Plan it, and they will come

Very few municipalities have the luxury of mapping out their community from Day 1 before anything is established. Most towns are built around country roads, streams, or paths, evolving organically over time in ways that create challenges for future growth and community development. Doing it right is key. That’s where the expert planners at RETTEW come in. We develop comprehensive plans to not only address current needs but also position your town for managed growth.

We understand our municipal clients have limited personnel and limited budgets. At RETTEW, we act as an extension of your team. We work with your personnel, elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and residents to assess a problem from multiple angles. Then we work collaboratively toward a solution that not only meets current needs but positions your town for managed growth.

Looking forward

From ordinances and zoning to utilities, roadways, and parks – we develop plans to manage the growth and expansion of your town. We study everything: regional and local demographics; growth statistics; population density; modes of transportation; infrastructure including roadways and trails; parks and recreational amenities; education and community facilities; access to healthcare, public water, and sewer; environmental conditions; farmland; and commercial districts. Everything together helps develop a vision for the municipality’s potential growth. In fact, we’ve worked with more than 180 municipal clients and communities to transform their vision to reality.

Smart engineering and planning allow for strategic decision-making. When you partner with RETTEW, your project is assigned both a planner and an engineer to ensure the project will be well thought-out with proven methodologies and no stone left unturned.

When one local township found itself at the crossroads of a major thoroughfare, they knew they needed RETTEW’s help to plan for future development and expansion. The rural town had not planned to grow so quickly, so we initially helped them develop a comprehensive vision for the future. First order of business? Enhance the area with a communal park and recreation space. We helped identify parcels of land with sewer and roadway access and room for future growth. The small town needed financial support to buy the land and later develop it. Working together, we secured one grant for the purchase and three more grants to fund the park itself. Today, with a playground, parking, pickleball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, and an event pavilion, the park is recognized as one of the best recreation areas around.

A small, rural town needed to upgrade its main thoroughfare as the community grew and traffic increased. What was once a simple, narrow country road needed to be re-envisioned to handle the current commuter traffic as well as future traveler increases. We worked in phases with the municipality to create a sustainable roadway that met all regulatory agency permitting requirements. Because a wetland area ran alongside the road, our experts studied the problem from multiple angles: endangered species would be impacted from widening the road, and culverts and environmental permits would also be necessary. In the second phase of the project, we worked with the town’s leadership to identify and apply for grants to cover over 1 million dollars of the construction. And in the final design phase, we helped our client understand the future enhancements the roadway would likely need based on data and statistics. Through careful planning and advocating for our client, we help the town with the application, submittal, and interviews for a 1.5 million-dollar low-interest loan. This allowed the town to plan for future maintenance without a major financial impact to its annual budget.

It’s important to consider all sides of a planning project. So, when one town wanted to know what was most pressing on their to-do list from our comprehensive planning report, we talked to residents of the community. Through public forums and conversations with elected officials and community leaders, the residents decided their priority was to bring a grocery store and shopping to the town. Our plan identified a site for commercial development – close to the highway with good accessibility. The land was previously zoned for agricultural use, so we worked to have the zoning ordinance changed to commercial use. Next, through careful listening and understanding of the town’s end goal, we were able to bring their vision to reality. Today, the commercial area boasts major retailers, meeting the town’s needs and providing local tax revenue.

A growth mindset

We know how different running a town is compared to running a business. That’s why for more than 30 years, RETTEW’s municipal experts have remained focused on planning and engineering. We fully understand a municipality’s daily operations and know the importance of being able to communicate with multiple stakeholders, from elected officials to residents. It all starts with listening.

These are our communities too. We want to see them grow in a safe, strategic way that brings enjoyment and prosperity to the area. Rural, suburban, or urban – our diverse experience allows us to bring different ideas and solutions to the table. We pride ourselves on problem-solving. And that means being responsive, responsible, and trustworthy.

Your staff, extended

At RETTEW, our municipal planning experts have solid relationships — they are tried, tested, and true. We have historical knowledge and practical skill sets that offer municipalities peace of mind. Even if that means we are your bridge during a hiring gap. Because of our diverse expertise, we often act as a member of your staff until your new hire is trained and in place. We’ll even help train your new hire. We listen for and understand your pain points – what keeps you up at night – and develop solutions to get you moving forward.

Constantly two steps ahead, it’s important we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars, the public’s safety, and the environment – while also anticipating potential issues or pitfalls. We are constantly looking for cost savings, respecting your budget, and communicating throughout a project to keep everything on track. Being an extension of your team is just part of our culture. Your success is our success.

Municipal Planning Specialties:

  • Charrette Planning
  • Comprehensive Planning
  • Engineer of Record
  • Funding Assistance
  • Grant Coordination
  • Group Facilitation
  • Interim Finance Director
  • Interim Local Government Manager
  • Interim Zoning Officer
  • Local Government Coordination
  • Local Government Planner Services
  • Local Government Zoning Officer Services
  • Local Government Building Code Official Services
  • Local Government Project Management Services
  • Ordinance Preparation
  • Park, Recreation, and Open Space Planning
  • Plan Reviews
  • Urban Planning
  • Zoning Approvals and Permitting