Whatcom County residents are asked to comment on a public participation plan for changes to the county's guiding long-range planning document, the comprehensive plan.

The state requires the public participation plan to ensure people have opportunities to comment on proposed changes to development rules such as zoning codes or protections for critical habitat areas.

The most relevant chapter in the participation plan categorizes all proposed changes according to how much public process they will receive - from the legal minimum to multiple public forums.

Appropriate comments on the participation plan would be for or against the level of review planned for a proposed change, county senior planner Matt Aamot said.

More information and the plan are online at whatcomcounty.us/pds/plan/lr. Click on "Other Projects & Programs," then "Public Participation Plan."

Reach Ralph Schwartz at 360-715-2289 or ralph.schwartz@bellinghamherald.com. Read his politics blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics or follow him on Twitter at @bhamheraldpolitics.