Planners: What’s the one thing you wish builders knew or would do before submitting their permit applications?

Builders: What’s the one thing you wish you knew before taking your application to the planning department?

We often say that successful gentle density projects are the result of early engagement with as many members of your building team as possible, and your planning department is no exception. Miscommunication, misunderstandings, and missed details contribute to permitting delays, forgotten due dates, and cost overruns.

We’ve invited land-use consultant, Greg Gillespie of Gillespie Land Management to share some stories from ‘both sides of the counter’. You’ll leave with some practical, actionable tips about how builders and planning departments can work together to get projects off the ground sooner – there’s even a checklist!

Greg Gillespie
Greg is founder and principal of Gillespie Land Management and a seasoned land-use consultant with over 18 years’ experience in real estate development, municipal negotiation, and project management. He brings a solutions-oriented mindset to complex regulatory landscapes, and his expertise spans the full land development lifecycle — from site acquisition and feasibility through zoning, permitting, community engagement and approvals — making him a trusted advisor to landowners, developers and government partners alike.

Greg is a highly sought after industry speaker, sharing his experience with real estate development groups, local builder associations, and is a keynote speaker for Small Housing’s own Gentle Density Training for Builders Webinars.