Land development consulting merges the science of city building with the art of placemaking through a
collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to project delivery. Encompassing the fields of planning,
engineering, surveying, architecture, landscape architecture, construction, marketing, finance, and a host of
other specialties, land development consulting is a dynamic profession that requires consultants to be
technically skilled and creative. They must have their finger on the pulse of the community—the political
climate, cultural and environmental priorities, infrastructure needs and desires—in order to reliably advise
their clients, produce sound designs, and contribute to the development of high-quality places.
In order to fully appreciate the nuances of today’s land development industry, it is important to understand
its evolution. This first chapter examines the industry drivers—demographics, historic events, and economic,
political, and social factors—that serve as the impetus for this growing branch of consulting. Also touched on
in this chapter are the tenets of design—strength, function, and aesthetics—as well as brief introductions to the
prevailing design philosophies including green or sustainable, neotraditional, and conventional. Last, and most
important, this overview establishes a land development design process—clarified and detailed throughout the
text—that can be used to navigate the increasingly complex maze of development regulations, required
approvals, and permits.
This edition, like the second, presents the material in chronological order according to the typical land
development process. While site design is a continuous process, it encompasses at least seven distinct steps
(or stages), each with an associated deliverable documenting the migration through the design process.