Services and Areas of Expertise
Our services are designed to help towns and regions plan for sustainable growth, enhance quality of life, and preserve their unique character while preparing for the future.
We offer comprehensive master planning that sets a clear, actionable vision for long-term community development. Our land use and zoning consulting services simplify complex regulations, align policies with local goals, and promote compatible, well-managed growth. To support economic vitality, we provide economic development planning focused on diversification, downtown revitalization, and workforce housing solutions tailored to small-town economies.
Recognizing the growing need for environmental stewardship, our sustainability and resilience planning helps communities adapt to climate challenges and integrate green infrastructure into everyday planning. Our community engagement and visioning programs ensure residents, leaders, and stakeholders have a voice in shaping their future, fostering trust and local ownership of every plan. For communities seeking financial resources to bring their plans to life, our grant writing and funding assistance provides expert support in identifying, securing, and managing critical funding opportunities.
Comprehensive Master Planning
Hamlet Planning LLC specializes in developing comprehensive master plans that set the foundation for a community’s long-term growth and success. Our approach integrates land use, transportation, housing, and environmental strategies to ensure a balanced and sustainable future.
What We Deliver:
Long-term growth scenarios and vision frameworks.
Detailed land use mapping and zoning recommendations.
Transportation planning that improves connectivity and accessibility.
Housing and demographic analyses to meet current and future needs.
Infrastructure planning, including water, sewer, and stormwater systems.
Design guidelines that preserve community character and enhance livability.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
For smaller towns and rural areas, thoughtful planning is critical to maintaining their unique character while preparing for future growth. Our plans balance development pressures with community values, helping municipalities proactively manage change rather than react to it.
How We Do It:
Community engagement workshops and surveys to capture local input.
GIS and spatial analysis for informed decision-making.
Coordination with local leaders and stakeholders for implementation-ready plans.
Economic Development Planning
Hamlet Planning LLC helps smaller communities build resilient and diversified local economies. We provide strategies that leverage local strengths, attract investment, and support workforce growth.
What We Deliver:
Economic and market analysis to identify key growth sectors.
Downtown and main street revitalization plans.
Tourism and destination planning for rural areas.
Incentive programs and public-private partnership strategies.
Workforce development and housing alignment strategies.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Many small towns face economic challenges such as limited tax bases or reliance on a single industry. Our strategies focus on diversifying local economies while preserving community identity, ensuring long-term sustainability and financial stability.
How We Do It:
Analysis of regional trends and economic drivers.
Collaboration with local businesses, chambers of commerce, and development agencies.
Creation of actionable steps and funding strategies to implement economic initiatives.
Community Engagement and Visioning
Hamlet Planning LLC prides itself on creating authentic community engagement processes that give residents and stakeholders a voice in shaping their future.
What We Deliver:
Public workshops, open houses, and focus group facilitation.
Online engagement tools, including virtual town halls and surveys.
Visioning sessions to define long-term goals and community identity.
Consensus-building between elected officials, residents, and developers.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Engagement builds trust, generates local buy-in, and ensures that planning outcomes reflect the community’s true priorities—especially critical in small towns where participation can make or break a planning initiative.
How We Do It:
Transparent communication strategies to keep the public informed.
Equitable engagement to include all demographics, including traditionally underrepresented groups.
Clear reporting and visual materials to communicate outcomes effectively.
Parks and Recreational Planning
Hamlet Planning LLC understands that parks and recreational amenities are vital to the health, livability, and social fabric of small communities. We design and plan recreational systems that foster community wellness, environmental stewardship, and tourism opportunities.
What We Deliver:
Comprehensive parks and recreation system plans.
Design and planning for playgrounds, trails, sports fields, and community centers.
Strategies for park funding, maintenance, and long-term operations.
Integration of open space and recreation into larger community master plans.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Parks and recreational assets build community pride, encourage healthy lifestyles, and serve as gathering spaces that bring residents together. In rural areas, parks and trail systems can also serve as important economic drivers by supporting tourism and outdoor recreation.
How We Do It:
Collaborate with residents to identify desired amenities and priorities.
Analyze current and future recreational needs based on population and usage trends.
Develop phased, budget-conscious implementation strategies for long-term success.
Land Use and Zoning Consulting
Our land use and zoning services are designed to help small communities simplify complex regulations, align development policies with community goals, and prepare for future growth.
What We Deliver:
Zoning code development and updates tailored to small-town needs.
Land use compatibility studies and map updates.
Zoning administration support, including permitting processes.
Development review assistance for proposed projects.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Clear, enforceable, and user-friendly zoning codes allow communities to encourage desired development while preventing incompatible uses. For rural towns, zoning often needs to accommodate agricultural preservation, main street revitalization, and residential expansion—all while reducing bureaucratic complexity.
How We Do It:
Review of existing regulations and identification of gaps or conflicts.
Alignment with comprehensive and master plans.
Legal and planning best practices to reduce liability and improve clarity.
Sustainability and Resilience Planning
We integrate environmental stewardship and climate resilience into community planning, ensuring that small communities are prepared for environmental changes and growth pressures.
What We Deliver:
Climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Renewable energy and green infrastructure planning.
Floodplain management, wildfire risk reduction, and water conservation plans.
Sustainability indicators and performance monitoring tools.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Rural communities often rely heavily on natural resources and are disproportionately impacted by environmental challenges. Sustainability planning ensures long-term resource protection, resilient infrastructure, and healthier communities.
How We Do It:
Risk assessment for environmental hazards.
Recommendations for green building and infrastructure standards.
Integration of sustainability goals into comprehensive plans and zoning codes.
Grant Writing and Funding Assistance
Hamlet Planning LLC supports small communities in securing critical funding for infrastructure, housing, economic development, and planning initiatives.
What We Deliver:
Grant identification and strategy development.
Full-service grant writing, review, and submission support.
Funding program alignment with community priorities.
Post-award administration support.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Limited budgets often hinder small towns’ ability to implement transformative projects. By leveraging state, federal, and private funding, we help communities turn plans into reality without overburdening local taxpayers.
How We Do It:
Tracking and evaluating applicable grants (e.g., federal transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental programs).
Preparing competitive applications with strong narratives and supporting data.
Coordinating with regional and state agencies for funding partnerships.
General Agricultural Planning
Agriculture is the backbone of many rural communities, and Hamlet Planning LLC provides specialized agricultural planning services to balance land conservation, economic development, and rural character.
What We Deliver:
Farmland preservation and agricultural land use planning.
Agri-business development strategies and market access planning.
Policies and programs for sustainable farming and resource conservation.
Integration of agriculture into local and regional land use policies.
Why It Matters for Small Communities:
Agricultural land is often under pressure from development, but it remains critical to local economies, food security, and cultural heritage. Our agricultural planning ensures these lands are protected while also identifying opportunities for agricultural innovation and diversification.
How We Do It:
Coordinate with farmers, landowners, and agricultural organizations.
Develop policies that balance growth with farmland conservation.
Identify grant and funding opportunities for agricultural innovation and preservation initiatives.