Residential Land Development Strategies

Instructor

David E. Johnson, P.E., P.P., M.ASCE
Mr. Johnson manages a branch office of ESP Associates, P.A. headquartered in Fort Mill, SC and servicing the greater NC and SC markets. ESP Associates is a diversified consulting firm offering engineering, surveying, planning, material testing, environmental analysis, geotechnical engineering and water resource engineering offering services to public and private clients in the Carolina region for over 20 years. Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

He has over 30 years of experience in the land development industry. He worked for the National Association of Home Builders in Washington D. C., and major builder/developers in Florida (General Development Corporation) and in New Jersey (Union Valley Corporation). He has been involved in the design, permitting, development, and construction of over 15,000 housing units.

Prior to joining ESP Associates, he was the owner of an engineering and planning firm in New Jersey. He provided engineering design services, owners’ representative services, planning capabilities, and construction management services. He also purchased land and increased its value through engineering design expertise.

He is the author of the book “Residential Land Development Practices” and has written articles for ASCE and Public Works magazines. He has been a presenter of land development and land planning topics at numerous workshops held throughout the United States and sponsored by ASCE and NAHB.

Mr. Johnson is a registered planner in New Jersey and is a registered professional engineer in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. He is a member of ASCE and NAHB. He is also a member of the Cabarrus County Builders Institute and Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce.

Course Description

The business of developing land for profit is an art. Successful developers, builders and engineers purchase raw land below market price and increase its value through entitlements, infrastructure construction or lot improvements. Since easy to develop land in most markets has been exhausted, this seminar will outline a process in which to assess property for creative and cost effective development potential. Land owners can enhance the value of land by rezoning, by achieving the highest and best use and by having engineers minimize costs through value engineering.

Designing, permitting, and developing land to achieve a marketable and competitive destination requires staying on schedule and being on budget. As the regulatory climate becomes more restrictive and complex, creative site solutions and market driven uses combined with engineering partnering in managing the entitlement process will minimize the risk of buying and using land for profit.

This seminar is a unique learning experience in which all participants are encouraged to contribute to the discussions, case studies, and debates. Practical real life land development projects, large and small, will illustrate successes and failures – all of which will establish a methodology of do’s and don’ts in developing land. This seminar is for the beginner as well as the seasoned professional. This seminar is the only national forum and learning experience to learn the art of buying, using and selling land for profit. This educational opportunity is especially important to those firms bracing for a slower production in their market.

Land developers must rely on the engineering discipline to properly analyze land, to manage the regulatory process and to minimize costs. The engineering discipline is the thread throughout the development process and you need to understand the challenges facing land development firms in soft markets or highly regulated jurisdictions. Land development professionals must continue to be proactive and implement proven methods in which to analyze land for purchase and achieve the highest and best use for the marketplace.

The art of bringing raw land to finished lots in a cost effective and timely manner hinges on many factors none being more important than the relationship between the developer, engineer and the regulatory official. This seminar will explore the dynamics between divergent interest groups and discuss methods and approaches acceptable to all. The goals of each entity are typically different but in the end, a successful project is managed by coordinating the interests of each to achieve an entitled and profitable project.

Seminar Features

• Seminar participants are encouraged to bring vacant land sites for one-on-one consultation on design concepts, lot layout, and site constraints.
• Each participant will receive a copy of the book Residential Land Development Practices, 2nd Edition, published by ASCE.
• Class interaction and wide open discussion format allows each attendee the opportunity to achieve their goals for attending the class.
• This seminar draws from multiple states and participants of diversified backgrounds and experience levels. This provides an invaluable opportunity for the exchange of information.
• Land owners, attorneys, engineers, planners, architects, builders, developers, regulatory engineers, HOA board members, landscape architects, environmental scientists, geotechnical engineers, traffic engineers, and Real Estate professionals have attended and contributed to the success of this seminar.

Seminar Benefits

• Learn the highest and best uses for land
• Understand the benefits of rezoning for value
• Explore the dynamics between divergent interest groups
• Learn how the interaction between the developer, engineer and regulatory official can benefit the project schedule and budget
• Learn how to improve client relations through understanding your clients
• Learn how to design projects in slow markets or in over regulated municipalities
• Learn how to evaluate land for purchase and the importance of due diligence
• Learn new design approaches to increase site marketability and profitability
• Understand the value of cost effective engineering design
• Open discussion format and hands-on learning approach sets this seminar apart from all other others
• This seminar draws from multiple States and the participants’ backgrounds and diverse experience provide an invaluable opportunity for the exchange of information among the participants
• One–on-one consultation reviewing vacant land opportunities, project layouts, and design concepts. Participants should bring a copy of their current project plans for discussion with the instructor and other participants

Who Should Attend

• Land owners seeking to learn how to add value to their property
• Realtors seeking to learn how to sell and market vacant land based on development potential
• Planners, landscape architects, architects,environmental scientists
• Government engineers, planners, and regulatory officials
• Builders wanting to buy vacant ground for their own use
• Developers seeking ways to expedite their project and create marketable land plans
• College professors evaluating land development topics to expand their curriculum
• Engineers who are:
  • considering establishing an in-house training program
  • expanding their services into land development projects
  • evaluating ways to increase profits
  • assessing new ideas in residential design approaches
  • wanting to excel in the housing industry
  • wanting to learn more about “time is money”
  • seeking to polish their client relations and communications
  • needing to manage their projects effectively and profitably