Planners and Developers

Welcome to Urban Formulations. My name is Steven Webber and I’m the principal of Urban Formation, an urban planning consulting practice with a land economics focus. In my former life I was a faculty member at Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson when I was there), and prior to that at the University of Toronto/Innis College. On that note, I want to extend a big hello to my talented former students who continue to make a positive impact in the world.

Writing about the relationship between planning and real estate development is something I have considered for a while. The common ground that exists must be properly acknowledged and strategically leveraged as small and large communities across Canada continue to deal with their local housing challenges. Recognizing this creates a framework for collaborations that will expedite housing delivery through planning initiatives that align with economic realities.

Planners understandably approach development issues from a cautious perspective that is shaped by their education and professional experience. Largely absent from their knowledge base is an awareness of the real estate investment process. Developers justifiably express concerns in response because financial feasibility is a consideration that should be incorporated into planning decisions. But let’s not forget that developers are responsible for making a good faith effort to clearly communicate with planners. The two-way street analogy is something that should always be front and centre in their minds.

Efforts to bridge this gap between planners and developers motivated me to create and teach undergraduate and graduate development feasibility courses at TMU. Throughout the semester students were introduced to pro forma fundamentals and given the opportunity to apply high-level models to real world examples. Adding to the learning experience were guest speakers from the private, non-profit, and public sectors who graciously met with the students to provide their valuable insights into the inner workings of the development world.

I have incorporated the content and spirit of these university courses into a series of Pro Forma Workshops. These introductory sessions use a plain-language approach to review pro forma terms, assumptions, calculations, and outcomes. The intention is to support planners in their efforts to gain a level of literacy that will allow them to engage in meaningful development feasibility discussions.

The workshops always generate thoughtful and lively conversations that are informed by the participants' experiences with developers. Planners want (need) to understand how developers think, and they welcome the opportunity to ask relevant questions and express valid concerns in a constructive setting. Urban Formulations will rely on this tone to explore development and pro forma topics that will hopefully encourage productive interactions between planners and developers.

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Feedback is always welcome. I can be contacted at: steven@urbanformation.com