Welcome to Pioneer Planning! I decided to start this blog because I have extra time on my hands right now since I’m unemployed like many of my fellow planners and not only to express my views on planning and related topics, but also to improve my writing and reporting skills.  My goal is to bring 4-5 short but interesting articles or editorials per week. Content you can read in 2-3 minutes, we’re all busy people right?  And articles you can use on a daily basis and entries about cities or communities doing things right, innovative things… pioneer things.

A little about myself first. I’m a city and regional planner with my AICP license. I’ve been in planning for over 9 years now. I received my graduate degree from The Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At grad school I didn’t concentrate my specialties in any one area such as GIS or Transportation. Instead I wanted to learn about as many planning topics as possible to become the most well rounded planner I could.

All of my experience is at the County government level, both in New Jersey and South Carolina where I currently live with my family. My current job search has taken me from Albany, NY to Atlanta, GA. If anyone needs job search help in planning I would be happy to exchange ideas or links  and what has or hasn’t worked for me.

My current passions in planning are the rise of New Urbanism, Smart Growth, or Neo-Traditional building, whatever you want to call it. I’m most intrigued by cities incorporating these principals into downtown areas. For the last 40+ years the suburbanization of America has taken its toll on the once vibrant cities of this country. But recently with land prices and oil prices rising I finally believe some city leaders are seeing the importance of density and improving downtown areas to attract citizens to the cities once again.

I enjoy a walkable community as much as the next planner, but trying to make walking exclusive communities is a tough sell. I believe in a more moderate approach that limits the car trips and miles driven by the residnets of a community. Once in a shopping/working area the vehicle should be able to be parked and walking should be safe and easy for the remainder of the trip. I believe this is the best option going today where citizens aren’t asked to do completely away with their vehicles and vehicle miles traveled are decreased due to a good layout.

Another topic that interests me is the availability to clean water sources and the ways we process and handle wastewater and storm runoff. For too many years these processes have been left to engineers and science without bringing regionalism into the mix. I think requiring each individual lot to provide stormwater detention is short sighted. Regional water projects are more cost effective than local ones as well.

If you haven’t discovered I enjoy fiscal responsibility too. Throwing money at problems or projects is not always the answer. Consolidation, efficiencies, and a real plan can save tax payers and developers pockets full of money. I enjoy seeing plans developed in-house when available and the planning process streamlined and easy to use for the public.

Thank you for visiting Pioneer Planning and I hope you return soon! Please pass along this website to your fellow planners and friends.