Land Use Planning

Bold Vision,
Fine Details

Many successful projects begin with a plan that reflects community vision and regulatory realities. Land use planning shapes the way we live and work, whether through the development of a comprehensive plan, a site-specific land use entitlement or permit, or updates to development regulations. 

At AHBL, our planners guide clients through various processes with proven expertise. We help clients from start to finish on complex mixed-used developments, navigating the process for subdivision approval, devising approaches for open space preservation and forming policy updates. In doing so, we guide projects through creativity, compliance, vision, and viability. 

We understand how jurisdictions operate, how stakeholders engage, and how to craft development plans that are compliant with the Washington State GMA, legally defensible, and responsive to local values and preferences.

What Sets AHBL Apart

Trusted across the Pacific Northwest, AHBL’s planners have vast experience engaging with cities, counties, special governments, community members, and private clients. We help clients anticipate issues, manage risk, and ensure their projects progress. This includes expertise in delivering our work in the arenas of community planning, policy formation, and on-the-ground permitting experience, aligned with the Washington State GMA, SEPA, and the Shoreline Management Act.

Alignment Across Stakeholders

We bring people together, from developers and design teams to municipal staff or elected officials and public agencies, helping everyone stay focused on shared outcomes.

GMA-Compliant and Legally Defensible

Every plan we deliver is GMA-compliant and built to withstand scrutiny. Our clients trust us to prepare clear, legally defensible narratives that keep projects moving forward without costly setbacks.

In-Depth Code Fluency

With decades of land use planning experience across state and local jurisdictions, we understand development regulations and how to write narratives that stand up to agency scrutiny, planning commission review, and public hearings.

Proactive Navigation

We don’t wait for roadblocks, we anticipate them. To help you avoid costly delays or lose valuable time, our planning team identifies potential obstacles early.

Vision Grounded in Reality

We understand what’s possible on paper and also on-site. We help clients find smart solutions that maximize a project’s potential while meeting every requirement. This could look like analyzing environmental impacts on an in-depth basis, preparing feasibility studies, or rolling up our sleeves with site planning.

Our Land Use Planning Solutions

  • Code Compliance

    We help jurisdictions ensure their development review processes align with local, state, and federal requirements. Our planners bring decades of experience interpreting municipal codes and applying them consistently to protect communities and reduce risk. We anticipate issues early, triage submittals for completeness, and provide clear, defensible recommendations that keep projects moving.

  • Code Revisions

    Development regulations must evolve to reflect changing laws, housing needs, and community priorities. AHBL conducts comprehensive code audits to identify gaps, conflicts, and outdated provisions. We draft amendments that are practical, legally defensible, and easy to implement.

  • Community Involvement

    We help clients and agencies engage the public in meaningful ways by planning and facilitating workshops, open houses, and other public engagement methods that builds consensus and trust around development projects or proposals.

  • Comprehensive and Subarea GMA Planning

    Our planners prepare comprehensive plans and subarea plans that are fully GMA-compliant while reflecting the unique visions and priorities of each community.

  • Development Code Audits and Amendments

    We review existing codes, identify gaps or conflicts, and draft amendments aligning with current legal requirements and community goals while being responsive to evolving development trends and new technologies.

  • Green Infrastructure Low Impact Development (LID) Codes and Policies

    We craft policies and develop implementation methods that promote stormwater management, green infrastructure, and sustainable site design without compromising feasibility.

  • Land Use Permits and Entitlements

    We manage the permitting and entitlement process with clarity, ensuring applications such as conditional use permits or approvals for shoreline development are defensible and timely.

  • Master Planning and Design

    AHBL leads master planning efforts integrating land use, transportation, utilities, and open space into cohesive development plans.

  • On-Call Consulting Services

    Serving as trusted advisors to jurisdictions, we provide ongoing, on-demand planning support for permit reviews, proposals requiring agency coordination, code interpretation, SEPA environmental review, and development projects. Our team helps jurisdictions meet statutory timelines and avoid costly delays.

  • Policy Analysis

    We evaluate existing or proposed policies for legal defensibility, community impact, and alignment with broader planning goals—helping decision-makers confidently act with a full analysis of competing interests and options.

  • State and Federal Grant Application Preparation

    Our planners prepare compelling grant applications that successfully connect our clients to funding opportunities, increasing the likelihood of awards for infrastructure projects, initiatives for housing, and community programs.

  • Stormwater Permit Compliance Assistance

    Our team assists municipalities in meeting stormwater permit requirements, offering practical compliance strategies that reduce risk and environmental impacts for their NPDES municipal stormwater permits.

  • SEPA/NEPA Environmental Review Including Project and Non-Project EISs

    We guide clients through environmental review, preparing clear documents with robust analyses that anticipate agency concerns and address potential environmental impacts.

  • Shoreline Master Program Updates

    AHBL supports jurisdictions in updating Shoreline Master Programs to remain compliant with state law, responsive to community needs, and protective of natural resources.

See the Vision Come to Life

  • Edgewood 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update

  • Des Moines Housing Action Plan

    Shaping a data‑driven housing action plan through robust public engagement

  • Federal Way Brooklake Park and Steel Lake Park Master Plans

    Community‑centered master planning for two beloved Federal Way parks

  • Franklin County On-Call Planning Services

    On-call comprehensive planning services for development review and SEPA compliance

  • Maritime|253 Skills Center

    Strengthening maritime workforce education through collaboration of Port of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Schools

See More Land Use Planning Projects
Our Partners Say It Best
  • Other firms give you generic plans. AHBL creates documents that reflect your actual community—and they help you get them adopted.
    Mike, City of Richland