Land Development
How our land development team turns raw sites into a place people want to call home
Eight of the top ten national homebuilders trust our team to plan and engineer their communities in many of the major homebuilding markets in the United States. That kind of confidence is not built on promises. It is built on decades of delivering projects that maximize yield, navigate complex approvals, and bring communities to market on time and on budget. The homebuilders, developers, and landowners we work with know that the right engineering partner can be the difference between a vision that stalls in the approval process and one that breaks ground.
Our land development professionals take a step-by-step approach to guiding projects from initial concept through completion. We combine deep technical knowledge with a practical understanding of what it takes to move a project through zoning, permitting, and regulatory review. The result is a development plan that achieves the maximum number of units, meets every regulatory requirement, and does it in the most cost-effective manner possible.
- Affordable Housing (COAH)
- Age-Restricted Housing
- Conceptual Plans
- Eminent Domain Litigation
- Feasibility Analysis
- GIS Mapping & Analysis
- Highlands Regulations & Permits
- Land Planning & Design
- Litigation Testimony
- Redevelopment Area Studies & Plans
- Rezoning Applications
- Use Variance Testimony
Our approach
Land development is equal parts engineering and strategy. A site that looks straightforward on paper can carry zoning constraints, environmental sensitivities, Highlands regulations, community impact considerations, and infrastructure limitations that reshape the entire plan. Our team identifies those factors early through feasibility analysis, GIS mapping, and community and fiscal impact studies so that clients make land decisions with full visibility into what a site can actually deliver. That early diligence protects timelines, reduces risk, and prevents costly redesigns later in the process.
From there, we handle the full scope of planning, design, and approvals. Conceptual plans, rezoning applications, use variance testimony, redevelopment area studies, and Highlands permitting are all part of our regular workload. And because our firm offers survey, geotechnical, environmental, civil engineering, and traffic services in-house, the land development team can draw on those capabilities at any point in the process without bringing in outside consultants or losing momentum.
Planning communities that perform from day one
The best land plans do more than fit the maximum number of lots on a site. They create communities that function well, sell well, and stand up to regulatory scrutiny. Our planners and engineers work closely with homebuilders and developers to design layouts that balance density with livability, account for infrastructure needs, and position amenities and open space in ways that add real value. Whether the project involves a traditional single-family subdivision, an age-restricted community, affordable housing subject to COAH requirements, or a mixed-use redevelopment, we tailor the plan to the specific goals of the project and the expectations of the approval authority reviewing it.
Navigating approvals, entitlements, and the regulatory landscape
Entitlements can make or break a development timeline. Our team has deep experience preparing and presenting rezoning applications, use variance testimony, and redevelopment area studies and plans before planning boards, zoning boards, and governing bodies. We provide expert litigation testimony and eminent domain litigation support when projects require it. For sites subject to Highlands regulations, we manage the permitting process from application through approval. And for projects that need community and fiscal impact analysis, highway access permitting, or traffic impact studies to satisfy municipal requirements, our in-house transportation and planning professionals provide that support directly, keeping everything under one roof and on one schedule.
That ability to handle planning, engineering, approvals, and testimony as a coordinated effort rather than a collection of separate assignments is what allows our clients to move through the development process with confidence and without losing time.
Frequently asked questions
We work across the full range of residential development, including traditional single-family subdivisions, age-restricted communities, affordable housing subject to COAH requirements, and mixed-use redevelopment projects. Our team tailors its approach to the specific goals of each project and the regulatory environment of the jurisdiction where it is being built.
Yes. Our professionals regularly prepare and present rezoning applications, use variance testimony, and redevelopment area studies before planning boards, zoning boards, and governing bodies. We also provide expert litigation testimony and eminent domain litigation support when projects require it.
Through a combination of smart site planning, thorough feasibility analysis, and a detailed understanding of zoning and regulatory constraints. Our team designs layouts that balance density with livability and infrastructure requirements, then works through the approval process to ensure the plan holds up under review. The goal is always to achieve the highest realistic yield while delivering a community that functions well and satisfies the approval authority.
Let’s talk about your next project!
Our multidisciplinary approach to design, combined with a deep understanding of the industry and passion for innovation, has positioned us as leaders consistently delivering outstanding results in shaping the built environment.