Creative & Innovative
Planning & Permitting
Through countless public hearings assisting clients before planning commissions, city councils, and supervisor boards David J. Elliott & Associates has built a reputation as mediators, and innovative problem solvers through time consuming and often difficult approval processes.
We are formidable advocates for clients requiring difficult discretionary permit processes. We have successfully negotiated the processing of conditional use permits involving commercial development in valuable farmland zoning classifications. We have won approval for homeowners faced with getting ridgeline development considered. DJEA has been the professional leader serving clients requiring extensive general plan and zoning amendments. We have a substantial background processing Coastal Commission applications for clients developing homes requiring extensive tree removal, grading, and lot coverage. DJEA’s professional, methodical, and sensitive approach to problem solving along with our respectful attitude toward governmental authorities has greatly enhanced timely and cost effective project approvals.
We know how to put that something special into your project to get it approved. We know how to properly present a project before the decision makers and stakeholders in the community and defend it when necessary. If you have a complex project with multiple stakeholders, we would love to serve you.
Here are some example of planning projects that required extra creativity and innovation:
Monterey Regional Health Resources Strategy-Fort Ord
California

Young Nak Presbyterian Church, Marina
was built at Fort Ord army base

Former Fort Ord Military Baracks
moved and repurposed as a church sanctuary
Monterey County Capital Facilities
Master Plan
David J. Elliott and Associates assembled a team incorporating ROMA Design Group of San Francisco, and Whitney Associates of Los Angeles who were selected together to prepare the twenty year Monterey County Capital Facilities Master Plan. This Contract focused on the two county owned parcels of land at the downtown Salinas courthouse site and the East Salinas Natividad site. Private development partnership scenarios were considered as creative financing mechanisms opposed to the traditional general obligation bond programs. An exhaustive evaluation of county owned property was developed by a separate contract by Whitney Associates requiring a certain interface in the Master Plan.
DJEA’s primary function was to act as local liaison for information gathering, interface of existing separate reports, department interviews for facility unit projections, existing and proposed facility evaluation, and budget projections. During the course of the project consideration of the purchase of the adjacent Salinas City Hall was considered requiring a separate building efficiency analysis.
The result of the Master Plan included the evaluation of over one million square feet of facilities and disqualified the need to acquire any additional land for the twenty year facility development. ties Master Plan. This Contract focused on the two county owned parcels of land at the downtown Salinas courthouse site and the East Salinas Natividad site. Private development partnership scenarios were considered as creative financing mechanisms opposed to the traditional general obligation bond programs. An exhaustive evaluation of county owned property was developed by a separate contract by Whitney Associates requiring a certain interface in the Master Plan.
>DJEA’s primary function was to act as local liaison for information gathering, interface of existing separate reports, department interviews for facility unit projections, existing and proposed facility evaluation, and budget projections. During the course of the project consideration of the purchase of the adjacent Salinas City Hall was considered requiring a separate building efficiency analysis.
The result of the Master Plan included the evaluation of over one million square feet of facilities and disqualified the need to acquire any additional land for the twenty year facility development.
King City Airport
Industrial Park
Churches
- Echoes from Calvary
- Young Nak Presbyterian Church
- Diocese of Monterey
- Iglesia Bautista Emanuel
- Iglesia Bautista Manantial de Vida
- Salvation Army
- First Baptist Church of Salinas
- Salinas Vineyard Church
Monterey County Social Services Consolidation
Feasibility Study
Shopping Centers
Feasibility Study
- Gonzales Shopping Center
- Mission Soledad Shopping Center
- Mountain Valley Shopping Center
- Shaker Square
Condominium Development
- Round Hill Farms
- Leslie Drive Garden Homes
- Marina Condominiums
Fast Food Restaurants
David J. Elliott and Associates has developed into an advocate for fast food franchises as many jurisdictions develop more critical approval processes for their unique needs. Little Caesars The City of San Francisco has a mandatory use permit approval process for fast food projects. “Mom and pop” restaurants tend to be favored over the more established franchises. David developed a strategy to get the approval of the first Little Caesars franchise in San Francisco. Though there were six other “mom and pop” pizza restaurants within a few blocks of the site, sensitive presentations to the neighborhood residents, a merchants association and eventually the planning commission earned the approval.
The City of Oakland also has a mandatory use permit process for fast food projects. Within a week of the application for this Little Caesars restaurant there were over 90 separate email and/or written objections to the project from neighbors and a well organized merchants association. After pointed hands-on meetings with the merchant’s association all objections were resolved and the project was reduced from a “major,” public hearing permit to a “minor” administrative approval.
Other franchises that DJEA has assisted in planning approvals include:
- Taco Bell
- Subway
- Extreme Pita
- UFood Grill
- ZPizza
- Starbucks
- Juice Zone
Planned Unit Developments-Subdivisions
- Elliott Subdivision
- Mountain View Subdivision
- Encore of Laurel West Subdivision
- Prunedale Shopping Center
- Round Hill Farms
- Marina Condominiums
- Leslie Drive Garden Homes
- King City Industrial Park