What We Do
Specializing in land use consulting and development management
Land-Use Consulting
While determining the highest-and-best-use of individual properties is central to what Giesbrecht & Co. does, we pride ourselves on being able to help determine the form that entire communities should take.
We believe in building complete, sustainable communities, and will only take on projects that we feel contribute to this goal. In the past we have taken on residential in-fill projects, employment land applications, social housing and institutional uses such as schools.
Community Engagement
Whether it is a Community Plan, Neighbourhood Plan, or simply a Land-Use update, community participation in the process is the cornerstone of an effective and holistic plan. Through various events as well as direct communication with neighbours and stakeholders, we are able to ensure that the communities affected by potential changes in land-uses are included in the planning process.
Land-Use Study Preparation
Working with certified Urban Planning professionals, we help municipalities create long-range visions for their communities. Including the crucial aspect of community engagement, we are able to manage the planning process from start to finish. Through cooperation with city staff, elected officials, and the planning team we are working with, Giesbrecht & Co. is able to create plans that have support from all parts of the community.
Rezoning and Development Management
We handle rezoning and subdivision applications from start to finish, managing the required technical sub-consultants, handling the stakeholder and neighborhood engagement and working with the local council and municipal staff throughout the whole process.
We work with the decision-makers to see the value in our client proposals, and we achieve this by creating an accurate and compelling narrative around a project that stands on its own merit. Acting as advocates on behalf of our clients we ensure that the relevant stakeholders are familiar with the necessary facts to make informed decisions. Dedicated to mitigating misinformation, championing the facts, and building coalitions of support, Giesbrecht & Company focuses on building consensus and delivering wins.
While these activities often take place between organizations and the broader community, we also work in between the various arms of government, building bridges and ensuring our clients’ needs are prioritized as needed to move their projects forward.
Local and Regional Government Relations
Most land use issues are governed at the municipal level, but depending on the particulars, other levels of government may also have jurisdiction, and need to be sought for approvals. Our role is to maintain strong relationships with senior staff and the elected Mayor’s and council in our region’s municipalities. We value these relationships very much and selectively choose which projects to get behind.
We have connectivity to nearly all of the municipalities in BC and Alberta, with a particular focus on the Lower Mainland of BC and the Greater Edmonton and Calgary regions.
Due-Diligence Reports
Knowing which people should be asked which questions before an application is even begun can often save a landowner time and money. In a short amount of time, we can create reports showing options for highest and best use on any given property, providing both current and prospective clients these reports can be critical in them making key investment decisions.
Political Consultation
On many occasions, landowners or prospective developers are keen to know what they might be able to do with their property, and want to determine political opinion of a local City Council as well as talking to Municipal staff. Thanks to our wide network of contacts within City Councils and Planning Departments, we are able to begin conversations on the topic of potential highest-and-best uses without jeopardizing the public process.
Potential Uses and Hazards
Through studying all available data and documents, we are able to provide recommendations as to what could feasibly be built on any given property without the need for a variance from City Hall. On many occasions, we are also able to provide potential paths forward on achieving variances which might permit higher-and-better uses. These recommendations, as well as any hazards or potential sources of conflict, are all included in our reports. Based on our recommendations, we can then create a strategy to achieve the goal of the client.