Principal/Vice President and Group Manager @ Freese and Nichols | FAICP, CNU-A | Urban Planning Problem Solver
Really proud of our work with the City of McAllen, TX to deliver not only an award-winning innovative comprehensive plan, but to seamlessly follow it with a new unified development code to operationalize that vision for the future! It took real guts on their part to take this all on as a single multi-phase action, and represents a major step in demonstrating what the #riograndevalley is capable of in #urbanplanning and #revitalization. The Freese and Nichols team did an excellent job of melding with the culture of the community to ensure we did things "the McAllen way," with Edgar I. Garcia AICP, CNU-A, CPM as a steady hand on the rudder. He is a great example of a planning director with both outstanding technical and management abilities, and a tight finger on the pulse of the community.
Extremely proud that last night, City Commission adopted a new Unified Development Code that will place #McAllen back in the vanguard of #UrbanPlanning in the #RioGrandeValley! This moment was three years in the making and I’m humbled to have been able to get this done. Props to Chance Sparks, FAICP, CNU-A, ENV SP and his team at Freese and Nichols for their work on this as well. They were at every step in the process and provided invaluable support. Looking forward to see the impact the UDC will have on the City in the coming years.
Congratulations to all. This is not an easy feat! Bravo!
Senior City Planner at ZoneCo | Development Code Specialist | Author | Retired College Basketball Official | Football Official | Jewelry Enthusiast/Designer
2wYayyyy! I’m glad to see that it’s officially adopted. I’m proud of my work in McAllen with Edgar I. Garcia AICP, CNU-A, CPM, Chance Sparks, FAICP, CNU-A, ENV SP, Caitlin Admire, MLA, AICP, LEED AP, ENV SP, and the rest of the planners at Freese and Nichols. I hope the community benefits greatly from the new Comp Plan and UDC!