Imagine Austin’s Four Year Journey

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In 2012, Austin’s City Council voted unanimously to adopt Imagine Austin, the City’s first comprehensive plan in 30 years. Creating a comprehensive plan is one thing, but implementing it is something else. Come hear from Greg Guernsey and Matt Dugan about the story of implementation and what they have learned over the last four years.

 

Greg Guernsey, AICP, Director - Planning and Zoning Department

Greg Guernsey has worked as a planner for the City of Austin over the past 31 years and the last 8 years as the Austin’s Planning Director. His current Department, the Planning and Zoning Department is responsible for assisting property owners, citizens, neighborhood and environmental organizations, business owners, City departments and other governmental agencies with planning, zoning, historic preservation, annexation, demographics and urban design services. These activities include the creation and implementation of the City's Imagine Austin comprehensive plan and work on the Land Development Code revision known as CodeNEXT.  His Department is comprised of 50 employees with a $7.5 million dollar budget.

 

Mr. Guernsey previously served as the Director of the Planning and Development Review Department, Director and Assistant Director of the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department, and as a division manager responsible zoning, subdivision, annexation, signs and historic preservation programs. Prior to coming to Austin, Texas Greg worked as a planner for the City of Galveston, Texas and the City of Mentor, Ohio.  He is a graduate from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning, and The University of Texas at Austin with a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning.

Matt Dugan, AIC, Acting Manager, Long Range Planning - Planning and Zoning Department

worked on the staff team to create Imagine Austin, the City’s first comprehensive plan in 30 years, and is now working on implementing it. He takes a comprehensive approach to developing plans and codes by analyzing economic, social and infrastructure issues regarding the built and natural environments. He believes in utilizing a participatory planning process that helps stakeholders identify problems, articulate solutions and choose the best alternative to guide development in their communities. His previous experience with Code Studio, Timmons Group and the Virginia Main Street Program includes urban design, transportation, parks and recreation, downtown revitalization, and historic preservation. Matt has a Masters degree in Urban and Regional planning from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

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See you there!