Planning Permitting and Environmental Compliance Consulting

Overview

LACO’s Planning Team provides planning and permitting assistance for land development and infrastructure projects throughout Eureka, Ukiah, Santa Rosa, Chico and surrounding areas. Whether you are planning to build a subdivision, considering commercial tenant improvements, or preparing land for farming or business, we’re here to help you navigate the planning and permitting process.

Our team members have prepared more than 1,000 environmental planning and permitting documents. Our approach to planning focuses on achieving practical win-win solutions, with broad community support, and a clear path toward implementation. We leverage our firm’s technical expertise and longstanding relationships with regional experts to design projects that are technically grounded and achievable, an asset in communicating with regulatory agencies. Our approach improves the likelihood and turnaround time for regulatory approval of your project. 


Our team, which includes certified Planners has accomplishments in completing the following:

  • CEQA environmental compliance documents including:
    • Categorical Exemptions, Initial Studies
    • Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs)
    • Mitigation plans
  • NEPA environmental compliance documents including:
    • Categorical Exclusions
    • Environmental Assessments (EAs)
    • Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs)
  • Master Site Plans
    • Community Planning
    • General/specific plans
    • Development code
    • Residential and commercial subdivisions
    • Conditional use permits
    • Entitlements
    • Coastal Commission plans
    • Development feasibility analyses and identification of constraints and opportunities

We are also prepared to provide the following special studies and services:

  • Traffic Impact Studies, Transportation Analysis, and Traffic impact fee calculations
  • Air Quality Impact analysis including CalEEMod modeling and greenhouse gas emissions quantitative and qualitative reviews
  • Noise Impact Analysis
  • Water availability assessments and on-site wastewater treatment system analysis
  • Public outreach processes including design charrettes, public scoping, and visioning

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Meet Our Team

Mike Nelson, AICP

Mr. Michael Nelson has over 18 years of professional planning experience and currently serves as LACO Associates’ President. Mr. Nelson has extensive experience in project

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Portrait of Meghan Ryan

Meghan Ryan

Ms. Meghan Ryan has been designated as the Project Manager back-up and will be the LACO team lead on the project. Ms. Meghan Ryan has

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Rebecca Clark, AICP

Ms. Rebecca “Becky” Clark joined LACO Associates (LACO) in late 2016 with prior experience in environmental compliance for a renewable power company in Santiago, Chile.

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Megan Marruffo

Ms. Megan Marruffo joined LACO’s Planning team in 2015 with prior professional experience in both land use and environmental planning, and currently serves as a

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Max Hilken

Mr. Max Hilken has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and Protection from Humboldt State University and works as an Assistant Planner in LACO’s

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Melissa Frausto

Melissa Frausto graduated from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography and Planning and a minor in Environmental Studies and

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Amy Marigo

Ms. Amy Marigo joined LACO Associates (LACO) in 2021 and works out of LACO’s Santa Rosa office. Since working at LACO, she has assisted with

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