Upfront Planning Podcast

Girls Can Build and ULI Urban Plan joins us to talk about mentoring and collaboration to guide the future of the development field

Jessica is joined by the fabulous Meg Zemlicka from the City of Tempe Economic Development Division as they go over this years Arizona Association for Econmic Development Spring Conference in Lake Havasu, AZ!

Darcy Kober, Maricopa County Assistant County Manager joins us to talk all things County Management. What its like managing the 4th most populous county in the US and what her day to day looks like and how to manage having 27 jurisdictions within your area to be in the sandbox with.

Existing and former employees talk about how they transitioned from school and interning to full time planners. Whitney and Kessiah join Jessica as they talk about all the fun and learning experiences of getting thier feet wet in thier new planning careers.

Jessica's friend and former coworker Hannah Van Nimwegen-McGuire, AICP joins us from Colorado wher she has worked most recently as a Planning Director in Manitou Springs and previosuly for Colorado Springs after she left Arizona in 2015. Hear how she feels AZ and CO planning constrasts and lessons learned.

The AZ Planning Association Women in Planning Group continues thier panel discussion with Amanda Bayham, AICP from the City of Phoenix and Denise Lacey from MCDOT to discuss what its like working in a field typically dominated by men and what they have learned as they grew in the field and learned to prioritize themselves while still growing thier careers.

Jessica is joined by Clark Princell of Valley Partnership, Rina Rien of Pinal Partnership and Deb Sydenham of the Arizona Urban Land Institute to hear about what it’s like to run one of these highly influential groups and how they are able to stay at the forefront of development, innovation and economic investment in Arizona.

Residential builders Michael Stephan from Porter Kyle and Taner Maddux from Sunstone Two Tree join the podcast to talk about HB 2570 which was recently vetoed by Arizona Governor Hobbs called the “Arizona Starter Homes Act”. Many municipalities joined together to get the veto while others in the home builder industry were in favor. Listen from both sides as we discuss the impacts of what did not g...

Mark Edelman, AICP from the Arizona State Land Department joins us to clarify the difference between State Trust, BLM and Federal Lands and how state trust land works for the designated beneficiaries in Arizona through the Enabling Act. He answers the age old client question, how can I develop on one of those properties and why state land is not open space.

Jessica dives into her first solo episode as she talks all things planning and development code. Hear what she has learned through being an enforcer of code as a municipal staff person, user of code as an applicant and as a recommender of codes as a planning commissioner and hearing officer. Jessica dives into her thoughts on Form Based vs Conventional Zoning Code and some advantages and pitfalls...

Jessica is joined again by Melissa Johnson of Danson Construction as they discuss the 2024 ULI Arizona Annual Trends Day in Phoenix, Arizona. Hear about the sessions, speakers, networking, lunch and sponsor booths. Listen in and hear what hit home the most and how a Director of Business Development and Marketing utilizes these great events to make those important connections.

Josh Bednarek, AICP from the City of Phoenix and Kyle Mieras, AICP from the Town of Gilbert talk about what it is like being a Planning Director for some of the hottest development areas not only in Arizona but in the County. How do they maintain great City planning and build on their great places while managing a large planning team.

Owner of Upfront Planning & Entitlements, Jessica is joined by Melissa Johnson and finally explains “What do you do here”? Jessica has a wide variety of public and private sector land planning experience and she dives into what her days look like and what type of projects she works on. Hear from the founder of the podcast as she gets “Upfront” about land planning and all that goes into it.

Nicole Posten-Thompson from On Point Architecture and Jessica Fritz from J. Cor Architecture talk about the different types of architecture they do from residential, to high density to commercial and industrial uses and their misconceptions. Here how they work through the cities to solve development problems and why there need to be "some" more requirements.

Super fun Episode! Jessica and her daughters Alexis and Audrey are joined by friend and planning colleague Jenifer Corey and her daughter Laney as they talk about what it was like growing up in a “Planning” household. Hear about why they do or don’t want to be planners and all the things they have learned along the way that otherwise they wouldn’t know. I’m not just a regular mom… I’m a planning m...

Cameron Robb from APS joins the podcast to talk about all things APS and how and why they are continually the first to know what is going on in the Valley of the Sun. As not only residential providers, APS supplies electricity to some of the largest users in the state. Hear how they plan for the future and how they make sure they always keep the power running.

Jessica is joined by City of Mesa Project Managers Jeffery Robbins and Rachel Nettles and the Chair of the Mesa 2050 General Plan Advisory Committee Ron Williams, to discuss the 2050 Mesa General Plan Update. Learn how they started back in 2020 preparing for the update and everything that you see and don’t see to prepare the guiding policy document for the November 2024 voter ballot to get it acro...

Continue to listen in on this fun event celebrating 5 years of Upfront Planning & Entitlements and bringing in all our friends, clients, coworkers and guests to talk and celebrate.  Hear their shout outs, stories and all the fun that was had celebrating this milestone. You might hear someone you know or you!

Listen in on this fun event celebrating 5 years of Upfront Planning & Entitlements and bringing in all our friends, clients, coworkers and guests to talk and celebrate. Hear their shout outs, stories and all the fun that was had celebrating this milestone. You might hear someone you know or you!

Jesse Westad, PLA, ASLA and Brian Sager, PLA, CID, LEED AP with WERK Urban Design dives into designing projects that last through being sustainable in landscape architecture and open space infrastructure.  Hear why it’s more important to provide good planting policies in code vs. minimum tree requirements and opportunities to be creative in retention and drainage to better use water in our desert...

Jeanine Jerkovic, CEcD from the City of Surprise and Eric Johnson, AICP from the City of Phoenix join us for a fun intro into 2024!  Launch into 2024 and hear about the Economic Development that is occurring in Arizona and what they project for 2024!  Hear what they think makes a City succeed over others as well as what makes the difference in having a Great Economic Development Department.

Valerie Ahyong, PLA, LEED AP, ASLA from Lloyd Architecture and Chad Atterbury, PLA, LEED AP from Dig Studio join us to discuss landscape architecture and design and how easy it is to make or break a project through the design and by creating truly unique spaces and places.  Hear what they feel is the proper time to bring landscape and outdoor spaces into the development discussion and why you shou...

Happy Holidays and listen to this fun holiday episode as they discuss the networking and fun holiday parties from this 2023 holiday season!  The outfits, the venues, the guests, the food and the photos!  Join in and hear what they are like and checkout our Instagram page to see all the event pictures at “Upfront Planning Podcast” Instagram page.

Scott Kelly, PE, PTOE with Greenlight Traffic and Steve McKenzie, PE, PTOE with the City of Peoria join us to tell us about ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) and how the world is changing to make things faster, safer and more convenient in transportation systems.  Learn how long your driving habits are kept in the cloud for and how these systems are implemented and run.  Don’t worry its usu...

Land Advisors’ Kirk McCarville (Jimmy Buffet look alike) and Trey Davis join us to talk about the immense growth of Pinal County and Casa Grande and what it in store for the future of the area. Listen as they talk about what market areas are growing, for how long and what the area needs to continue to be the growth and job future for the state.  Kirk and Trey will tell you what is going on in ever...