The MNS Planning and Community Development team provides a full range of planning and environmental compliance services to municipalities and private sector clients throughout California, including cities, counties, transportation agencies, water and special districts, districts, and federal clients. Our team provides comprehensive planning services including Community Planning, Environmental Compliance, Regulatory Permitting, Agency Staffing, Housing, and Entitlement Planning.
What We Do
At MNS, we provide a holistic approach to planning services. Our team is focused on providing solutions that comply with applicable regulatory requirements and local policies while also meeting the needs of the local community. Our team is comprised of technical specialists with first-hand experience with a range of Planning and Environmental projects throughout California.
Our community planning team understands the lasting positive impact that context-sensitive planning can have on a community, and we operate with an acute awareness of the ever-evolving California regulatory environment and the demands placed on local agencies and project proponents. Our team of planners has experience with a variety of community planning activities including:
- General Plans
- Community and Area Plans
- Specific Plans
- Zoning Ordinances
- Design Guidelines
- Objective Design Standards
- Community Engagement
- Special Projects/Program Management
- Housing Element/Policy Implementation
- Complex Entitlements Support
- Technical Assistance and Training
Our team has worked in urban, suburban, and rural communities and has served agency and private clients alike. We pride ourselves in developing a tailored approach that focuses on leveraging local planning opportunities and constraints into actionable plans and policies. With our comprehensive experience in the public and private sectors, we operate with thoughtful consideration of each client’s unique needs.
Our environmental compliance team understands how to navigate the complex regulatory framework of both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Our team has experience in a range of CEQA/NEPA documents including:
- Environmental Impact Reports/Environmental Impact Assessments
- Initial Studies/Environmental Assessments
- Categorical Exemptions/Categorical Exclusions
Our team of environmental planners evaluates each project to develop a CEQA/NEPA scope that considers the full scope of implementing activities, document defensibility, and streamlining opportunities.
At MNS, we understand the complexity of the regulatory permitting process, and we have in-house resources to assist with permitting support from the initial jurisdictional delineation through permit issuance. Our team of regulatory specialists can assist with applying for and obtaining a range of regulatory permits from federal and state agencies including:
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- State Water Resources Control Board
- Regional Water Quality Control Boards
- California Coastal Commission
- National Marine Fisheries Service
Our team has successfully navigated state and federal regulation compliance for a wide range of projects, from simple flood control channel maintenance to the construction of hundreds of miles of transmission lines/poles. We are one of the few firms that specialize in obtaining programmatic and master agreements from the resource agencies that authorize work over a period of 10 to 25 years. Our excellent relationships with resource agency staff and operators of mitigation banks and conservation programs allow us to assist clients in planning for the most cost-efficient mitigation proposals possible.
Whether an agency needs staffing for front counter management support, full or part-time on-site assistance, or an as-needed project manager for major entitlement projects, MNS has a range of agency staffing support options that give us the ability to customize our approach for each client’s individual need and fluctuating workload. Our team can provide experienced staff on short notice both in-person and remotely throughout California.
Our team of planners has experience with a variety of agency planning services including:
- Front Counter Management
- Preparation of Staff Reports, Resolutions, Ordinances, and Conditions of Approval
- General Plan and Zone Change requests
- Large-Scale and Small-Scale Development Land Use Entitlements and Project Management
- Coordination of Appropriate CEQA Documentation
- Interdepartmental Project Review and Coordination
MNS has a range of planners from Planning Technicians to Principal Planners with diverse technical backgrounds including current planning, advanced planning, and Environmental Compliance. Committed to exceptional customer service, at the start of each new assignment we work closely with City staff and project applicants to understand the personality of the organization and the complexities of a given project. Serving multiple jurisdictions across the state gives us a unique perspective on how to deliver these services efficiently and cost effectively. We value that perspective and use it to positively impact the communities we serve.
The MNS Housing Team can provide the full lifecycle Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) compliance services. Our staff has considerable experience in assisting municipalities and housing authorities with a wide range of housing compliance services including:
- HUD Consolidated Planning
- Grant Administration, Compliance and Monitoring
- Annual HUD Reporting
- Affordable Housing Financing Review
- Affordable Housing Monitoring
- Labor Compliance and Reporting
- Housing Authority Assistance
- Economic Development
- Staff Augmentation
The team fosters and maintains excellent relationships with the respective funding agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
MNS provides planning services, land use consulting, and permitting services to private developers, both residential and commercial clients. Services include land use planning consultation, due diligence reports, permit expediting and processing, agency negotiations and advocacy, and public hearing support. We can manage projects individually with the developer, homeowner, or corporate client; or we can work with a team such as with architectural, engineering, real estate, and legal professionals on large and complex projects. Our planners have worked on private subdivision projects, corporate retail centers, fast-food restaurants, hotel chains, and other private developments.
How MNS Makes a Difference
We use our expertise to make your project a success, while actively identifying and mitigating project challenges to reduce potential unexpected surprises. We stay abreast of industry news, regulatory updates, and best practices so our clients can focus on what’s in front of them with the assurance that MNS is prepared to guide them through the challenges of the day. As a result, our clients find our approach holistic, responsive, and accommodating.
Highly Experienced. Our team has successfully led a wide range of projects across California. This allows us to provide our clients with a well-rounded team of technical specialists that can draw from diverse project experience.
Industry Leaders. Many of our team members are actively engaged on industry association boards and teach training courses for their respective technical disciplines. This allows us to provide our clients with up-to-date information and training on industry best practices and changing regulations.
Proactive Communication. We stress the importance of communication and coordination at every stage of the planning process. Our enhanced collaboration with key project stakeholders and risk analysis to anticipate project needs mitigates impacts and promotes success.
Markets We Serve
We've served the transportation market for over 60 years, implementing modern transportation systems that minimize impacts to the community and surrounding environment.
MNS designs and manages the construction of quality, innovative transportation solutions that also meet cost and schedule expectations.
Our expert water resources team is at the forefront of the industry,
developing all aspects of our communities’ complex water
resources infrastructure for today’s changing world.
Year after year, we have been pre-qualified for on-call services to provide planning, engineering, construction management, and land surveying. Count on MNS for staff augmentation, capital improvement, and land development services.
We proudly serve the federal and military markets, supporting projects on military and government installations. We regularly provide planning, engineering, construction management, and land surveying services for Vandenberg Space Force Base.