Empowering Property Developers Across Multiple Project Sectors
Whether embarking on a greenfield development or entering an infield project, we’ve seen it all. Our extensive experience enables us to help you navigate the intricate permitting process with ease.
Real Estate Development
Commercial and Industrial Projects
Public Infrastructure
Renewable
Energy
Agriculture and Land Conversion
SECTORS
Who we help
At Cox Planning Solutions, our environmental planning services reach across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors. From eco-friendly residential designs to sustainable practices for businesses, we minimize footprints while maximizing benefits. Our assessments and mitigation strategies ensure infrastructure projects tread lightly. Together, we’ll create a greener future.
Real Estate Development
COX Planning has helped numerous property owners and developers obtain the entitlements they need to build new or expanded developments, as well as complete improvements for operational businesses. With 25 years of experience, our experts are familiar with all regulatory aspects of the real estate development process, including land use, environmental, and building requirements. Most consultants are relatively siloed on a project by their area of expertise, which means that projects need to be either funded well enough to incorporate a development consultant to manage the entire development process, or the developer or property owner must take on this role. Our unique blend of land use and environmental expertise means that COX Planning clients benefit from a cross trained manager, as well as a qualified professional who can effectively complete required deliverables or knows how to assemble a streamlined team of consultants to get the job done. Employing our combined expertise and network of professionals means you will hire the right team for your project without having to worry about being charged for overhead and inexperienced staff from an allinclusive or separate development consultant.
Experienced developers know the importance of integrating environmental planning early in the development process to avoid delays, reduce costs, and enhance project sustainability. We assist with identifying key issues and incorporating them into project planning as early as possible to make sure budgets and timelines are as accurate as possible.
Commercial and Industrial Projects
COX Planning helps small and large scale commercial and industrial development projects with experienced strategic advice and technical support throughout the entitlement process. Our services start with initial property due diligence, focusing on land use and environmental feasibility by completing an extensive review comparing project plans with local, state, and federal regulations. We then work with property owners and developers to identify and engage with key stakeholders, including agencies and their designated staff, as well as non-governmental organizations that may have influence over project approvals and surrounding property neighbors. We then assist with developing project plans that incorporate regulatory and political constraints before submitting applications to relevant agencies and representing clients through correspondence, meetings, and public hearings. Finally, we help negotiate and implement conditions of approval and required mitigation to achieve final certification.
Commercial and industrial projects can become very complicated with extensive review timelines and the necessity for detailed studies and planning before approvals can be obtained. Incorporating land use and environmental requirements from the beginning of the project greatly assists in identifying issues early to determine feasibility and direct future planning efforts before they become overwhelming or require expensive redoes.
Public Infrastructure
COX Planning provides extensive support for public infrastructure projects requiring review in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as environmental permits required for impacting wetlands and other waters, and biological resources. We have completed many Preliminary Environmental Studies (PES) and Natural Environmental Studies (NES) that are specifically required for Caltrans funded projects. Our staff are experts at working with private and public agency engineers to provide design review and incorporate improvement plan details reviewing agencies require to approve permits.
COX Planning undestands the unique challenges of public works projects, particularly those that are funded by a state or federal agency that requires additional layers of environmental review. We help local agencies prepare required environmental review documentation, negotiate mitigation requirements, and manage permit compliance such as biological monitoring to completion of construction.
Renewable Energy
COX Planning assists renewable energy projects with land use and environmental permitting services aimed at streamlining approvals so they can be quickly implemented. While they require similar review as traditional projects, renewable energy is often initially viewed more positively while implementation can lead to negative sentiment if proper conditions of approval are not incorporated to ensure they function as designed or prevent operational malfunctions. Additionally, environmental impacts that are not satisfactorily mitigated may result in pushback from the public, as well as permitting agencies such as the Department of Fish & Wildlife. Our staff are experts at identifying potential issues upfront and negotiating mutually beneficial conditions and mitigation to ensure the project’s long term success.
Renewable energy approvals in California face significant challenges despite the state’s ambitious clean energy goals. Key obstacles include lengthy permitting processes, which often slow down the construction of wind and solar projects. Additionally, environmental regulations, land use conflicts, and local opposition can further delay projects. There are also concerns about the capacity of the grid to integrate new renewable energy sources, particularly as the state pushes toward a 100% clean energy target by 2045. COX Planning incorporates these issues into planning and permitting efforts to help developers understand their requirements upfront and make better decisions throughout the development process.
Agriculture and Land Conversion
COX Planning Solutions has extensive experience in navigating agricultural projects and land conversions through California’s regulatory framework. We focus on ensuring compliance with both environmental and land use regulations, which involves detailed project assessments, regulatory filings, and managing stakeholder interactions. Our expertise includes guiding projects through complex permitting processes, addressing potential environmental impacts, and ensuring that land use changes align with state
and local requirements. By coordinating with regulatory agencies and utilizing their deep knowledge of compliance standards, COX Planning effectively steers projects from conception to approval.
Balancing agricultural development with environmental protection involves carefully managing land use to promote both agricultural productivity and the preservation of natural resources. COX Planning Solutions excels in this area by providing comprehensive services that integrate sustainable agricultural practices with environmental safeguards. Our approach includes conducting environmental assessments, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and collaborating with stakeholders to minimize ecological impacts. By prioritizing both economic and environmental goals, COX Planning fosters sustainable agricultural practices that protect ecosystems while supporting agricultural growth.
Client Testimonials/Feedback
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Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
“Without Cox Planning Solutions, we would not have moved forward with our project at all. Their guidance and diligence helped get our project back on track after receiving a letter from the city requiring a biological study, and hiring another consultant who did not follow through.”
Alex Rankin
Assistant Project Manager
Alston Construction
Assistant Project Manager
Alston Construction
Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
“COX Planning Solutions has helped us tremendously with our wetlands permits, including effectively negotiating our Water Board approval, completing our application submissions on schedule, and managing completion of all our protocol surveys. Their work has stood out compared to other consultants we have hired and we plan to continue our relationship as we complete our project.”
T.W. Starkweather
Managing Partner
Strategic Software Systems
Managing Partner
Strategic Software Systems
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