Schmitz and Associates

Schmitz and Associates Schmitz & Associates provides land development consulting, project management and permit processing services to thousands of clients throughout Central and

Founded by Don Schmitz, II, AICP in Malibu, CA two decades ago, Schmitz & Associates evolved from a boutique firm specializing in coastal residential and agricultural/equestrian projects, to one that now includes a regional office and which also handles subdivisions, multi-family residential, health clubs, retail/commercial, office buildings, restaurants, transit-oriented development and industria

l projects in urban and rural communities throughout Southern California. In addition, Schmitz & Associates has become the “go to” firm for property owners and municipalities with complex, multi-jurisdictional projects which require not only top flight planners and project managers, but also effective advocates with regulatory decisionmakers. A reputation for excellent and successful land use consulting services has allowed Schmitz & Associates to continue to thrive in the recent recessionary years. From our smallest residential projects to our largest commercial clients, our strong reputation has been built upon the fact that we care for and represent each of our clients and their development projects as if they were our only one. Moreover, while many colleagues in fields related to ours have added "land use planning" and "permit expediting" to their list of services, we have consistently offered to our clients for the past 20+ years the most talented and dedicated team of planning professionals available. We believe that the fact that we are trained, seasoned, and professional planners is what distinguishes us from many in our field and allows us to successfully represent our clients’ projects.

The Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Recovery Expo, a free public event bringing together reb...
05/14/2026

The Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Recovery Expo, a free public event bringing together rebuilding providers, nonprofits, government agencies, wellness resources, and business support organizations for the Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Altadena communities. Families, friends and neighbors are encouraged to join.

Schmitz & Associates will have a booth at the event, giving residents, property owners, and businesses an opportunity to ask questions and get answers in person about rebuilding, permitting, land use, and the approval process.

Saturday, May 16
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
23575 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA

Attendees can meet directly with providers, connect with local organizations, and attend public panels to ask experts questions about navigating recovery and rebuilding.

Tickets are not required for entry.

Newport Beach’s coastal housing plans recently moved forward after a closely watched California Coastal Commission heari...
05/08/2026

Newport Beach’s coastal housing plans recently moved forward after a closely watched California Coastal Commission hearing.

The Commission unanimously approved amendments to the City’s coastal zone Housing Opportunity Overlay. Schmitz & Associates supported the City through the process, helping present a practical framework for future coastal housing.

Don Schmitz spoke on behalf of the City, which was required by HCD to provide 4,845 new housing units to meet Regional Housing needs. The City worked to balance environmental protection with state-required housing obligations and avoid potential “Builder’s Remedy” applications for large projects immune from local limitations.

This work reflects Schmitz & Associates’ role in navigating high-stakes land use, housing, and Coastal Commission matters.

A report on this approval originally appeared in the Daily Pilot.

https://schmitzandassociates.com/newport-beach-coastal-housing-plan-approved-by-california-coastal-commission/

This month, Schmitz & Associates is celebrating Benjamin Suber’s 15-year milestone. Since joining in 2011, Ben has grown...
04/24/2026

This month, Schmitz & Associates is celebrating Benjamin Suber’s 15-year milestone. Since joining in 2011, Ben has grown from intern and planning technician to GIS Manager and planner, strengthening project research, hearing preparation, permit strategy, and GIS capabilities.

As GIS Manager, he supports project research, forward planning, and entitlement strategy for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Skilled in ESRI ArcGIS, he has created maps and exhibits for presentations before the City of Malibu, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, and the California Coastal Commission.

Impact:

-Rose from intern to GIS Manager and planner
-Strengthened in-house GIS capabilities
-Developed systems for hearing preparation, presentations, and deadlines
-Supported projects through hearings, appeals, and approvals
-Reinforced identifying red flags early

“I’ve been able to get so many different approvals,” Ben said. “I feel like I’ve become the gold standard in getting hearings done in a proper manner.”

Ben holds degrees from the University of Arizona, Pepperdine School of Public Policy, and USC Spatial Sciences Institute, and credits the team as a key reason for his 15 years.

Outside of work, he is active in community service and an avid runner, recently completing the Great Race of Agoura triple challenge and winning the mile race overall.

Schmitz & Associates is proud to recognize Ben’s 15 years and the experience, consistency, and care he brings to the team.

Thank you to Urban Land Institute Los Angeles and Pepperdine University for bringing together such an impactful discussi...
04/16/2026

Thank you to Urban Land Institute Los Angeles and Pepperdine University for bringing together such an impactful discussion this past Friday at the Malibu Rebuilding Post Wildfire Summit.

Focused on public policy, planning, and infrastructure, the panel — including Don Schmitz, AICP — explored what rebuilding truly requires, from permitting realities and policy constraints to how much flexibility exists today.

Thank you to and for bringing together such an impactful discussion this past Friday at the Malibu Rebuilding Post Wil...
04/14/2026

Thank you to and for bringing together such an impactful discussion this past Friday at the Malibu Rebuilding Post Wildfire Summit.
Focused on public policy, planning, and infrastructure, the panel — including Don Schmitz, AICP — explored what rebuilding truly requires, from permitting realities and policy constraints to how much flexibility exists today.

When the City of Newport Beach needed to replace a fire station and library dating back to 1929, the project faced commu...
04/13/2026

When the City of Newport Beach needed to replace a fire station and library dating back to 1929, the project faced community opposition, environmental challenges, and a Coastal Commission hearing. Schmitz and Associates guided the city through Coastal approval in under 18 months-construction has already begun.

The Balboa Library and Fire Station No. 1 Replacement Project includes demolition of existing structures and construction of a new two-story, ~10,900 sq ft facility with a fire station, library, playground, green space, and public outdoor area.

From Summer 2024 to December 2025, the project moved through City approvals, appeals, and Coastal Commission review to final approval.

Schmitz and Associates:
• Maintained the approval path through the Coastal appeal
• Coordinated with Coastal staff on biological and landscape requirements
• Managed eucalyptus removal and heron habitat mitigation
• Kept alignment across City teams, consultants, and Coastal staff
• Delivered approval in under 18 months

The project was approved at the December 10, 2025 Coastal Commission hearing.

Projects in the coastal zone often stall or restart—this one moved forward through every stage without resetting the process.

If you are planning a development project in the coastal zone and need permits or approvals, our team can help move your project forward.

Schmitz and Associates team attended the Palibu Connections event today at Duke's in Malibu. It was a pleasure hearing C...
04/09/2026

Schmitz and Associates team attended the Palibu Connections event today at Duke's in Malibu. It was a pleasure hearing City of Malibu Councilmember Doug Stewart speak about various City issues and the unique challenges regarding wildfire recovery. Our team is here to help and support the Malibu Community.

# Cityof Malibu

Join us at Pepperdine University on April 10 from 1:30 to 4:00 PM for the Malibu Rebuilding Post Wildfire Summit, bringi...
04/06/2026

Join us at Pepperdine University on April 10 from 1:30 to 4:00 PM for the Malibu Rebuilding Post Wildfire Summit, bringing together city leaders, planners, and industry experts to address what comes next. Link to register in bio.

Don Schmitz, AICP will be a featured panelist, sharing firsthand insight on permitting, entitlements, and how to navigate the rebuild process — based on decades of experience guiding complex approvals across California.

Connect with others navigating the rebuild and hear directly from the people shaping it, with a clearer understanding of what this means for you.

Key takeaways:
- How the rebuild process really works
- What’s changing with permits, policy, and timelines
- Where delays are happening and why
- How fire resilience and infrastructure are being addressed
- What insurance and financing mean for rebuilding

Behind every rebuild is a process most people don’t see, from approvals and constraints to funding and the decisions that shape what’s possible. Be part of the conversation and move forward with clarity.

Save your spot now!
https://la.uli.org/events/detail/15359FE4-85AC-4857-A460-0B9504AFB850/

We’re proud to announce the promotion of Chris Deleau and Cindy Martin to Principal Planner, recognizing their decades o...
03/27/2026

We’re proud to announce the promotion of Chris Deleau and Cindy Martin to Principal Planner, recognizing their decades of experience guiding complex land use and development approvals across California.

Both bring a powerful combination of planning expertise and legal training:
• Juris Doctor degrees
• State Bar members
• Extensive experience navigating complex entitlement and permitting processes

Their paths are different, but both have played a key role in helping clients move projects through California’s regulatory landscape.

Cindy Martin
With a background in law, land use planning, and international policy, Cindy has been a valued member of the team for over a decade. She guides clients through the full entitlement process while advising on environmental and regulatory constraints, and has extensive experience with agencies including the California Coastal Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her strategic, detail-oriented approach makes her an indispensable resource on complex, high-profile projects.

Fun fact: Cindy began her career as an on-air reporter with NBC News, interviewing figures like President George Bush and Clint Eastwood.

Chris Deleau
A Licensed California Attorney and Certified Professional Planner, Chris has over 20 years of experience and has been with the firm since 2003. He has led a wide range of complex projects across California, navigating frameworks like the Coastal Act and CEQA while representing clients before key public agencies. His strategic insight and ability to solve complex regulatory challenges make him a critical leader on major projects.

Fun fact: Chris is bilingual in Spanish and has decades of experience in property management.

Congratulations to both on this well-deserved achievement.

We are thrilled to highlight the successful approval of a Conditional Use Permit for exploratory and perc testing for a ...
03/11/2026

We are thrilled to highlight the successful approval of a Conditional Use Permit for exploratory and perc testing for a residential project in Topanga within LA County’s Santa Monica Mountains North Area.

The permit retroactively authorized limited site work, including 11 test borings and 4 trenches, to support a geologic investigation report and Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) feasibility report for a future single-family residence.

Although the scope was limited to testing in primarily disturbed areas, LA County requires a discretionary CUP process for this work. The project was approved at a public hearing on February 17, 2026, with the Hearing Officer noting the strength of the presentation and having no questions.

The project qualified for a Categorical Exemption under CEQA (Class 4 – Alterations to Land) and received approvals from Fire, Environmental Health, and Public Works.

With the entitlement secured, the property owners can now move forward with submitting their single-family residence application.

Navigating hillside and coastal jurisdictions can be complex, but proactive coordination and experienced representation can make a measurable difference.

Address

28230 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA
91301

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18183383636

Website

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