Land Use Planning
The subject of land use has expanded significantly in recent years. Formerly, land use was primarily about zoning. A traditional definition of land use planning is "the deliberate, systematic development of real estate through methods such as zoning and environmental impact studies." In some cases, development of land will be further constrained if a master plan is in place.
The topic of land use has greatly expanded to include such issues as; historic preservation, economic incentives, tree ordinances, exactions, impact fees, condemnation, environmental impact statements, and nuisance suits. Land use has even expanded into arguably esoteric issues such as smart growth and new urbanism. Ultimately, the motivation to navigate through the many reefs of regulation is an economic one. Put another way, can the developer/owner satisfy the various government
requirements and be a good neighbor to those around - and still make money on the project? Answering this question requires an in-depth economic analysis including budgets, scheduling, and other related issues. These all must be analyzed through the lens of the various regulations and the local political environment.
Today there is an emphasis on the "Green" developer. This is a developer who integrates respect for the environment into the traditional developer model. Rather than being an economic burden to the project proforma, this new "Green Development" can be an economic enhancement to the project. Examples include the use of; reusable energy sources, environmentally friendly building products, low energy consumption sources of heating and cooling, and numerous other environmentally friendly tactics. Furthermore, the "Green" developer might consider amenities such as co-locating with mass transit or rapid rail, inclusion of a mini-bus transfer stations or car and van pool parking.
When an entity considers the acquisition of land, whether it is for construction or some other purpose, understanding and planning for land use issues is a critical and complex process. The multidisciplinary staff at Legis Consultancy is uniquely positioned to develop and manage strategies for successful projects.
At Legis Consultancy, we understand fundamental regulatory issues such as; permitting, zoning and real estate, annexation, historic preservation and service delivery strategies. Additionally, we understand key economic issues such as; budget, costing, and scheduling. We can unravel purely technical issues such as; value engineering, technical feasibility studies, and other engineering type studies. Legis consultants have been involved in large scale housing, business, recreation and educational land use projects in the United States and abroad.