Community & Area Planning

Services

Comprehensive Planning
Development Review Services
Zoning Code & Regulatory Updates
Strategic Planning Services
Housing & Economic Studies
Small Area & District Plans
Corridor Studies
Environment & Sustainability Plans
Implementation Frameworks
Daily Planning Services

We help communities create and nurture meaningful places for an equitable, resilient, and thriving future.

We are planners. We are placemakers. We are visionaries. We are collaborators. We work alongside our client communities to plan for more resilient and inviting communities.

Our community and area planning services create and implement plans, policies, design guidance, regulations, and strategies necessary to guide communities towards safe, sustainable, and beautiful futures. Our staff bring specialization for long-range planning on a community-scale, district-level strategic guidance, single-site design thinking, and everything in between.

We recognize that planning occurs every day on all scales.

We bring the expertise needed to prepare for and guide that change, while staying on top of local and national best practices and emerging trends.

Our multidisciplinary team of collaborative problem solvers brings diverse expertise, and a drive to remain at the forefront of emerging issues facing our clients and communities. Recognizing the intricacies and varied histories within each community, we ground our work in local context, equity, inclusion, and resiliency. From high-level visioning through development review, our full spectrum services are designed to empower communities, so they remain prepared to achieve a thriving and sustainable future.

Urban street corner with two multi-story buildings, retail stores at street level, and cars at a sunny intersection.

Carolina Square, Chapel Hill Foundation Real Estate Holdings, Inc.

The project redeveloped the site in two phases. The existing retail and office space was

A visualization of a group of people walking in front of a building

Downtown Master Plan, City of Westminster, South Carolina

Westminster partnered with Bolton & Menk to create a downtown master plan with the intent

Aerial view of a park at night

Downtown Park and Streetscape, City of Simpsonville, South Carolina

Simpsonville is turning nine corridors and a 26-acre park into a civic canvas—where walkability, heritage,

An aerial view of a greenway

Walker Branch and Hoover Creek Greenway, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Mecklenburg County is enhancing community connectivity and recreational access through the development of 1.5 miles

People using power wheelchairs and others walking along a wide, accessible path in a green park on a sunny day. Trees, benches, and a bridge are visible in the background.

2050 Comprehensive Plans: Climate, Sustainability, Resilience

At Bolton & Menk, sustainability and resilience are central to how we help communities plan

A group of people stands around a table under a canopy, examining a large map and discussing. One person points at the map while others look on attentively. There are plants and informational posters on the table.

Comprehensive Plan Services

A comprehensive plan is a long‑range planning document that guides a community’s growth, development, and

Aerial view of a small town with tree-lined streets, brick buildings, a water tower, parked cars, and vibrant murals on some walls; farmland and greenery surround the town.

Building Momentum Through Public and Private Partnerships in Algona

For many Iowa cities, downtown street reconstruction projects begin as responses to aging pavement, outdated

A group of eight smiling people stand together outdoors in front of a tent, holding drinks and wearing casual volunteer shirts. The image has a purple overlay with the text REAL OUTREACH and a community icon.

Empowering Communities Through Support Initiatives

Our mission is fundamentally focused on empowering communities. This spring, our team built new partnerships

No more posts to show

A man in a blue suit jacket and checked shirt smiles while standing outdoors in front of greenery and a building.

Andrew Babb named SCAPA Volunteer of the Year

Andrew Babb has been named Volunteer of the Year by the South Carolina Chapter of

Illustration of a lively urban street scene with people walking and gathering. A large green badge in the foreground reads Award Winning Project. Trees and buildings line the street under a clear sky.

Gen H Honored with 2025 APA-NC Marvin Collins Planning Award

The Gen H Comprehensive Plan has been awarded the 2025 Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award

A modern brick municipal building with landscaped grounds and a large graphic in the foreground that reads AWARD WINNING PROJECT in green letters inside a badge-shaped design.

Simpsonville Municipal Center Earns Top Project Honor

The Simpsonville Municipal Center has been named one of SCBIZ News Top Projects for 2025—a

A tall, cylindrical water tower labeled ST. CLOUD stands behind a street intersection with traffic lights and signs, including one for Veterans Drive. Trees and houses are visible in the background.

Our St. Cloud, Minnesota location has moved!

Our St. Cloud, Minnesota office has moved to a new location! Our new space at