Planning &
Urban Design

Starting with the end in mind our team always has an eye on the finish line, while not forgetting to recognize the inherent value of the steps required along the way to achieve a successful outcome for our clients. TRUE provides the following services to our private sector clients:

• Official Community Plan Amendments
• Rezoning Applications
• Development Permit Applications
• Development Variance Permit Requests
• Subdivision Approval
• Agricultural Land Commission Applications
• Tourism Development

Place Matters – urban design is uniquely tied to its place: physically, socially, and culturally. We recognize that the multi-functional character of urban design involves the systematic layering of various natural and cultural systems. At TRUE we strive to promote and advance the concepts of place-making and sense of community through public engagement, external partnerships, and in-house collaboration. Our consulting services specific to urban design include the following:

• Conceptual Design and Development
• Site Plans
• Streetscape Plans
• Draft Plans of Subdivision
• Building Scheme Guidelines
• 3D Visualization / Animation / Cross Sections
• Infill Designs
• Open House Exhibits
• Marketing Materials
• Public Notice Signs

TRUE has been working closely with public sector clients throughout BC since 1986. Our success in providing municipal land use support can be attributed to the unique and innovative combination of skills that we offer, including expertise in policy/bylaw development, development review, public consultation, and project management.

• Zoning Bylaws
• Official Community Plans
• Policy Development
• Development Application Review
• Development Cost Charge Bylaws
• Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaws
• GIS Mapping
• Stakeholder/Public Engagement
• Grant Applications

We value a “listen-first” approach to land use planning and consultation with First Nation communities. We recognize that a successful working relationship is based on a solid foundation of respect. Our scope of planning services to First Nation communities have included:

• Comprehensive Community Plans
• Land Use Plans
• Coordination with Municipalities and Provincial Ministries
• Capital Works Submissions
• Project Management
• Capital Planning for Municipal Infrastructure Development and Upgrading
• Asset Condition Reporting System (ACRS)
• Creation of Consultation and Communication Plans

Research is an integral part of developing successful solutions for our clients. Research can help one develop a full understanding of the issues, assess historical outcomes, and consider possible concepts. We have the capability to provide the following:

• Feasibility Analysis/Due Diligence
• Demographic Analysis/Forecasting
• Highest and Best Use Analysis
• Housing and Residential Land Use Studies
• Long Range Planning
• GIS-based Land Use Analysis
• Best Practices Review
• Strategic Planning

TRUE understands the importance of public consultation in achieving broad community collaboration and attaining consensus. Our interactive approach to public consultation helps build mutual understanding and trust between all participants. We value communication and engagement and believe it to be an integral component to the planning process. Recognizing there is no one-size-fits-all in public engagement, we design and manage programs to reflect the context and scale of a project and the requirements of our clients, approval authorities and stakeholders. Services we provide with respect to community engagement include:

• Workshop Facilitation
• Online Surveys
• Community and Stakeholder Focus Groups
• Visioning and Strategic Direction Setting
• Community Liaising
• Virtual Engagement

Putting the appropriate development in the appropriate location is the work of every planner. How you get there and at what time and cost, is critical to the success of a project. At their best, developments create shared and sustained benefits for both investors in projects or developments, the local community, and the environments in which the development occurs. Our consulting and project management services include:

• Planning and Approvals
• Subdivision Layout and Preliminary Design
• Funding and Financing Solutions
• Joint Venture and Strategic Partnership Development
• Capital and Operating Budgets
• New Construction, Renovation and Major Capital Improvements