HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Solutions, LLC NCOD propsoal, Land Solutions, LLC, Jan. 12, 2015
Submitted by
&
Historysmith Consulting Services
January 12, 2015
An Evaluation of Bozeman’s Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District residential infill
Proposal submitted to the City of Bozeman, Montana
Table of Contents
Cover Letter Page 1
Project Summary Page 3
Company Description & Capabilities Page 4
Project Team & Assignments Page 6
References Page 7
Cost Page 8
Outline of Services Page 8
January 12, 2015
City of Bozeman
Attn: Stacy Ulmen, City Clerk
121 N. Rouse Ave., Suite 202
Bozeman, MT 59771
RE: Proposal to Evaluate Bozeman’s Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District
Dear City of Bozeman Community Development Department:
On behalf of Land Solutions, LLC, a Montana-based community development planning firm, and
in association with historic preservation planning consultant Jim Jarvis of Historysmith
Consulting Services, enclosed please find our response to your Request for Proposals. We
understand that the City of Bozeman wishes to retain professional assistance to conduct an
evaluation of Bozeman’s Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District (NCOD) and its effect on
affordable housing, urban renewal, historic preservation and residential infill, as well as to
provide ideas for the City to meet several of its overall planning goals within this District.
The Land Solutions team provides rich experience, with over 30 years spent working in local
community planning and development throughout the State of Montana. Much of this
experience has been gained as local government planning directors and consultants to
Montana’s cities, towns and counties. Our team brings a multi-level perspective based on:
• Experience with historic districts, affordable housing, infill and tax increment finance
districts;
• Knowledge of historic design, and ways to effectively blend new development within
historic settings;
• Extensive experience leading transparent and effective public involvement programs;
and
• Hands-on experience grappling with land use and design issues in cities, towns and
counties across the region.
Land Solutions is a growing firm with four full-time, accomplished planners on staff, two of
whom are certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners and have been elected by
our peers to the Executive Board of the Montana Association of Planners.
We are intrigued by this opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the local NCOD program,
its 25 year track record, and determine whether the program has been successful in conserving
neighborhood character and protecting cultural resources, or whether other strategies may be
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more effective. We feel that Land Solution offers the right mix of talent, experience, location
and availability for this project, and we are excited to assist you in its timely completion.
Thank you for this opportunity to submit a proposal. We look forward to speaking with you in
person should you decide to grant us an interview.
Sincerely,
Dave DeGrandpre, AICP
Contact Information
Land Solutions, LLC
36708 Leon Road
Charlo, MT 59824
408-885-7526
landsolutions@blackfoot.net
www.landsolutionsmt.com
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Project Summary
The project entails a holistic review of Bozeman’s existing Neighborhood Conservation Overlay
District (NCOD) program with an emphasis on assessing its effectiveness conserving
neighborhood character, encouraging the development of affordable housing facilities and
infill, and the protection of cultural resources throughout the District. In the face of increasing
development pressures, general gentrification, perceived loss of historic resources through
demolition by neglect, and limited staff resources, the project sponsor is now questioning
whether the NCOD is the best approach to achieve these community goals.
A thorough, objective review of existing and historic conditions, current land use policies,
housing studies, census data, and the overall integrity of historic resources within the District is
proposed. Based on this review and input from various stakeholders, the consultant will
research and evaluate successful efforts made in other jurisdictions and make
recommendations of locally appropriate best practices to either strengthen and maintain the
existing NCOD program, or recommend other approaches, including the development of zoning
criteria and design guidelines of a more strategic and comprehensive nature.
A key element of this evaluation will include an honest discussion of the inherent conflict
between encouraging affordable housing, and preserving historic resources and neighborhood
character in the context of a robust local economy and market-related pressures to satisfy
demand for new commercial and residential development. A similarly important project
implementation step will include the development of clear, locally accepted definitions and
guidelines of what constitutes affordable housing, historically significant resources,
neighborhood character, and compatible design for infill development. With this new
understanding, the community can then accurately assess available resources, general public
support, and current and future neighborhood conservation goals and priorities.
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Company Description & Capabilities
Land Solutions, LLC
Land Solutions is a Montana-based land planning consulting firm formed in 2005. We serve
public and private sector clients throughout Montana and North Dakota. Offering personal
service and land planning expertise, we provide effective project leadership and focus on
results. We pride ourselves in being a firm small enough to provide direct personal
involvement, with the depth and experience to offer creative solutions to complex
development challenges.
Over the last 10 years, Land Solutions team has grown to a four member full-time staff and
helped numerous communities respond to, and plan for, growth and change, unlock hidden
potential, and generally create vibrant communities shaped by local values, opportunities, and
constraints. We work out of individual offices in Charlo, Polson, Hamilton and Helena.
As dictated by the needs of the project we have routinely partnered with other planning
professionals. In this case, we have retained the assistance of Historic Preservation and
Community Development Planner Jim Jarvis of Historysmith Consulting Services to round
out our team. Given his expertise, Jim will play a leading role on this project. Please refer
below to a summary of the project team and Appendix A for applicable resumes.
Experience
Our Public Sector work has focused on the following subjects, including:
• Growth Policies
• Zoning, Subdivision and Development Codes
• Impact fee Studies
• Neighborhood and Special District Planning
• Application Review and Documentation
• Public Outreach
• Mapping and Graphics
• Environmental Compliance Documentation
• Parks and Recreation Planning
• Needs Assessments
We have several similar community planning projects underway or recently completed, with
communities, both large and small, throughout the area. Please see below for an overview of
four of these projects or visit the Land Solution website at www.landsolutionsmt.com for
further information.
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1. CITY OF DEER LODGE GROWTH POLICY
Land Solutions is currently helping the City of Deer Lodge update its growth
policy. Critical issues include downtown revitalization, Clark Fork riverfront
redevelopment, city-county planning cooperation, parks and trail development and an
assessment of the City's development regulations. Although at a smaller scale than
Bozeman, Land Solutions is helping the City of Deer Lodge create incentives for
redevelopment that will also meet larger planning goals such as affordable housing, infill
and historic preservation.
2. ZONING ORDINANCE & SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS FOR THE CITY OF POLSON, MT -
LAKE COUNTY PLANNING AREA
Land Solutions is assisting the City of Polson and Lake County in a comprehensive
update to the land use regulations, including revised use districts, performance
standards, review process requirements, flow charts and application forms. A major
emphasis of this effort is revitalization of the downtown by encouraging a mix of
housing and commercial uses, and also procedures that help the City and County work
together to achieve common goals.
3. ZONING ORDINANCE & SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS FOR WILLIAMS COUNTY, NORTH
DAKOTA
Williams County, which includes the cities of Williston, Tioga and Ray, is booming due to
recently developed methods of oil and gas production. Land Solutions is helping the
Williams County Planning Department update its zoning and subdivision regulations in
order to preserve some of the community’s assets during a time of intense market
pressures, rapid growth and industrialization.
4. MISSOULA COUNTY GROWTH POLICY
Similar to the City of Bozeman, the citizens of Missoula County are passionate about
protecting the assets and attributes that make the area special. At the same time, the
appetite for regulation is small so Land Solutions has been charged with leading the
development of creative ways to protect natural resources and maintain discrete,
vibrant communities across the county.
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Project Team & Assignments
After serving six years as the Senior Planner and Planning Director for Lake County,
Montana, Dave DeGrandpre, AICP founded Land Solutions in 2005. As principal planner
and project manager for public and private sector projects, Dave has developed a well-
rounded understanding of issues related to community design
and development, growth management, finance, legal defensibility and effective public
process.
Dave will provide project management support and serve as the zoning and affordable
housing specialist for this project.
Jim Jarvis will serve in an associate capacity to Land Solutions for this project. Jim brings
over fifteen years of community development and planning experience working with
municipalities and counties to develop land use policies encouraging the recognition,
conservation, and re-use of local historic resources and settings. Specific areas of
interest include adaptive re-use of historic buildings and settings, achieving
compatibility of design for infill residential and commercial development, and generally
helping older communities respond to the effects of new growth and change. He
especially enjoys the unique challenge of developing creative strategies to blend the
new with the old; and create vibrant new elements within historic settings.
Jim will provide historic preservation input specific to zoning regulations, design review
standards and guidelines, affordable housing infill and rehabilitation design approaches,
applicable local, state, and federal historic preservation regulations, and general
evaluation of the integrity, significance, and condition of historic resources and
neighborhoods.
Andrew Hagemeier, AICP has had a planning career spanning the public, private and
non-profit sectors. Andrew focuses on community planning, public facilitation, natural
resource issues and development review. Andrew has superior GIS, research,
comprehensive planning and technical writing skills.
Andrew will provide public outreach, meeting facilitation, census data review and
analysis, and GIS support this project.
Matthew Rohrbach Matthew has more than six years of experience in transportation,
land use, and economic development planning. He brings to the Land Solutions team a
broad range of skills and expertise in GIS analysis and mapping, technical writing, public
participation, and graphics.
Matthew will provide development and zoning-related research and graphics skills to
. this project
Resumes (see Appendix A)
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Reference Projects and Contacts
1. Lewis & Clark County Long Range Planning Services, Land Solutions
a. Agency Name: Lewis & Clark County Community Development & Planning
b. Contact: George Thebarge, AICP Director 406-4447-8394,
GThebarge@lccountymt.gov
c. Population of jurisdiction: 65,338 (2013 estimate)
d. Number of Employees: 7
e. Project start and completion date: September 2013 - Present
f. Project summary: In the fall of 2013, Lewis and Clark County hired Land
Solutions to assist in a variety of long range planning services on an
ongoing basis. This is a multifaceted assignment with three primary
components: a targeted update and revision of the 2004 Growth Policy, a
complete analysis and revision of the county’s zoning districts, and
developing a regional parks district.
2. Update Butte-Silver Bow (BSB) Historic Preservation Ordinance and Design Review
Guidelines and Standards – Jim Jarvis, as BSB Historic Preservation Planner
a. Agency Name: City and County of Butte-Silver Bow (BSB), Montana
b. Contact: Karen Byrnes, BSB Community Development Director 406 497-
6465, kbyrnes@bsb.mt.gov
c. Population of jurisdiction: 32,000
d. Number of Employees: 302
e. Project start and completion date: January 2012-July 2012
f. Project summary: Over a six month period the existing historic
preservation ordinance and design guidelines and standards were
updated based on input from a community-based ad-hoc committee,
historic preservation commission, and BSB staff (Jim Jarvis). As a result,
the existing ordinance, guidelines, and standards were repealed and
replaced with the revised policies and criteria. Key areas of discussion
include the size of the historic district, staff allocations, creation of new
historic districts, design review certificate of appropriateness (COA)
application and review process, design guidelines for rehabilitation
and/or infill development relating to projects receiving public incentives,
including affordable housing projects, listing of properties on a local
register, and review of demolition requests impacting potential historic
properties.
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3. Prepare Butte-Silver Bow (BSB) Distressed Properties Inventory and Blight
Management Strategies Report - Jim Jarvis, as BSB Historic Preservation Planner
a. Agency Name: City and County of Butte-Silver Bow (BSB), Montana
b. Contact: Jon Sesso, BSB Planning Director 406 497-6250, jsesso@bsb.mt.gov
c. Population of jurisdiction: 32,000
d. Number of Employees: 302
e. Project start and completion date: January 2014-December 2014
f. Project summary: Over a 12 month period, Jim worked with other BSB staff
(Building Official and Community Enrichment staff) and community members to
create an inventory of distressed (blighted) properties throughout the
community. The project entailed developing inventory inspection criteria and
procedures to identify worst case properties, a database to track violations, and
specific management strategies and abatement procedures. Ultimately over
200 properties were identified under phase one of the project and compliance
activities implemented to address health, safety, and public nuisance concerns.
4. Prepare Design Guidelines and Standards for NSP3 Affordable Housing (NSP3)
Projects in Butte-Silver Bow - Jim Jarvis, as BSB Historic Preservation Planner
a. Agency Name: City and County of Butte-Silver Bow (BSB), Montana, and
National Affordable Housing Network (NAHN)
b. Contact: Jon Sesso, BSB Planning Director 406 497-6250, jsesso@bsb.mt.gov
c. Population of jurisdiction: 32,000
d. Number of Employees: 302
e. Project start and completion date: June 2012-June 2014
f. Project summary: Over a two year period, Jim worked with other BSB staff
(Building Official, Planning, and Community Development Department) and the
National Affordable Housing Network, a local non-profit affordable housing
organization, to identify properties suitable for rehabilitation and vacant lots for
residential infill development. BSB was awarded $2.3 million of Neighborhood
Stabilization Program (NSP3) funds to address a shortage of safe, energy
efficient and affordable housing options within the Uptown Butte Historic
District. The project entailed property and site selection, developing design
guidelines for rehabilitation of historic properties and infill development within
the historic district, and complying with environmental assessment
requirements per state and federal standards and guidelines. Ultimately
seventeen affordable housing projects were completed and sold to eligible low
income families under this program.
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Project Cost
We proposed to complete the project and fulfill the scope of work for a “not to exceed”
fixed fee of $50,000; including travel and report reproduction costs. Our fee is based on
schedule of hourly rates ranging from $75-90 per hour, depending on the tasks involved.
Outline of Services
We propose to accomplish the project in the following fashion over 6-7 month period
beginning March 2015.
1. Fieldwork and inspection (March-April)
2. Stakeholder interviews and meetings (April)
3. Analyze existing data and reports (April)
4. Compile initial findings (May)
5. Compile draft report with illustrated examples of concepts (May)
6. Present report to client, and applicable groups, for review (June)
7. Revise based on feedback (July)
8. Submit final report with recommended guidelines and revised zoning code
language consistent with report findings and scope of work. (August)
9. Present final report to community (September)
10. Close out contract (September)
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APPENDIX A
RESUMES
Page | 4
DAVE DEGRANDPRE, AICP
36708 LEON ROAD CHARLO, MT 59824
406-885-7526 ▪ landsolutions@blackfoot.net ▪ www.landsolutionsmt.com
Areas of Expertise
Long Range Community Planning, Project Facilitation and Management, Public Outreach, Zoning and
Subdivision Administration, Development Code Writing.
Experience
Principal Planner ▪ January 2005 - Present
Land Solutions ▪ Charlo, MT
• Manage land use planning projects including scoping, budgeting, scheduling, staffing and
client collaboration
• Design and lead public outreach efforts including meeting facilitation, website development
and coordination with the public, media and stakeholders
• Research and write long range plans designed to meet each community’s goals and provide
realistic, action-oriented implementation steps
• Provide current planning assistance and training to local government officials
• Write subdivision and zoning codes with an emphasis on thoroughness and clarity
• Review complex development proposals for compliance with regulations and plans, assess
impacts to the community and the built environment, make recommendations and facilitate
decision making
• Research and write technical reports covering a wide range of community, financial and natural
resource issues
• Write impact fee service area reports and adoption documents and assist with impact fee
administration
Planning Director and Senior Planner ▪ January 1999 – December 2004
Lake County Planning Department ▪ Polson, MT
• Managed regulatory programs including zoning, subdivision, lakeshore construction and
floodplain permitting during a period of rapid growth
• Processed hundreds of subdivision and zoning permit applications while emphasizing technical
accuracy, legal defensibility and customer service
• Worked effectively with elected and appointed officials, applicants, attorneys, consultants, the
public and agency personnel
• Developed the Lake County Density Map and Regulations, a county-wide zoning program
based on parcel density
• Updated county and municipal subdivision and zoning regulations
• Researched, wrote and facilitated the adoption of the Lake County Growth Policy
Page | 5
Environmental Scientist ▪ May 1996 – December 1998
Radian International ▪ Anchorage, AK
• Investigated and remediated soil and groundwater contamination on US Air Force facilities
across Alaska
• Organized and provided logistical support for multi-day field projects off the road system
• Wrote project plans, analyzed data and wrote technical reports
• Responsible for quality control of environmental sampling efforts
Education
University of Montana
December, 1994 ▪ Bachelors of Arts, Liberal Studies, Environmental Studies Emphasis. Masters level
coursework in public administration.
Professional Organizations
American Institute of Certified Planners, 2012 – Present
Montana Association of Planners Board of Directors, 2011 - Present
American Planning Association, 1999 – Present
Significant Professional Accomplishments
Montana Main Street Project ▪ Co-author, 2013-
2014
Montana Model Subdivision Regulations, MT
Department of Commerce Community
Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) ▪ Co-
Author / Reviewer, 2012-2013
Lake County Parks & Trails Plan ▪ Co-Author,
2012 - 2013
Impact Fee Service Area Reports, City of Sidney
& Town of Bainville ▪ Author, 2012 – 2013
Town of Terry Growth Policy ▪ Planner, 2012
City of Ray, ND Subdivision & Zoning
Regulations ▪ Author, 2012
Model Temporary Workforce Housing Zoning
Regulations, CTAP ▪ Co-Author, 2012
Eastern MT Workshops on Zoning,
Subdivision & Growth Management ▪ Co-
Presenter, 2012
Mineral County Subdivision Regulations
Update ▪ Co-Author, 2011
Lake County Subdivision Regulations Update
▪ Co-Author, 2009 – 2010
City of Ronan Growth Policy, Zoning & CIP ▪
Author, 2008-2009
Secured entitlements for 735-lot, multi-phase
Eagle’s Crest Subdivision ▪ Entitlement
Planner, 2006 - 2008
Secured entitlements for 10 recreational
development projects in NW Montana for
Plum Creek ▪ Entitlement Planner, 2006 - 2009
Lake County Density Map and Regulations ▪
Primary Author, 2004
Lake County Growth Policy ▪ Primary Author,
2003
Page | 6
ANDREW HAGEMEIER, AICP
PO BOX 215 HELENA, MT 59624
406-502-1616 ▪ landsolutions2@blackfoot.net ▪ landsolutionsmt.com
Objectives
Long Range Planning, Geographic Information Systems, Community Organization and Public
Outreach.
Experience
Community Planner ▪ July 2012 - Present
Land Solutions ▪ Helena, MT
• Provide community building and land use planning assistance to cities and counties throughout
Montana and Western North Dakota
• Design and conduct public outreach and participation efforts based on community needs and
budgets
• Communicate effectively with elected officials, local staff, businesses, developers and
community members to envision better and stronger communities through long range planning
• Demonstrate connections between economic growth and the need to plan in rural communities
affected by energy and resource development
• Analyze and map a variety of land use issues in a clear, attractive way
• Develop innovative solutions to accommodate unique types of development in oil boom
communities in order to mitigate immediate impacts, and prepare for the inevitable bust
• Analyze demographics and foster community conversations in order to identify and prioritize
community needs and appropriate future land use
• Provide land use planning technical assistance to local officials and planning staff throughout
Montana and Western North Dakota
• Facilitate discussions between developers and local government officials in order to identify
mutually beneficial outcomes
Denning Landscape Conservation Fellowship ▪ July 2011 – December 2012
National Parks Conservation Association ▪ Whitefish, MT
• Served as the face of the organization to the local business community; gave presentations,
attended community and chamber events, and conducted outreach to main street businesses
• Engaged local and regional businesses, economic development corporations, chambers of
commerce and community leaders, to identify shared values and establish lasting partnerships
• Organized and wrote an original economic report focusing on unique strengths that give
communities in Montana an edge in attracting footloose business in a competitive global
economy
• Analyzed demographic and economic data in relation to academic research to identify trends in
regional economies
• Organized and performed community outreach in order to create a collaborative partnership
between conservation and business interests
Page | 7
Planner II ▪ May 2007 – December 2010
Flathead County Planning and Zoning ▪ Kalispell, MT
• Provided leadership in high profile, complex planning projects in rural communities and at the
neighborhood scale
• Managed citizen groups developing long range neighborhood plans
• Engaged citizen volunteers and members of the public in visioning, goal identification and plan
development
• Led workshops and town hall meetings to educate the public on the benefits of planning
• Developed growth management policies and innovative land development controls
• Utilized advanced GIS mapping and other visual tools and techniques as tools to build public
support for project goals and effectively shape public policy
• Analyzed and forecasted trends in population, demographics and environmental conditions in
rural landscapes
Environmental Planner ▪ September 2006 – May 2007
SAGE Landscape Architecture and Environmental ▪ Tucson, AZ
• Assisted with researching and drafting technical reports for compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act including the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act.
• Acquired understanding of the philosophy, ethics, purpose and processes of NEPA
• Performed background research, gathered data, formed observations and reported findings on
environmental impacts of proposed projects in technical reports
• Researched scientific reports by state and federal wildlife management agencies and peer
reviewed articles to identify potential for habitat of sensitive plant and wildlife species within a
project's affected area
Skills
ArcGIS
Microsoft Suite
PagePlus
Sketch-Up
Social Networking Sites
Education
University of Arizona
May, 2007 ▪ Masters of Science, Planning
University of Montana
May, 2001 ▪ Bachelors of Science, Resource
Conservation
Professional Organizations
Montana Association of Planners Board of
Directors, 2013 - Present
American Institute of Certified Planners, 2009 -
Present
Significant Professional Accomplishments
Main Street Montana Project ▪ Co-author, 2013-
2014
Pathways to Prosperity ▪ Primary Author, 2012
Town of Terry Growth Policy Planner, 2012
Ashley Lake Neighborhood Plan ▪ Lead
Planner, 2009-2010
Lakeside Neighborhood Plan ▪ Lead Planner,
2008-2010
North Fork Neighborhood Plan ▪ Lead
Planner, 2007-2008
MATTHEW ROHRBACH
803 SOUTH 3RD STREET HAMILTON, MT 59840
206-679-0563 ▪ matthew.landsolutions@blackfoot.net ▪ www.landsolutionsmt.com
Areas of Expertise
Transportation Planning, Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Long Range
Planning, Facilitation, and Public Outreach
Experience
Community Planner ▪ November 2014 - Present
Land Solutions ▪ Hamilton, MT
• Provide analysis of demographic, economic, and land use data for cities and counties.
• Develop economic development strategies for rural communities.
• Review sub-division proposals for cities and counties in Montana.
Associate Planner ▪ August 2012 – December 2013
Puget Sound Regional Council ▪ Seattle, WA
• Produced high quality graphics and data visualizations for use in regional plans.
• Worked with transportation providers to develop goals and strategies for delivering
transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• Facilitated meetings among traffic engineers to coordinate traffic signal operations between
jurisdictions in the Seattle metropolitan area.
• Developed performance measures in an effort to monitor whether objectives were being met in
the Puget Sound region’s transportation plan.
• Assisted local jurisdictions and non-profits in applying for federal transportation grant funding.
Transportation Planner ▪ October 2009 – June 2011
Metro ▪ Portland, OR
• Analyzed demographic, economic, and land use data in an effort to prioritize federal funding
for local transportation projects.
• Identified transportation management strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Created maps for spatial analysis and use in regional plans.
Transportation Planner ▪ May 2008 – May 2009
Puget Sound Regional Council ▪ Seattle, WA
• Worked with staff and local jurisdictions to identify solutions for managing traffic congestion in
the Seattle metropolitan area.
• Created a regional data catalog to facilitate data sharing among local jurisdictions.
• Reviewed and scored applications for federal grant funding.
Matthew Rohrbach Page 2
Transportation Analyst ▪ September 2006 – September 2007
Cambridge Systematics ▪ Cambridge, MA
• Worked with federal land management agencies to prioritize recommendations for
transportation funding.
• Authored numerous articles on Intelligent Transportation Systems which are posted on the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s website.
• Created transportation infrastructure maps for the Office of Federal Lands Highway.
Skills
ArcGIS
Adobe Creative Suite
Sketch-Up
Microsoft Office
Social Media
Education
Portland State University
June, 2011 ▪ Master of Urban and Regional Planning.
University of Montana
May, 2006 ▪ Bachelor of Arts, Geography, Community and Environmental Planning Emphasis.
Professional Organizations
American Planning Association, 2009 – Present
Significant Professional Accomplishments
Puget Sound Coordinated Transit-Human
Services Plan ▪ Primary Author, 2012-2013
Puget Sound Rural Transportation Study ▪
Data Analyst, 2012-2013
City of Weston, OR Downtown Revitalization
Plan ▪ Co-Author, 2011
Portland Regional Transportation Systems
Management and Operations Plan ▪ Co-
Author/Data Analyst, 2010
America 2050 Ecolopolis 4.0 – Livability in
Cascadia ▪ Co-Author, 2009
Puget Sound Congestion Management Process
Plan ▪ Co-Author, 2009
U.S. DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems –
Lessons Learner ▪ Primary author of 38
articles, 2007
James R. Jarvis 104 West Idaho Street (P.O. Box 156) ♦ Virginia City, MT 59755 (406) 865-0299 ♦ historysmith@mail.com
SUMMARY
• Seasoned planning professional with over 15 years of experience in in community
development with an emphasis in historic preservation, cultural resource management, downtown revitalization, land use management, government administration, and design
and construction of public facilities and commercial and residential development.
• Diverse planning background working with public and private organizations including municipalities, counties, state and federal agencies, community and non-profit groups, and businesses and foundations
• Strong understanding of the legal issues associated with administering public programs,
reviewing and regulating community development projects, and the land-use and
planning authorities provided to city and county governments by state statutes.
EXPERIENCE
Historysmith Consulting Services
Community Development Consultant
Virginia City, Montana January 2014 – Present
Historic Preservation Planner City-County of Butte-Silver Bow, Planning and Community Development Departments, Butte,
Montana
June 2009 – December 2014
Planner
Madison County Planning Office Virginia City, Montana October 2007 – June 2009
Historic Preservation Planner/Public Works Director
Town of Virginia City
Virginia City, Montana July 2000 – November 2007
EDUCATION
Masters of Science in Historic Preservation, June 2003 University of Oregon, School of Architecture & Allied Arts Major: Historic Preservation
Minor: Community Planning and Development
Bachelor of Science, December 1987
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point Major: Natural Resource Management Minor: Environmental Chemistry
AFFILIATIONS/INVOLVEMENT
• Butte Historic Preservation Commission
• World Museum of Mining, Butte
• Montana Association of Planners
• Virginia City Chamber of Commerce
• Virginia City Public Works Board
• Virginia City Preservation Commission
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
• Feasibility Studies for National Heritage Areas – Montana Downtown Conference (2014)
• Creative Strategies for Community Placemaking – Montana Association of Planners
Conference (2013)
• Effective Design Review Programs and Strategies – Montana Downtown Conference (2012)
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Jon Sesso City-County of Butte-Silver Bow (406) 497-6254
Planning Director
Karen Byrnes City-County of Butte-Silver Bow (406) 497-6221
Community Development Director Charity Fechter Madison County Planning Director (406) 843-5250