What's New

Chatham County received the 2024 APA-NC Marvin Collins Award for Advancing Equity. WSC prepared a ‘Health & Equity Assessment’ as part of Chatham County’s Recode Chatham, a comprehensive rewrite of the County’s zoning, subdivision, and other development-related codes. White Smith Cousino team members worked closely with Chatham County’s Planning and Public Health Departments to evaluate core areas where planning, health, and equity intersect. To implement the plan, recommendations from the assessment were prioritized and best practices were incorporated into the new Unified Development Ordinance. 

2024 APA-NC Awards; Recode Chatham; Health & Equity Assessment; Chatham County Planning Department

White Smith Cousino is pleased to congratulate Sean Scoopmire, AICP, Esq., Planning and Law Associate, for earning his American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification. The AICP is the only nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications, and is the much-deserved culmination of Sean’s experience, deep knowledge of planning, and commitment to pursuing this rigorous credential. AICP Certification also demonstrates Sean’s dedication to ethics as embodied in the AICP Code of Ethics.

The APA released its November, 2022 Zoning Practice issue featuring an article authored by Kelly Cousino. “Coliving: An Old Idea Is New Again” explores unique insights of coliving. The article describes coliving and its benefits, distinguishes coliving from other similar land uses, and identifies barriers to the production of purpose-built coliving communities. The report then provides recommendations for changes to local zoning codes to accommodate and encourage coliving.

In November, 2022, the Sign Research Foundation released Content-Neutral Sign Codes After Reed and Austin, a publication authored by White Smith Cousino Partner, Mark White. The report summarizes the state of the law following two recent U.S. Supreme Court cases, Reed v. Town of Gilbert and City of Austin vs. Reagan National Advertising, sorts through practical issues in complying with content-neutrality and offers pointers for local governments considering a sign code update.

The Lafayette Consolidated Government adopted a Unified Development Code (UDC) that establishes Parish-wide development regulations.  Mark White led the code update along with Wallace, Roberts & Todd, who led the comprehensive plan (PlanLafayette) adopted last summer. 

White Smith Cousino planners lead a team that preparing a design-based overlay district for the corridor north of Dulles International Airport.  Our efforts were recently praised by stakeholders. This implements a plan adopted in 2011 by Loudoun County, Virginia. According to an article in Leesburg Today, Al Hansen - the chair of Loudoun County's Design Cabinet - stated that business leaders will be happy with the work of the consultant hired by the county.  Mr. Hansen added: "The consultant is bringing in ideas from around the country and around the world…I think by 2014 we can be very proud of what is going on in that corridor.” See "Supervisors Tout Economic Development Successes, Plans."  For a copy of the zoning overlay and background on the project, click here.

Joplin, Missouri is updating its Comprehensive Plan - a critical step in rebuilding this community of 50,000 in the wake of  last May's EF-5 tornado.  Working as a subconsultant to Scott A. Michie Planning Services, Mark White assisted in preparing zoning amendments to implement the first phase of the City's plan update. This includes design guidelines that accommodate market demands, promote quality development, and protect surrounding neighborhoods.  These standards were unanimously adopted by both the City's Planning Commission and, on March 19, the City Council.   This is an important step in the City's successful rebuilding efforts.   See the Joplin Globe's coverage of this event at http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstories/x1862283703/Joplin-City-Council-adopts-new-property-design-guidelines. 

Our firm takes pride in its commitment to drafting codes that are easy to read and administer.   We recently drafted a Zoning Code for the Lake Maumelle Watershed in Pulaski County, Arkansas.  This implements a draft Land Use Plan prepared by the prime consultant on this project (Wallace, Roberts & Todd).  The Land Use Plan covers 33,500 acres, including the water supply for 400,000 customers in the Little Rock region.  

The Zoning Code was recently praised at a public meeting.   A representative of the League of Women Voters and Coalition of Greater Little Rock Neighborhoods stated that the Zoning Code was "remarkably readable for a government policy."   The draft Zoning Code is online at http://www.co.pulaski.ar.us/planning-lmw.shtml - click "Draft Land Use Regulations, June 24, 2011."

In a recent report, the National Complete Streets Coalition ranked Lee’s Summit’s Livable Streets Resolution, adopted on Nov 4, 2010, second in the nation compared to similar resolutions in other cities. (Ordinances were compared in a separate category.)   Mark White served on the leadership team for the Livable Streets Committee that developed the resolution.

Visit the National Complete Streets Coalition online for a copy of the report.