developers could really use this as an advantage because they would be able to get new ideas for their projects,� Toussaint said. “I think it could be a positive thing.�

Toussaint noted that it’s important for public input to occur before site plans are completed, since it then becomes hard for developers to reverse course on those plans while maintaining financial viability.

Developers for recently approved Easton Crossing project — a 116-unit mixed-use plan on Brookletts Avenue by nonprofit developer Fello — held multiple community meetings before a site plan was submitted to the commission. Schlesinger noted that those meetings made positive impacts to Fello’s final designs, such as the massing and architecture of the buildings.

In his mind, the Easton Crossing process was especially effective compared to Silo Court, Fello’s 28-unit townhouse project on Needwood Avenue. Neighboring residents felt it didn’t include enough public input early in the process.

Ross Benincasa, vice president of community development for Fello, said in a statement that the Easton Crossing meetings also led to developers including lighting along walkways and areas for art in the project plan.

“Our goal in these meetings is to listen, answer questions, and be transparent about the project’s possibilities and constraints, which can include factors like space, materials, and financial feasibility,� Benincasa wrote.

Schlesinger compares community involvement in housing projects to test screenings for movies where revisions are made after gauging feedback.

“If you can get people involved earlier in the process, they may not get everything they want, but they nudge the project in a direction that’s better overall,� he said.

Planning Commission Vice Chair Michael Ports said in an interview that community meetings can also increase accessibility for residents who can’t attend the monthly commission meetings.

“We want the developer to be meeting with the community, even if it’s without us, to have earnest conversations about what they want,� Ports said. “I think this is especially true for infill projects.�

Town Planner Lynn Thomas said at the July meeting that he’s met with Schlesinger on the community input proposal. Those discussions on how to implement the public input requirements will continue over the upcoming months, Schlesinger said.