Development regulations are a community’s primary tool for shaping growth and change. It is vital that these regulations support the community’s vision for its future. It is equally as important that these regulations are understandable – to staff, developers, and the general public – and enforceable.

Melissa has worked hands-on with development regulations in several communities. She is known for being meticulous and writing code language that is easy to use. Her approach to drafting new or revised regulations is to:

• First understand what the community and its stakeholders are trying to accomplish,
• Then fully explore the options and implications specific to that community, and
• Lastly translate the preferred regulatory approach into code language that is well organized and written in plain English.