Services Overview

HMA offers a veriety of services to public and private clients.

Comprehensive Planning and Zoning
A wide range of comprehensive community planning services including Plans of Conservation and Development, Zoning Regulations/Studies, Coastal Area Studies, Business District Studies, Corridor Studies and other Special Planning Studies are provided.  The staff is composed of full-time professional planners. The firm has served over 100 governmental agencies in the completion of over 300 assignments.  During that time, many innovative planning and growth management techniques have been introduced.

Land Planning and Development
HMA provides land planning services for private clients from project inception through to the issuance of permits.  Specific services provided include inventory and analysis of physical site factors, traffic and access as well as market considerations.  Based upon this analysis, HMA provides a conceptual site plan, which can be used as a guide for detailed design and permit processing.  This service includes the coordination of other professionals retained by the client to assure a timely and efficient pre-development process.

Economic and Market Analysis
For public clients, economic and market analysis includes economic base studies as part of a comprehensive planning process as well as specific studies for delineated portions of the community or sites.  This analysis often includes an examination of the fiscal impact of future development.

For private clients, marketability and feasibility studies support alternative development strategies.  This process involves detailed assessment of supply and demand for specific market segments and a determination of how a development project relates to these supply and demand factors.  The feasibility of a project is further determined by comparing market data to the financial and operating characteristics of a particular project.

Environmental Studies
Environmental assessments and impact studies are prepared in accordance with appropriate local, state and federal requirements.  These studies focus on the impact of the project on the full range of physical and socio-economic factors as well as the impact of these factors upon the project.  The complexity of proposed projects often requires the services of specialized professionals such as soil scientists, engineers, architects, hydrologists, traffic engineers and air and water quality experts.  HMA maintains a working relationship with these specialists and can provide the client with these outside services as well as project coordination.

Strategic Planning
Faced with an ever growing demand on services and pressure for development with a diminishing level of resources, communities are faced with the need to manage growth.  At the same time, the development community has become more sensitive to the needs of communities and understands the need to consider the impact of development on the quality of life in a community.  HMA provides strategic planning services to both the public and private sector in recognition of this mutual need for such planning.  The fact that senior members of the firm have extensive experience as both public and private sector professionals enhances our ability to provide this service.

Community Development
Senior staff at HMA has been involved with Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) since its inception in 1974 both as consultants and program administrators.  The services provided include the preparation of applications for funding as well as on-going assistance with program implementation.  Specific assignments may include studies of existing conditions, data analyses, preparation of revitalization programs, economic studies and environmental assessments.  In the past, HMA has provided technical assistance on the CDBG, HOME and CHDO programs under contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.