For years, City leaders in Mill Creek, Washington had taken note of the impacts the slowing economy and other factors were having on reserves. “Fat” trimming and service cuts had not fully closed the gap, so in 2010, Mill Creek hired SCJ staff to help show the way to close deficits without losing things residents considered truly indispensable.

The City of West Linn is within the Portland Metro area, along Interstate 805 on the western bank of the Willamette River. Anticipating closure of the local paper mill and a spate of I-805 interchange improvements, the City sought guidance on planning for the Arch Bridge and Bolton neighborhoods and the coming changes.

The entire Kansas City metro area initiated a series of corridor studies and plans intending to improve regional mobility and to enhance the quality of life in those communities impacted by regional highways. Shawnee, KS received a planning grant focusing on the Neiman Road corridor, the historic commercial heart of town wrestling with gradual disinvestment and commercial vacancies.

SCJ has worked for the City of Airway Heights on multiple projects, including a US 2 corridor plan, a comprehensive plan update, and a public art strategy. Working with a number of agency partners, SCJ completed the corridor plan within budget and in time to inform budgeting decisions for the City, the City of Spokane, and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Located squarely in the shadow of Omaha's larger arts and culture scene, the one in Council Bluffs has struggled to find its identity and flourish. An earlier pilot project to reclaim an old tractor factory and remodel it into an artist loft colony has met with success, creating a focus in Council Bluffs' downtown where local artists can live, work and show.

Fayetteville's previous downtown plan was a success by almost any measure, guiding more than $30 million of reinvestment over the decade following its adoption. But the plan needed updating to reflect new conditions, including shifting community attitudes about downtown's identity.

49º North Mountain Resort, at Chewelah Peak, Washington, has more than 2,000 acres of mountain terrain, of which 300 acres has been identified for development as a master planned resort.

The City of Kennewick, as with its other Tri-Cities neighbors, had been growing steadily with no signs of stopping. In response, they invited SCJ staff to update its parks, recreation, and open space (PROS) plan to help address existing and projected demand, and to retain eligibility for Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant funding.

Bainbridge may be one of the largest islands in Washington's Puget Sound, but parks with water access are few and far between. When the City of Bainbridge Island hired us to develop a grant-worthy master plan for their Waterfront Park and City Dock, residents turned out in force - armed with passionate, often unique opinions about the park's future.

It is the largest of Spokane County’s parks, reaching from Liberty Lake to a mountainous ridgeline. Its uses are diverse, with camping, water access, playgrounds, an RV park, activity center, and miles of trails throughout. And the park is popular, with crowded facilities struggling to keep up with demand. The County needed to update its 1974 master plan, involving the local community in the process, prioritizing improvements to optimize the park’s experience, and preparing it for expected recreation demands.

SCJ Studio collaborated with the talented land use planners at SCJ Alliance to assist Pierce County Parks and Recreation staff with the 10 year update to their master plan. Our team developed a process of public outreach and communication that recognized the challenges of updating a park master plan, especially considering the centrality of the Chambers Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant and Chambers Bay Golf Course.

The City of Helena hired SCJ Alliance to update its Growth Policy, setting strategic direction for the community’s next 20 years. Dealing with low unemployment and the need to attract workers to fill employment demand, the City seeks to increase its supply of affordable housing while also balancing its need for fiscal stability.

In 2009 SCJ staff updated Hot Springs existing plan to provide meaningful, easy-to-implement direction regarding growth and service provision. A basis in community identity was crucial, but a tight budget made traditional outreach impractical.

In 2013, the City of Monroe commissioned us to lead major updates to its comprehensive plan, along with a new parks plan, transportation plan and economic development strategy. At stake were City policies to address expected growth surges in the wake of the great recession, setting the stage for Monroe's future role among Seattle-metro communities—as a live-work city, a bedroom community, employment center, and retail hub.

SCJ led the update to the City’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance with a strong focus on closely connecting comprehensive plan policy to the rules that implement it. The updated ordinance will improve the efficiency of the land development process by streamlining administrative review, approval, and permitting for routine matters—improving internal consistency and planning breadth.

Southern Pines (NC) had last adopted a long-range plan in 1988 – a plan which focused almost exclusively on transportation and land use. In the wake of controversy for which the existing plan provided little guidance, the Town Council voted to commission a major update. Following a national selection process, Southern Pines hired Studio Cascade to rewrite its plan with a much expanded scope, and to involve the public in the process every step of the way.