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
Tucker County, West Virginia Small Business and Housing Needs Assessment
Tucker County, West Virginia has been part of an economic transition in recent decades, and it faces unique challenges on how to best meet the needs of the local residents and the expectations of its visitors. Downstream Strategies performed a housing and small business needs assessment for Tucker County, focusing on the primary population centers. This study examines the needs of local residents and how those needs fold into the county’s economic development strategies. It investigates gaps in local services, the types of businesses that residents and visitors would like to see, and the factors that lead to successes. Visitor, small business, and housing surveys; focus groups; and desktop research and analysis were used to complete this analysis.
Grantsville Revitalization Plan
The town of Grantsville, Maryland is poised for growth. It boasts numerous national and state historic places, proximity to roadways, a discovery center, a state park, a new art district designation, and heritage-based events. Downstream Strategies led a team of consultants to develop a revitalization plan for Grantsville that included a redesign of the city’s streetscape, a feasibility analysis for relocating utilities underground, and design concepts for vacant lots. It also proposed various funding sources to implement the plan’s recommendations. Our planning process included a synthesis of existing plans and efforts and used this information to lead several stakeholder meetings and design charrettes.