Community and Land Use Planning
Whether focused on a parcel of land, a watershed, a region, or a state, the best planning documents are informed by sound science and rigorous analysis. Downstream Strategies catalogs current conditions, links policy and management options with scientific data, performs economic benefits analyses, and writes detailed plans to arm our clients with the technical expertise needed to improve and protect vital resources.
We offer wide-ranging planning services that support and promote resilient communities, vibrant economies, and sustainable environments. Our staff have led inclusive planning processes and authored planning documents for municipalities, counties, community organizations, and nonprofits across the country.
Our planning processes are carefully tailored to meet client and community needs. We believe that plans and reports should be useful for the communities they serve. As a result, we produce practical, accessible, and results-oriented deliverables with the end-user in mind.
We have over 20 years of experience delivering professional-quality reports and planning documents to our clients. Our work helps buoy researchers, developers, legislators, and community members alike as they work towards their shared goals.
Community revitalization planning
- Downtown revitalization plans
- Urban renewal plans
- Riverfront redevelopment plans
Recreation and tourism planning
- Market assessments
- Trail planning, design, and construction
Land use planning
- Comprehensive plans
- Conservation plans
- Tract management plans
Strategic planning
- Visioning
- Feasibility studies
- Program and impact assessments
Community and Land Use Planning Contact
Projects
City of Ravenswood Comprehensive Plan Update
Downstream Strategies worked with the City of Ravenswood, West Virginia, and the community to update their city-wide comprehensive plan. Although a comprehensive plan was recently completed, the announcement of a titanium melt facility powered by a first-of-its-kind solar energy microgrid at Ravenswood’s doorstep brings housing, land use, and infrastructure challenges to the forefront. The plan highlights the city’s assets to formulate a vision and a growth framework that prioritizes residential development, downtown revitalization, and quality of life improvements that celebrate Ravenswood’s river-town charm. Our community planning experts helped map out an action plan to support the comprehensive planning initiative.
City of Ravenswood Zoning Code Diagnosis
In anticipation of growth in Ravenswood, West Virginia, Downstream Strategies assessed the City’s 60-year-old zoning code to advance the growth goals of its recently updated comprehensive plan. The diagnosis report is an important first step to a streamlined and user-friendly code for developers, property owners, and residents. Specifically, our zoning experts assessed the City’s zoning code and provided recommendations by zoning topic to facilitate an in-house zoning code update.