Zoning and permitting assistance + Market analysis - would you pay for it?
 I am building a business to help commercial property owners redevelop or reuse vacant and underutilized buildings. In general, the business is designed to work with property owners and brokers to identify the highest and best feasible use for a property and then help navigate zoning and land use regulations and permitting processes to make it a reality. It would be similar to an expediter service, but because I have worked in urban planning and economic development at the local government level for over a decade, I add value by providing an upfront understanding of the regulations and permitting process in addition to assisting in pushing the process through (expediter).  I have done this work on a regular basis in the various communities I have worked and it has been really valuable for the folks in those communities. Now I'd like to build something on my own and help businesses and property owners beyond the community I work. I am looking for feedback on whether or not people in this industry would find this business/service valuable and when in the redevelopment process would be the best time to engage with professionals.
[{"id": "grw1k1j", "text": "Yes. Work as a private sector planning consultant in an advisory role to property owners / developers. Charge for the study, ie make it a project, but highest and best use should likely be studied by an appraiser, perhaps you could partner with. Highest and best use is an 'economic', 'political/legal', and 'engineering' long term financial optimization. You being the political/legal aspect of the analysis, i.e. what is legally permissible, or what could be permissible and how.", "replies": [{"id": "grw1qqn", "text": "I think you should network with the lawyers", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "grw58pl", "text": "100% yes\n\nreally big firms have internal departments that can easily navigate this, and beginners might not want to spend the money money.\n\nThere is a middle market in between that needs to outsource non-deal making tasks.\n\nIt might be hard to get going and building a pipeline but could be steady. Good luck.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "grw5lwo", "text": "There are firms that do exactly what your talking about on a consulting basis. Civil firms do it as well, and sometimes have land planners on staff. Alternatively, you could go work for a developer in forward planning to effectuate change.\n\nWhere, approx are you located?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "grw8rq9", "text": "So, I have been a public planner for about 11-12 years, and have another 6-7 years in the private side working in the development community, processing permits for partnerships etc.  we have entitled and built an apartment building, a small subdivision and several others projects in paper/entitlement phases. Both in and out of my specific city, county and state. \n\nBased on my experience, my public planning helps and advances projects, to a point.  There\u2019s a private side that I had no clue about when I left the public sector. Materials, labor, land values, relationships, banking, different regulations beyond local jurisdictions, how those play into projects, politics, you name it.  It\u2019s a different flavor of the same process. \n\nMy suggestion is to find a way to get some private experience before starting your own practice, such as a civil engineering firm, biological consultants etc. \n\nAnd to answer your two specific questions.  Yes, I do think it is valuable, but also experienced developers, builders, real estate agents etc would already have some if not a ton of experience themselves. So you have to separate from them somehow.  Second, the sooner you can get in the birth of the project the better.  You could always come in and clean something up if there are errors or mistakes or government in the way of a project.  But the best is to navigate the process and avoid those things early and that starts at the birth of a project.\n\nHope this helps, best of luck.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "grw9o8l", "text": "OP what metro are you located in?", "replies": [{"id": "grx8hy7", "text": "I'm in the Salt Lake metro.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "grwiln0", "text": "How much? How do you plan on getting compensated for this? If a small consulting fee then that\u2019s one thing but if a percent of the value add. I saw this last downturn and folks in similar spots were told to pound sand and you\u2019ve got little recourse.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "grx8ft8", "text": "Awesome feedback everyone, thank. To answer a couple of specific questions - \n\n* My intent would be to charge a fee (fixed or hourly - I prefer fixed but some clients may want an hourly). \n* From a highest and best use perspective - where I thought would add value here is focusing on the highest and best \"feasible\" use. i.e. what the property could actually obtain given constraints around zoning/permitting. In my experience many folks way overshoot what they could do on a site or settle for something well below what they could do b/c they don't know how to navigate regulations and processes.\n* Location: I'm in the Salt Lake Metro.\n\nI really appreciate all the thoughts that have been shared so far!", "replies": [{"id": "gs015fk", "text": "This sounds like what a feasibility consultant would do (if you are focusing on running the numbers) or architect (if you are focusing on design analysis of entitlements &amp; zoning).", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "gsdyd3k", "text": "Are you kidding? Yes! You already are paying for it if you\u2019re relying on your general contractor for permits. They often do have relationships with the permit desk which definitely helps. \n\nI think the key here is to get your name and business out there so that people know it\u2019s an option. Until I read this I hadn\u2019t ever considered an outside consultant for these services as I usually just relied on my GC.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]