Our clients often ask, “What value do Planners bring to project development?” We spoke with V3’s Planning Group Leader Nick Pryce and Senior Planner Elisa Stamatakis to discover how Planners uncover risks early in the development process, saving time, money, and headache across the board.
What is planning?
Planning—also known as urban, city, town, rural, or community planning—is the process of researching, evaluating, and designing the spaces where we live, work, and play. Planners assess the social, environmental, and economical impacts of a proposed project through a holistic lens to identify risks and determine the most impactful path forward.
Planners are creative and practical thinkers who balance thoughtful project designs with local regulations to offer realistic solutions for land development goals. These professionals use sociology, geography, political science, economics, environmental and civil engineering to serve a diverse range of communities, including individuals and agencies within a community. By pulling from multidisciplinary specialties and a strict code of ethics, Planners provide an impartial, well-informed voice that positively shapes how spaces come to life.
Why is planning important to project development?
Developing a piece of land creates a ripple effect of possibilities and problems. Having a thoroughly vetted site that considers all the interconnected systems minimizes potential complications and allows for greater project success.
Planning benefits include:
- Risk reduction: V3 Planners work to identify any foreseeable risks associated with a proposed project. This could include anything from policy and zoning restrictions to environmental hazards to community approval. Along with these identified barriers, Planners present what it will take to move past them, whether that means a lengthy permitting process or addressing aging infrastructure. Weighing the pros and cons of what’s ahead empowers developers to decide how best to proceed.
- Fiscal responsibility: Based on the identified risks, V3 Planners connect the development of policy and regulatory controls to the fiscal realities of municipalities, while also addressing the cost implications for developers. By considering process timelines and site constraints that can impact a pro-forma, we provide developers with greater budget clarity. With project goals in focus, our planners assess what is achievable within the social and environmental context. This strategic approach helps developers make informed decisions early, avoiding investment in projects that may not be financially viable.
- Timeline efficiency: Knowing the risks also maps out a more realistic project timeline. For example, understanding how long it will take to obtain any necessary permits allows developers to allocate resources accordingly, rather than getting tied up in red tape once work has already begun.
“Our goal is to uncover the path forward. If there are risks, we pivot based off those factors and look for solutions. It’s important to be realistic and justify statements with economics and facts. By presenting the risks, we empower our clients to make smarter decisions.”
Elisa Stamatakis, RPP, MCIP, M.Plan, B.S. Arch, Senior Planner
What are the effects of bypassing urban planning?
Planners should be brought into project development early in the process for maximum effect. While the additional cost of planning services can sway developers to skip this step, this cost-cutting measure often backfires and adds more time and money to the bottom line. Moving forward without a clear understanding of the challenges ahead, particularly the menarche of policies and regulations, puts projects at major risk of lost financial investment and delays that stretch on for years.
Forgoing project planning can often lead to:
- Delayed development
- Increased costs
- Loss of community support
“People often don’t understand what goes into planning and why it’s important. We help our clients understand the “why” through education sessions that give them choices and provide the best possible return on investment.”
Nick Pryce, RPP, MCIP, Planning Group Leader
Work with V3’s Planning experts
Our planning team utilizes its diverse local, national, and international experience to provide professional advice that results in pragmatic, actionable plans. Connect with us to learn more.