News Linking physical infrastructure costs and capacity to land use decision-making

Eddie Staley and Jay McLeod work at WithersRavenel. They will present at the 2023 American Planning Association North Carolina Chapter Conference. Phillip “Hal” Hegwer from the City of Sanford will join them. The event is in Durham, NC, on Wednesday, October 11, at 3:30 PM. Their presentation, “Linking Physical Infrastructure Costs and Capacity to Land Use Decision-Making,” will fulfill four key learning objectives:

1. Explain how to develop an infrastructure model
2. Demonstrate how to use an infrastructure model to inform decision-making
3. Discuss the implications of the model for infrastructure and land use planning
4. Explore the potential for expanding the model to incorporate any type of infrastructure

Abstract

The City of Sanford completed a GIS-based inventory and analysis of its sewer system infrastructure. The City is now modeling real-time flow. Sanford also has the ability to project future flow at the parcel level by sewer basin. This information can be used in proactive land use planning decision-making. This best practice is a statewide model for linking physical asset management and infrastructure planning with land use, job growth, and housing decisions.

The physical inventory has identified bottlenecks in infrastructure and where excess capacity exists. This information helps determine how much money is needed for new development in each sewer area. It looks at each specific piece of land. The information can be compared with zoning and tax rate data to determine potential parcel-level development density, intensity, and the City’s return on infrastructure investments. The model can also be used to project sewer system development costs and then assess those costs to developers on a project-by-project basis by acreage or equivalent residential units.

Meet the Presenters

L. Eddie Staley, PLS, GISP – Chief Experience & Innovation Officer, WithersRavenel

Mr. Staley is the Chief Client Experience and Innovation Officer (CXIO) for WithersRavenel and the executive sponsor of all WithersRavenel Innovation Services, which includes our Funding and Asset Management practice area. His decades of service in the local government sector have prepared him for the unique and broad challenges local governments face in maintaining levels of service of public utilities and facilities.

Jay McLeod, AICP

Mr. McLeod leads planners, designers, and engineers to create and update local government land use plans and land development regulations. He has experience working in local and regional governments on anything from a sign permit to a 50-year, seven-county regional economic development, land use, and transportation plan. His ability to understand local issues, coordinate analysis and solution-finding from subject matter experts, and synthesize those findings into understandable and actionable planning helps move communities closer to their goals.

Phillip “Hal” Hegwer – City Manager, City of Sanford, North Carolina

Mr. Hegwer is the City Manager and serves as the Chief Administrative Officer in Sanford’s Council-Manager form of Government. He is responsible to the Council for the administration of all city affairs placed in his charge by or under the City Charter.