LAND PLANNING
Planning encompasses a wide range of services including site design, master planning, regional planning, and entitlement permitting. SEC’s planning team is experienced in creating plans from the large scale, county-wide regional plans to master development and site specific designs. Significant public participation and working with developers and reviewing agencies is one of our specialties.
SEC has the day-to-day understanding of the financial, cultural, historical and political aspects of a project and has the ability to translate that information into a responsive design that integrates citizen participation with design aesthetic and viability.
SEC has the day-to-day understanding of the financial, cultural, historical and political aspects of a project and has the ability to translate that information into a responsive design that integrates citizen participation with design aesthetic and viability.
Learn More About Our Planning Services Below
Land Planning and Entitlement: At SEC, land planning begins with the client’s objectives. With that in mind, the planning team brings order to conflicting requirements of human needs, site characteristics, and interpretation and implementation of codes, regulations, and ordinances. This is accomplished through the combination of functional, physical, aesthetic, fiscal, and political demands. The result is an all inclusive design that mitigates the impacts while meeting the client’s objectives. SEC creates various land use documents, maps, and plats for Planned Area Developments and commercial and residential subdivisions. SEC also provides entitlement/approval processing and permitting services.
GIS: Geographic Information System (GIS) is an essential mapping and information database software used extensively in almost all planning projects. SEC’s GIS experts can create land use, zoning, phasing plans, and multiple other mapping types. GIS is also used in large scale natural resource management projects and mapping. GIS is perhaps the most efficient method to demonstrate a large-scale change to zoning or phased development. SEC’s GIS technicians can develop data sets and mapping exhibits that accurately and graphically provide information for decision-making, marketing or information purposes.
Due Diligence Reviews: SEC offers Due Diligence Reviews. This service is typically provided to developers, lenders and attorneys who desire a pre-purchase evaluation to confirm the development feasibility of a particular property. While there are no guarantees associated with the review, nor is it a legal opinion, Due Diligence Reviews provide answers which may help protect against surprises associated with land development. A typical Due Diligence Review consists of the following elements: review of subdivision regulations, planning regulations, and other local laws, ordinances and regulations impacting the property; utility availability to service the parcel; assessment of floodplain conditions on or adjacent to the site; and site visitation for the purpose of identifying the potential constraints to development.
Urban Planning: Urban planning is a mixture of science and art. Specializing in creating a sense of place on a community and neighborhood level, SEC’s planners incorporate current good planning principles in the construction and development of general plans, specific plans, zoning codes, or master plans. SEC has the knowledge and experience to build consensus, design realistic plans, and creatively apply implementation practices. Implementation is a key element too often overshadowed by the creation of a “vision”. SEC specializes in creating plans that are useable and are easier to administer.
Public Participation Process. Realistic plans and visions for future development require an informed and involved public and stakeholders. It is very important to develop or anticipate a public participation approach and methodology for each project. Every project is different and the development of an individual participation plan is important to meet the needs of the project, the community and stakeholders. Effective communicators and meetings are important elements of a public participation process. General or regional level planning projects often incorporate “Town Hall” meetings, whereas small, neighborhood projects can succeed with a focus Visioning Workshop or Design Charrette. In Arizona, it is also important to consider multi-cultural influences. SEC can create a public participation plan designed to meet the specific project needs. We have experienced meeting facilitators to conduct effective meetings and can develop a detailed program to provide public involvement.