Why Aligning with the General Plan Is Your Secret Weapon in Approvals ASK: What’s the General Plan, and why does everyone keep telling me to check it before I buy land? ANSWER: The General Plan is the city’s long-term roadmap for growth. It dictates how land can be used, what kinds of development the city […]

How Pre-Application Meetings Can Save Months in Entitlements ASK: Are pre-application meetings really worth it or just another layer of unnecessary red tape? ANSWER: If you think pre-application meetings slow things down, think again. They’re one of the smartest time investments you can make in the entitlement process. A pre-application meeting is your chance to […]

Community Buy-In: Turning NIMBYs (not in my backyard) Into Project Advocates ASK: How do I deal with community opposition that could kill my project even after planning staff is on board? ANSWER: The finish line for some entitlements are public hearings. Frequently we’ve seen projects where we have staff’s full support but it’s actually the […]

How to Get the City On Board with a New Development Concept ASK: I have a new development concept I’m excited about, but how do I get the city on board before I spend months (and money) on plans? ANSWER: You can have the best concept in the world, but if the city doesn’t see […]

Why Utility Access Can Make or Break a Deal ASK: We love the site, but utilities look complicated. Should we still move forward? ANSWER: Utilities are one of the most underestimated risks in development. You can have the land, the financing, and even the approvals, but if you can’t get power, water, or sewer to […]