Land Planning, Zoning & Entitlements

A More Rewarding Engineering Process

Successful land planning examines how the existing conditions of a site influence its highest and best use for future generations. These conditions are limited not only to given topography and utility availability, but also include public perception and political receptiveness. Once explored and properly addressed, through extensive site vetting and public/political engagement, the long-term financial success and effective utilization of a project are virtually guaranteed.

Most every locality in the mid-Atlantic region controls the placement of various development types through aggregation into similar zones or districts. If property lies within the “wrong” zone or district, your preferred form of development, be it commercial, residential, or other, may be restricted without first applying for reclassification of the zoning classification. Reclassification requires a well-developed plan and formal acceptance by the governing authority, typically through public hearings. Often, this requires the requesting party to proffer voluntary “conditions” that address public / political concerns regarding the project’s impact on the surrounding area. Understanding this process and the manner of which impacts can be limited efficiently is critical to a project’s success.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.Abraham Lincoln

Services

  • Feasibility Analyses
  • Land Use Analyses
  • Density Studies
  • Site / Master Planning
  • Cost-Benefit Analyses
  • Rezonings
  • Special Use Applications
  • Proffered Condition Drafting
  • Negotiations with Public Entities
  • Public Hearing Representation