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About Bowie
Urban Planners
Mary
Anne G. Bowie Associates, Inc.
doing business as Bowie Urban Planners, has provided professional urban planning analysis and consultation
regarding land use decisions that consider social, economic, and
environmental factors since 1988.
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We connect our clients to
comprehensive land use planning solutions that create healthy, sustainable
communities. Bowie Urban Planners is a specialist in Growing the Green Economy. As the founder of Sarasota Green Connection and Sarasota·Green Marketplace, we offer
economic development consulting services to assist communities in creating and
nurturing their own eco-friendly business sector.
Contents:
The Firm
Mary Anne G. Bowie, Associates
Inc. does business as Bowie Urban Planners and its sister corporation is Sarasota Green Marketplace, Inc.
Bowie Urban Planners experience includes:
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growing the green economy through Sarasota Green Connection;
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extensive land planning analysis of more than 1000 sites being acquired through eminent domain;
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transportation impact analysis for commercial and industrial businesses;
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economic development and community visioning for citizens and public clients; and
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sustainable planning development services for private clients.
Since 1995,
Ms.
Bowie
has lectured nationwide on sustainable planning solutions. Bowie Urban
Planners continues to research leading edge solutions to integrate
into current and future projects. Continuously the firm works within the land use regulatory arena, requiring analysis and interpretation of local, state and federal
laws, while remaining committed to furthering sustainability in all of its efforts.
Bowie Urban Planners is
qualified to do work for the Florida Department of Transportation
under the requirements of FAC 14.75 in the field of Planning,
including Policy Planning, Systems Planning, Corridor Planning and
Land Planning/Engineering. The firm is a Minority Business Enterprise
(MBE) with an American Woman designation.
Bowie Urban Planners engages
in site-specific problem solving; prepares rezoning and other
development applications; and coordinates planning efforts with
appraisers, attorneys, financial consultants, surveyors, engineers and
other professionals to supplement staff capabilities. For instance,
through an association with Solinko Design Associates, Bowie Urban
Planners is able to
provide excellent conceptual design graphics and site layouts.
Bowie Urban Planners has
facilitated public official and citizen groups in addressing a variety
of issues, including urban design standards, economic development
solutions, controversial financial proposals, and sustainable
development practices. Publishing articles in local and national
planning magazines,
Ms.
Bowie
imparts her professional knowledge of sustainable development
approaches that address cultural and environmental sensitivity.
Ms.
Bowie
has also completed the Conflict Resolution Consortium's training for
public officials.
What happens when Bowie Urban Planners is
included on the project team?
- We ask penetrating questions about the social,
environmental and economic factors.
- We seek the necessary knowledge from a multitude
of sources, which includes our comprehensive
in-house library.
- We bring all the players to the table to create
possibilities, recognizing that the synergy of
all is greater than the individual.
- Finally, the solutions emerge and we assist in
implementation as necessary.
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Bowie Urban Planners Selected Projects Community Participation and Visioning:
Every public involvement activity requires clarification of purpose, methods and techniques and outcome. Bowie Urban Planners utilizes a variety of professional, proven techniques for facilitating excellent public meetings:
- Identifying expectations of all participants, recognizing the wisdom around the table;
- Using active listening to identify issues, concerns and positions;
- Using a variety of techniques to develop alternative solutions; and
- Building appropriate decisions in concert with the group.
Ms. Bowie has facilitated public official and citizen groups of various sizes in addressing a variety of issues, including urban design standards, economic development solutions, controversial financial proposals, and sustainable development practices. Ms. Bowie has completed the Conflict Resolution Consortium’s training for public officials.
Ms. Bowie was the lead planner for the final production of NEPA Environmental Impact Statements for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Ms. Bowie handled the 4f compliance for Oakland Park Cemetery and Historic Downtown Decatur. She developed transit station site plans and traffic circulation plans for several urban and suburban sites.
Bowie Urban Planners has the in-depth experience and commitment to provide urban planning services to your community that will be sensitive to the needs of the residents and businesses, logical, creative, financially and economically appropriate. Excellent planning does not have to be expensive, but it must be intelligent and congruent with the needs and desires of the community. Bowie Urban Planners is ready to provide community planning and visioning and other land planning consulting services that will create win-win situations for both permanent and seasonal residents.
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Venice US 41 Sustainable 2001 Vision Plan
Location: Venice, Florida
Mary Anne G. Bowie Associates, in association with Solinko Design Associates, created a Sustainable 2001 Vision Plan for US 41 Business on the Island of Venice, Florida. Bowie Urban Planners was retained by the City of Venice to recommend ways to integrate the redeveloped US 41 with downtown Venice. The American Society of Consulting Planners Plan awarded this plan the 2002 Sustainable Planning/Smart Growth Award. The plan creates sustainable solutions for the redevelopment area; promotes multi-modal transportation alternatives; creates new zoning solutions to encourage mixed uses and promotes reuse of the now underserved Intercoastal waterway frontage. The plan is available via Power Point presentation at www.bowieurbanplanners.com. |
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| Site above has excellent development potential before Florida Department of Transportation acquisition and road improvements; after the project is complete, site is severely limited. |
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Transportation Impact Analysis Services
Location: Over 65 cities and counties in Florida
Since 1988, Bowie Urban Planners has evaluated the impacts of transportation projects on over 1000 specific commercial, residential and industrial properties located in more than 50 different cities or areas of unincorporated counties. Each site has been evaluated for either the condemning authority or for the property owner impacted by the eminent domain process. Mary Anne G. Bowie, AICP, has facilitated multi-disciplinary coordination efforts involving strategy development, analysis, and cure plan deliveries. Professional analysis, advice and strategy direction is provided to attorneys, appraisers, business damage experts, engineers, contractors, and other experts throughout the eminent domain process. Continuously the firm works within the land use regulatory arena, requiring analysis and interpretation of local, state and federal laws.
Bowie Urban Planners is qualified to do work for the Florida Department of Transportation under the requirements of FAC 14.75 in fields of Planning, including Policy Planning, Systems Planning, Corridor Planning and Land Planning/Engineering. The firm is a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with an American Woman designation qualified to do work in the field of urban planning and consulting.
Ms. Bowie served as the urban planner on the FDOT trial team established for the acquisition of all real estate along Alligator Alley / I-75 in Collier County, involving a total of 1,100 parcels, requiring investigation of over 40 issues. Bowie Urban Planners was also retained by the FDOT to assist in guiding the opening of District 7, specifically relating to US 19 strategic easement issues and multiplicity of cases. |
The Nature Conservancy Site Acquisition Services
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Bowie Urban Planners provided services to the Nature Conservancy to support the planning services for the Sarasota County Environmentally Sensitive Land Acquisition Program. The firm completed analysis on various sites in unincorporated Sarasota County and in the City of Venice. This effort has required comprehensive analysis of environmental and habitat information, existing local and State regulatory restrictions, and existing development plans specific to each site. Parcels were assessed based on the locations of wetlands, floodplains, habitat boundaries, and comprehensive planning and zoning district boundaries to estimate the most appropriate use of the property. Bowie Urban Planners provided this input to the property appraiser for valuation purposes.
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Sarasota Community Revitalization Efforts/
Building Partnerships for a Better World
Sarasota Green Marketplace, an open air venue for small businesses selling products and services that promote personal and environmental health and sustainability, was started by Mary Anne Bowie, AICP and opened for the first time on January 11, 2003 in the Action Central area as an outdoor vendor event. Ms. Bowie initially included the concept of a green marketplace as an economic redevelopment strategy into the 2001 Vision Plan for the Island of Venice. The original Sarasota Green Marketplace is now a virtual marketplace, appearing as a web based directory at www.sarasotagreenconnection.com. Entry to the directory is limited to those businesses that provide sustainable products, practices and philosophies
Green World Café, founded by Ms. Bowie in October 2002, promotes and supports the Earth Charter principles. The Green World Café speakers are passionate about matters that reflect Earth Charter principles. Whole Foods Market has been the venue for the Green World Café since 2005. GWC continues to meet one evening per month.
On January 1, 2004, a new corporation, Sarasota Green Connection, Inc. was established to further the mainstreaming of green products and services. Offices were co- located until June 2005 on Central Avenue with Sarasota Architectural Salvage.
The Action Central urban revitalization project is a grassroots effort covering the forgotten part of Central Avenue between 10th and 15th Streets; Action Central has a goal of making the area safe, scenic and green and most recently received a grant from the National Bay Estuary program to provide edible fruit and nut street trees. |
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Englewood Interstate Connector Study
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Bowie Urban Planners worked with Wilbur Smith Associates to provide planning analysis for the Englewood Interstate Connector study, a joint Sarasota County / FDOT project. The planning analysis included creating the property database for a forty-eight square mile area; developing acquisition cost estimates; determining primary, secondary and cumulative impacts and consistency with the comprehensive plan; preparing the Conceptual Stage Relocation Plan; and contributing as a member of the multidisciplinary team. |
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Cost Estimates and Appraisal Support:
Location: Throughout Florida
Bowie Urban Planners has provided realistic acquisition cost estimates for a number of projects for the FDOT. These projects have included a set of seven intersections in Broward County, each with three design scenarios, covering an urbanized area of 28 miles; a major intersection improvement for the University/301 intersection in Manatee and Sarasota counties; and the realignment of a commercial corridor and intersection in Broward County.
Working as a subcontractor to project appraisers for FDOT District 1, Bowie Urban Planners has provided initial planning, zoning, transportation impact and development analysis for projects in Polk, Okeechobee, Sarasota and Lee counties. Products have included comprehensive corridor overview input for appraisal data books as well as detailed parcel impact analysis. |
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Land Planning:
Comprehensive and Sustainable Solutions:
Bowie Urban Planners recognizes that already developed land provides the greatest potential for accommodating future growth. Bowie Urban Planners brings urban land into its most appropriate land use. This “smart growth policy allows for intelligent land uses that create preservation opportunities which in turn create sprawl avoidance. Ms. Bowie has lectured nationally since 1995 on sustainable planning policies and Bowie Urban Planners continues to build these policies into both public and private planning projects.
With individual private clients, Bowie Urban Planners specializes in assisting clients that are committed to designing with nature. |
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Special Planning Studies:
Bowie Urban Planners has extensive experience conducting special planning studies for hundreds of parcel and planning issues. Our professionals use their strong abilities to solve land use problems by developing creative solutions through thorough analysis of land use, zoning, comprehensive plans and other constraints to development. Larger special planning studies include the following:
Economic Redevelopment In North Fort Myers, for the Lee County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Bowie Urban Planners developed a Community Vision-driven Economic Action Plan to revitalize the Business 41 corridor. This project involved extensive interaction with community and government representatives as well as a detailed analysis of the development potential of multiple sites within the corridor. The firm also prepared a redevelopment regulatory overlay zoning district draft ordinance and a conceptual waterfront site development plan as well as urban design guidelines for the Business 41 corridor.
Government Management Ms. Bowie analyzed numerous revenue allocation and site location decisions. Among these were: "Potential Alternative Revenue Sources" for the Sarasota County Mosquito Control District; facility management and alternative location studies for the Sarasota County School Board; and facility management and alternative location studies for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Strong community facilitation experience leading to consensus is an important aspect of the firm’s professional experience. |
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Westover 2010 – A Sustainable Vision for Tomorrow
Location: Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts
Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB) is located in Chicopee, Massachusetts and it is the largest Air Force Reserve base in the United States. Located on approximately 2500 acres of land, Westover resides within the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, which covers the entire Connecticut River Valley. The base provides worldwide air movement of troops, supplies, equipment and medical patients. In addition, the Westover ARB personnel provide airdrop and combat off-load operations. The base’s 2-mile long main runway is an alternative landing site for the space shuttle.
In the fall of 2002, Mary Anne G. Bowie, AICP participated as an invitee on an Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence Planning Assistance Team to create the first ever Air Reserve Base Sustainable Plan. As the lead Sustainability Planner, Ms. Bowie was responsible for developing the chapters regarding the sustainable approach solutions. The Environmental Management System approach, now mandated by Executive Order 131488, was presented as the appropriate method to insure sustainability: 1) management commitment; 2) compliance assurance and pollution prevention; 3) enabling systems; 4) performance and accountability; and 5) measurement and improvement. Sustainable land development, construction and planning solutions were presented. Sustainable products were described; and a sustainable vision for the community was created. The Base commander accepted the Plan and in his own words, said, “Westover Air Reserve Base must be durable.” The PAT Team Chief, Roger Blevins, Program Manager Air Force Comprehensive Planning saw such buy-in of the somewhat esoteric concepts of sustainability as success. |
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Laughlin Air Force Base –Historical Analysis of Real Estate and Determination of Air Field Expansion
Location: Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
In the summer of 2003, Mary Anne G. Bowie, AICP participated as an invitee on an Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence Planning Assistance Team to define the real estate parameters for expansion of the runways used for significant pilot training programs.
Work included historical analysis of both built and natural environments, research and analysis of all of the base’s real estate holdings and training of base real estate employees. Various runway expansion alternatives were designed and the impacts of each were determined.
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East Side Development Plan
Location: Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah
Hill Air Force Base, including the Ogden Air Logistic Center, has been active since the early 1940s. and is located in northern Utah, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. Covering 6,670 acres, the Base lies in two counties, on a plateau roughly 300 feet above the valley floor. The processes used in maintaining Air Force equipment and supporting flight-training missions produced a variety of wastes. Hill AFB began investigating releases in 1976, when a nearby resident reported an orange discharge from a spring on his property near the Base boundary.
The Air Force, Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DUE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are cooperatively investigating and cleaning up this contamination site.
In spring of 2004 Mary Anne G. Bowie, AICP served on an three person Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence Planning Assistance Team to create an Air Field Expansion Plan that included redevelopment of industrial facilities on a 600 acre site. Approximately 150 acres of the site was a Brownfield that required coordination and cooperation of the governing environmental bodies, include the Air Force, EPA and the state. Work included inventory and analysis of all existing facilities in the study area, facilitating a 12 hour day of group interviews of a diverse group of stakeholders, including maintenance staff, engineers, civilian, officers and enlisted personnel. Plan preparation required identification of critical issues and recommendations for land use utilization, facility layout, force protection and redevelopment. |
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Resumes
Mary Anne G. Bowie, FAICP, the firm's president
and sole owner has thirty years of urban planning
experience. She is the immediate past national president
of the American Society of Consulting Planners. Ms. Bowie
is also co-author of Estimating Planning Services,
a comprehensive guide to estimating public and private
planning projects, published in August 1997. Estimating
Planning Services received the APA National Division
Award for Outstanding Special Project.
The firm is comprised of
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The
Network
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After more than twenty five years as a planning practitioner, Mary Anne G. Bowie,
FAICP, is part of a
network of professional, excellent planning and design professionals. These
include other planning practitioners, engineers,
architects, attorneys, appraisers, economists and
environmentalists. For instance, when developing PD
&E acquisition cost estimates, Bowie Urban Planners
hires exceptionally experienced appraisers and business
valuation experts as subcontractors. On eminent domain
cases, Bowie Urban Planners can provide an entire team of
experts. This team has a proven successful track record
in advocating for the clients’ full compensation
through the Florida legal system.
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Sarasota, FL 34237
