Cove Partner Pacific Planning Group Develops Land through Sustainable Innovation

Pacific Planning Group has been featured as a Cove Partner by the UCI Beall Applied Innovation News: A Collection of Stories from Inside the OC Innovation Ecosystem.

Cove Partner Pacific Planning Group Develops Land through Sustainable Innovation

May 15, 2020 By Grace Wood

Pacific Planning Group, a partner at the Cove @ UCI, is the first stop for anyone with sustainable program management of land and infrastructure development projects. They focus on projects that further the circular economy, or an economic system that eliminates waste and reuses resources. 

Pacific Planning Group helps clients harmoniously navigate political, environmental and practical components. The company maps out the process, costs and potential funding in a project’s early phases to optimize project value and enhance environmental opportunities. This includes identifying regional and local regulations that may help or hinder overall project feasibility.

They also choose and coordinate consultants like architects, engineers and innovators to meet state, local and federal regulations while mitigating community concerns.

Pacific Planning Group’s clients range from Fortune 500 companies to private individuals and startups. In one instance, Pacific Planning Group helped turn a $6 million property into a $23 million property over two years through value engineering and creativity with the regulatory and policy processes.

“We encounter so many neighbors and communities that care deeply about their environment and future,” said Karen Martin, founder and owner of Pacific Planning Group. “All of these humans have creative solutions to help make their own environments and our surrounding communities more livable and these ideas make us excited because it shows us that members of our communities do care and do want healthy environments for all life on this planet.”

While stay-at-home orders have halted in-person meetings, Pacific Planning Group continues to operate virtually. Currently, they are developing a webinar series that assists neighborhoods in understanding regulatory processes and encourages people to actively participate in development and learn about the new ideas that will shape their surrounding environments.

At the Cove, UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s headquarters, Pacific Planning Group has made key connections through the space and promoted sustainable development. Their relationship with the Cove and the UCI School of Social Ecology has provided their interns with business and learning opportunities that will help them in their future careers.

Pacific Planning Group encourages clients to utilize development practices and innovations that harmonize infrastructure with the natural environment for a sustainable future.

Read the full article here.

Learn more about Cove partners.

*Main graphic: Julie Kennedy, UCI Beall Applied Innovation