Land Use & Development Code Review
We are excited to provide comprehensive land use and development code support to new and existing clients.
Our team includes seasoned AICP-certified local government planners who recognize that land use regulation is one of the most effective levers for achieving impact on climate, sustainability, and resilience-related priorities. We have had the honor of supporting public and private sector partners across the U.S. to create innovative, transparent, and equity-centered energy codes, building policies, and climate action plans.
Through this work, we evaluate and identify potential refinements to land use and development codes to align them with climate, sustainability, and resilience goals. We also identify and resolve inconsistencies across energy and development codes to ensure communities have cohesive and effective regulatory frameworks.
From plans into implementation.
We can help communities bridge the gap between planning and implementation by providing clear, actionable, coordinated recommendations to integrate sustainability and climate goals directly into land use regulations and development standards.
Land use and climate expertise.
Our team works at the intersection of climate policy and the built environment to identify regulatory barriers and opportunities for sustainable development. We can analyze barriers and opportunities for:
Building electrification.
EV charging infrastructure.
Compact development.
Mixed-use zoning.
Transit-oriented development.
Walkability.
Core Competencies
The Lotus Difference
Energy code and land use alignment.
With deep expertise in advanced energy codes that support building and transportation decarbonization, we help communities ensure zoning, site design, EV parking, infrastructure, and other development requirements support climate-forward building energy policy and minimize regulatory conflicts.
Energy code and land use policy impact analysis.
Our team clearly communicates the impacts of energy code and land use policies on greenhouse gas emissions, transportation activity, energy use, and a variety of other environmental and economic metrics to inform decision making.
Code Review & Development
Land use & development code analysis and modernization.
Regulatory barrier identification & streamlining.
Energy code and land use comparison and alignment.
Advanced energy code writing and development
Planning & Implementation
Land use planning: climate, sustainability, and resilience elements.
Comprehensive planning: climate, sustainability, and resilience elements.
Climate action plans, resilience plans, and sustainability plans.
Code, plan, and policy implementation.
Policy Development
Building decarbonization code and policies (advanced energy codes, regional code alignment, benchmarking and BPS policies, etc.).
Department of Local Affairs, Colorado
Strong Communities Land Use Best Practices GHG Emissions Modeling Tool (2025) - in collaboration with Economic and Planning Systems
City of Golden, Colorado
Land Use Code Sustainability Menu and Metro Cohort Model Code Review (2025)
City of Aspen, Colorado
Facilitation of Electrification Task Force (2025)
City & County of Denver, CASR, Colorado
Electric Vehicle Charging Study and Policy recommendations (2026) - in collaboration with Group14 Engineering
Renewable energy adoption.
Growth management policies.
Parking & multimodal standards.
Green infrastructure.
Water conservation.
Land Conservation.
Data Analysis
Custom and interactive mapping and modeling tools that support emissions reductions and resilience through land use best practices.
Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments.
Technical Facilitation and Engagement
Technical facilitation of key partner groups on policy development and review.
Integration of equity, historic, and community circumstances into planning processes.
Tailored engagement and facilitation tactics to meet unique community needs.
Recent Project Highlights
Chaffee County, Colorado
Land Use Code Sustainability Review (2023)
Land Use Change Carbon Sequestration Analysis (2026)
Bernalillo County , New Mexico
Municipal Resilience Action Plan and Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (2026)
Winter Park, Colorado
Climate Action Plan and communitywide Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (2026)