Hackett Planning Case Studies & Impact
Explore how we’ve helped communities navigate planning challenges, engage stakeholders, and turn ideas into actionable solutions.
Our work is grounded in practical planning, collaboration, and a clear understanding of the communities we serve.
The examples below highlight how we bring planning expertise, community perspective, and implementation-focused strategies together to help our clients move projects forward.
Serving Communities Across the Country
From county-wide engagement to development research to localized planning projects, the map below shows where Hackett Planning has brought its expertise to communities across the country. Each location reflects work performed by Hackett Planning, independently or alongside multidisciplinary teams.
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Public Engagement in Development: Mobile Food Truck Parks
Community Survey • Needs Assessment • Policy Analysis • Ordinance Development • Community-Informed Planning
The Challenge
The client envisioned a food truck park on a newly acquired property, but the site was too small for a large-scale development. They needed to understand what could work on the property, and
what food truck operators would need to participate successfully.
Our Approach
Hackett Planning assessed the property, zoning, development limitations, and potential redevelopment funding sources. The team built a complete survey of all mobile food truck vendors registered with the City of Bryan, conducted in both English and Spanish, to identify interest, barriers to success, and needs in order to participate. We analyzed the findings and translated community input into practical planning and regulatory recommendations.
The Solution
The research and operator feedback helped define a viable approach for the property, balancing site constraints, operator needs, and effective park management. Based on these conclusions, Hackett Planning drafted a food truck park ordinance
grounded in best practices for discussion with the City. The City was receptive to receiving the ordinance, but the client’s board shifted priorities and the project stopped before adoption. Although the project paused before adoption, community interest remained strong, with residents continuing to ask whether the food truck park would move forward. Hackett Planning’s efforts demonstrate how community engagement can move beyond collecting opinions. Resident input directly informed a regulatory framework that the City can adopt at any time.
Gamified Engagement for the Montgomery County Mobility Plan
Community Survey • Needs Assessment • Policy Analysis • Ordinance Development • Community-Informed Planning
The Challenge
As part of an ongoing countywide transportation planning effort, Hackett Planning was tasked with keeping a technical Steering Committee genuinely engaged in a complex set of trade-off decisions. Standard workshop formats, such as slide
presentations followed by open discussion, tend to produce passive review rather than active problem solving. The goal was to find a format that would prompt committee members to reason through competing priorities together, rather than simply react to staff recommendations.
Our Approach
Hackett Planning designed and facilitated a gamified engagement activity built around prefabricated and custom 3D-printed game pieces, each representing a different category of transportation project. Committee members worked through structured scenarios, weighing budget, community impact, and competing county priorities as they physically arranged and traded pieces to build out potential project mixes.
• Pre-Fab and Custom-designed game pieces representing
distinct transportation project types
• Scenario-based exercises requiring committee members to negotiate trade-offs in real time
• A hands-on, tactile format built to prompt discussion rather than passive review
• Facilitation designed to surface priorities and areas of
consensus among committee members
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The Solution
The research and operator feedback helped define a viable approach for the property, balancing site constraints, operator needs, and effective park management. Based on these conclusions, Hackett Planning drafted a food truck park ordinance
grounded in best practices for discussion with the City. The City was receptive to receiving the ordinance, but the client’s board shifted priorities and the project stopped before adoption. Although the project paused before adoption, community interest remained strong, and residents continued to ask whether the food truck park would move forward.
Hackett Planning’s efforts demonstrate how community engagement can move beyond collecting opinions. Resident input directly informed a regulatory framework that the City can adopt at any time.
Gamified Public Engagement:
Pop -Up Events
Public Engagement Strategy • Gamified Engagement • Pop -Up Event Design • Survey Development • Community Outreach •
Transportation Planning
The Challenge
Traditional strategies for public involvement have seen a dip in high - quality feedback from a broad mix of the community. With the Montgomery County Mobility Plan, reaching community members and encouraging their participation and feedback in the collaborative long term planning process is necessary to better prepare the county for future transportation demands.
Our Approach
Hackett Planning organized six pop -up events at lively events and popular destinations across Montgomery County to meet the residents where they already gather to expand input. People are
busy, and these events were held at community centers, farmers markets, libraries, and shopping centers to reduce time burden.
The Solution
Hackett Planning designed activity packets and provided crayons for younger residents and encouraged all residents to share their thoughts and experiences on transportation within Montgomery County. Through a combination of promoting a digital survey and t he pop - up events, Hackett Planning helped collect over 1,000 community responses to help inform the county
mobility plan, bringing the community voice into the recommendations of the final plan.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Expanded Housing Choice
Supporting municipalities with diverse housing options that respond to changing needs and help neighborhoods thrive.
Responsible Growth
Creating practical regulations that align development with community priorities and long-term goals.
Community Trust
Engaging residents in meaningful conversations that strengthen relationships and inform local decisions.
Accessible Engagement
Creating gamified engagement activities and pop-up events that make it easier for residents to participate and share their perspectives.
Facilitated Community Input
Using community surveys, focus groups, and interactive activities to understand resident needs and inform local decisions.
Vision That Becomes Action
Helping communities establish shared goals and translate them into practical plans, policies, and implementation strategies.
Strengthened Local Planning Capacity
Providing training and planning education that equip local leaders and staff to make informed decisions and implement effective solutions.