Consultant to local governments and other clients on planning, placemaking, neighborhood resilience, revitalization of commercial districts, streets, environmental and economic sustainability, and community-building.

As a project manager in the bicycle and pedestrian planning grant program, I worked with local governments and consultants to formulate comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans. I also provided technical assistance for bike and pedestrian planning and implementation to local governments, MPOs and RPOs, regional Highway Divisions, and other partners. Within NCDOT, I responded to requests for input on bicycle and pedestrian components of transportation project planning and design, standards… Show more As a project manager in the bicycle and pedestrian planning grant program, I worked with local governments and consultants to formulate comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans. I also provided technical assistance for bike and pedestrian planning and implementation to local governments, MPOs and RPOs, regional Highway Divisions, and other partners. Within NCDOT, I responded to requests for input on bicycle and pedestrian components of transportation project planning and design, standards, and policies, making recommendations about the type and configuration of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in specific transportation projects. Show less

Consulting planner and attorney helping communities with planning, zoning, and placemaking. My work relied on stakeholder input and a solid public process to ensure that solutions are practical as well as politically supportable. I specialized in "zoning repair"​ for downtowns and older neighborhoods (old urbanism); zoning for infill development; and finding ways to keep older buildings, established neighborhoods, and traditional commercial areas market-competitive by applying… Show more Consulting planner and attorney helping communities with planning, zoning, and placemaking. My work relied on stakeholder input and a solid public process to ensure that solutions are practical as well as politically supportable. I specialized in "zoning repair"​ for downtowns and older neighborhoods (old urbanism); zoning for infill development; and finding ways to keep older buildings, established neighborhoods, and traditional commercial areas market-competitive by applying sound public policy.Other projects included land use and comprehensive planning; economic revitalization; coding for farmland and open space preservation; taming traffic and accommodating better transportation options; and place-based economic development.My strengths include helping communities with concept and idea generation, charrettes and visioning, and working in minority communities. I scoped and budgeted projects, assembled project teams, and coordinated my work with that of other team members so that what we produced for our client communities would be consistent and synergistic. Show less

I helped communities in North Carolina with planning and zoning, strategic priorities, and economic development. (This position was a continuation of my role since starting with Commerce in 2008.)My projects included: -- A Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the Town of Lillington-- A new zoning ordinance for the Town of Bailey that incorporates best practices, tailored to the Town's specific needs -- A diagnostic report for the Town of Selma to identify deficiencies in the… Show more I helped communities in North Carolina with planning and zoning, strategic priorities, and economic development. (This position was a continuation of my role since starting with Commerce in 2008.)My projects included: -- A Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the Town of Lillington-- A new zoning ordinance for the Town of Bailey that incorporates best practices, tailored to the Town's specific needs -- A diagnostic report for the Town of Selma to identify deficiencies in the zoning and development ordinance and propose changes that would better serve the Town-- Zoning amendments to accommodate and set standards for large-scale solar power generation facilities (solar farms) in the Town of Spring Hope-- A 'downtown zoning repair' checklist for N.C. Main Street communities. It's designed to fix common problems with broken zoning so that downtowns and older neighborhoods can thrive -- 'Downtown zoning repair' pilot-testing projects in Burnsville, Waxhaw, and Goldsboro-- A land use plan for the Town of Sharpsburg, designed to shore up the Town's challenging financial and economic situation, efficiently use the community's resources, and add to the quality of life for residents-- Community visioning for the Town of CreedmoorMy role required these skills: creating project scopes, timelines, and deliverables; managing projects with multiple stakeholders; working with diverse communities and people of many different backgrounds; conducting public workshops and facilitating group discussions; researching best practices; creating solutions that are practical and politically supportable within a community’s distinct setting; writing illustrated reports; making frequent presentations to the public and to technical professionals; and building trust and relationships with clients over the long term. Show less

I joined the North Carolina Department of Commerce in 2008 to help communities in North Carolina with planning and zoning, fiscal and environmental sustainability, strategic priorities, downtown revitalization, and economic development. In 2010 I was promoted to Senior Planner and continued with the department through 2014. Here are some projects I worked on: -- A new zoning ordinance for the Town of Bailey-- A downtown 'zoning repair' checklist for NC Main Street… Show more I joined the North Carolina Department of Commerce in 2008 to help communities in North Carolina with planning and zoning, fiscal and environmental sustainability, strategic priorities, downtown revitalization, and economic development. In 2010 I was promoted to Senior Planner and continued with the department through 2014. Here are some projects I worked on: -- A new zoning ordinance for the Town of Bailey-- A downtown 'zoning repair' checklist for NC Main Street communities-- Retail market assessment for the Town of Garysburg, and implementing plans for a mixed-use center there-- A land use plan for the Town of Sharpsburg-- Retail market assessment for downtown Benson (a NC Small Town Main Street) Show less

I analyzed the impacts of transportation projects on communities under the National Environmental Policy Act, performing components of CIA, ICE, EA, EIS documentation. I developed a more streamlined and methodical process for planners in our group working on Community Impacts review.

Consultant to private and public sector clients on land use, zoning, development, and environmental protection. I provided technical services to clients, wrote content for reports and deliverables, and worked as a team member to find policy solutions to multi-variate planning challenges. I worked with advisory committees and the public, communicated with agency representatives, and made presentations to diverse audiences. I also scoped and budgeted projects, assembled custom teams… Show more Consultant to private and public sector clients on land use, zoning, development, and environmental protection. I provided technical services to clients, wrote content for reports and deliverables, and worked as a team member to find policy solutions to multi-variate planning challenges. I worked with advisory committees and the public, communicated with agency representatives, and made presentations to diverse audiences. I also scoped and budgeted projects, assembled custom teams of professionals with the skills to meet project requirements, wrote and submitted proposals, and did marketing and outreach. Here are some projects I worked on: * As a consultant to the UNC Institute of Government's Environmental Finance Center, I co-authored the Phase II Stormwater Model Ordinance for use by local governments throughout North Carolina in complying with the federal Clean Water Act. * I advised clients on matters of utility law, telecommunications facility siting, local government permitting and ordinances, compliance with water quality protections, and compliance with local zoning regulations. I advised commercial real estate clients on compliance with local zoning and regulations to protect water quality. * Working in custom-assembled consulting teams, I created plans for communities across the Southeast. Plans included: - High Point (N.C.) Core City Plan - Morrisville (N.C.) Town Center Plan - Midway (Ga.) Comprehensive Plan - Isle of Wight County (Va.) Route 17 Corridor Plan - Pinehurst (N.C.) New Core Plan* Two of the plans on which I was a team member (Morrisville and High Point) won a Marvin Collins Planning Award from the N.C. chapter of the American Planning Association.* Below is an article by Randall Arendt about the small area plan my team did for Pinehurst, N.C., to help revitalize a section of town that was originally laid out by Frederick Law Olmsted. Show less

I helped communities implement comprehensive plans and achieve their goals through revisions to their land use ordinances. The work was driven by leading-edge best practices for urban design, downtown development, farmland preservation, community visioning / citizen involvement, and growth management / fiscal sustainability. Projects included: -- A high-profile, cutting-edge zoning ordinance to ensure farmland preservation in Loudoun County, Virginia, completed in partnership… Show more I helped communities implement comprehensive plans and achieve their goals through revisions to their land use ordinances. The work was driven by leading-edge best practices for urban design, downtown development, farmland preservation, community visioning / citizen involvement, and growth management / fiscal sustainability. Projects included: -- A high-profile, cutting-edge zoning ordinance to ensure farmland preservation in Loudoun County, Virginia, completed in partnership with conservation design advocate Randall Arendt-- A zoning ordinance overhaul for the town of Rock Hill, South Carolina-- A Unified Development Ordinance for Hall County, Georgia-- A zoning ordinance overhaul for Aurora, Illinois-- Growth Management Strategies recommendations for Montgomery County, Maryland Show less