Education

Masters of Urban Design 2021

Bachelors of Urban Planning and Development 2017

 

Service

Board Member Chatham Arch Neighborhood Association 2021 - 2022

Brew Fest Committee Member Chatham Arch Neighborhood Association 2021 - 2022

Sustainability Initiative Group Member Indianapolis Cultural Trail Young Professionals Board 2021 - 2022

 

Awards

Graham Woodhouse Intergovernmental Effort Award

Berrien County Trails Master Plan

SolSmart Gold

St. Joseph County Solar Ordinance

 

Skills

AutoCAD

ArcGIS

Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro

Lumion

SketchUp

Master, Comprehensive Planning

Corridor, Transportation Planning

Code Review, Writing

Public Hearings

Data Collection, Inventory, Analysis

 
 

Experience

Urban Planner Abonmarche Consultants 2020-Present

  • Bronson Comprehensive Plan & Unified Development Ordinance

    • Consultant on a concurrent comprehensive plan and zoning code update which allowed for a seamless implementation of comprehensive plan goals.

    • Project lead on the zoning code to UDO transition and update.

    • Ensured Michigan’s Redevelopment Ready Communities requirements were met by the project to allow our client to receive critical grant funding.

    • Eliminated numerous code conflicts, updated housing standards (allowing more housing types and shrunk lot standards), introduced landscaping requirements, and allowed for mixed-use in the downtown district.

  • Elkhart County Development Ordinance

    • Project lead on creation of a new unified development ordinance for Elkhart County, Indiana.

    • Developed the process, timeline, and outline of this major ordinance replacement.

    • Transformed complicated regulations by incorporating plain English writing with graphic examples of complex provisions to create a new UDO that is easy to understand by the public, public officials, staff, and development professionals.

    • Coordinated intergovernmental discussions with two towns in the county to develop a set of zoning overlay districts to promote their small-town character and ensure new development meets the desires of the town.

  • Berrien County Trails Master Plan

    • Developed a county-wide comprehensive active recreation and transportation plan for Berrien County, Michigan.

    • Implemented a public engagement plan that included a community survey which received over 1,900 responses, communications with local municipalities, and community open houses.

    • Formulated unique methods of spatial analysis (demand, need, health, and stress) to guide route planning and ensure all necessary areas are served with the proposed network.

    • Leveraged the spatial analysis, stakeholder knowledge, and existing conditions to recommend the development of 118 new infrastructure segments totaling over 372 new miles of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

    • Presented the plan in an easy to understand and tailored format that speaks to residents, stakeholders, implementors, and funders.

    • Coordinated data gathering and buy-in from all 39 municipalities within Berrien County, ultimately leading to the adoption and implementation by each to create a well connected network.

    • Developed a complimentary public webmap to help interested parties understand and implement the plan from any scale, small village to county-wide.

  • Developed planning documents in easy to understand and graphic formats to clearly convey complicated information and ideas to all who may read and use them.

  • Other planning work include: Zanesville Master Plan, Plan North Liberty Comprehensive Plan, St. Joseph County Comprehensive Plan (sub-consultant for transportation and utilities), SR 933 Corridor Study, and New Buffalo Beach Master Plan.

  • Provided planning consulting including rezonings, variances, subdivisions, site planning, and project master planning.

  • Utilized my professional mix of public and private sector experience to help balance client and public needs to achieve the best project outcomes.

  • Fostered relationships with various municipalities and organizations across Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Planner St. Joseph County, Indiana 2018-2020

  • Led the research, drafting, and adoption of a groundbreaking solar ordinance for St. Joseph County. The ordinance allowed, for the first-time, private solar development and accessory solar panels by-right in the majority of instances. St. Joseph County became first in Indiana to require pollinator plantings with solar developments, a major win for its environmental and agricultural resilience.

  • Awarded SolSmart Gold, the highest rank in the United States Department of Energy SolSmart program, for the best practices and cutting-edge standards included in the St. Joseph County solar ordinance.

  • Led the adoption of numerous other zoning ordinance amendments including allowing agritourism uses in the agricultural district of the county, replacement of the sign regulations, replacement of the parking regulations which dramatically reduced and eliminated parking requirements while requiring bicycle parking, and other minor necessary amendments.

  • Processed 30+ applications a month to the Area Plan Commission and Area Board of Zoning Appeals.

  • Guided citizens and developers in a professional manner, with constant praise, through our variance, special use, and rezoning public hearings

  • Provided critical recommendations to boards, commissions, and legislative bodies regarding land use decisions.