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.