JAMES L. TAYLOR, ASLA
President – Landscape Architect
Jim Taylor manages the firm and leads its landscape architecture division overseeing preparation of all site design concepts and landscape construction documents. Since joining TLPG in 1986, Jim has established a reputation of successful coordination with competing interests to achieve workable solutions for complex environmental and development challenges. His professional experience includes a wide variety of public and private developments, extensive residential and commercial projects, and an array of recreational and educational facilities. He has been involved with the successful design for numerous habitat restoration projects involving wetland and riparian concerns. Jim also has developed a deep understanding of evolving storm water requirements and related landscape design solutions. In addition to landscape design projects, Jim currently consults with over 80 Homeowners Associations in the Southern California area. He is actively involved with the Landscape Architecture Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as an Advisory Council Member and Past Chair. Jim is also a Past President of the American Society of Landscape Architects San Diego Chapter.
ANN M. GUNTER, AICP
Vice President – Planning
Ann Gunter joined the firm in 1985 and is a key staff member with management responsibilities of major projects for private land use and development clients as well as public agencies. She uses her broad range of project management experience in assisting clients to process and gain approvals of complex discretionary projects. Ann finds creative means to address project issues to facilitate successful design and coordinate with diverse team members on implementation of entitlements, infrastructure and site development elements. She has successfully managed preparation and entitlements of large scale specific plans, commercial, residential, and industrial developments, with primary responsibility for coordinating all team members, and interfacing with public agency staffs. Ann’s communication and negotiation skills are invaluable in her ability to clarify complex issues with a variety of development team members, community groups and city staffs - fusing divergent viewpoints into effective project solutions.
DAN J. NIEBAUM, AICP
Vice President – Planning
Dan has more than two decades of extensive planning experience in private and public sector roles. Since joining TLPG in 2007 primary responsibilities have focused on managing multi-faceted planning projects for the firm. Dan is a creative problem solver drawing upon his varied background in urban design, architecture, and community planning to achieve superior project outcomes – from site analysis and design to project approval. He has had significant involvement in the development of comprehensive and special district plans, a large variety of discretionary development applications, and urban design plans - both as a city planner and a private consultant. He has worked with projects of all scales including resort developments, mixed-use projects, downtown commercial districts, in-fill residential, and public space plans. Dan also has expertise guiding public involvement in plan development and local neighborhood facilitation as part of planning efforts.
LYNNE A. LIGHTFOOT
Vice President – Administration
Lynne was instrumental in establishing The Lightfoot Planning Group, and since its inception she has managed the financial, administrative, and Human Resource operations of the firm. In addition to serving on the company’s board of directors, she is responsible for the long-term business planning, management of corporate assets and overseeing all administrative functions to support the professional team in serving our clients’ needs.
LOUIS N. LIGHTFOOT
Founding Principal
Lou founded The Lightfoot Planning Group in the summer of 1978, together with his wife Lynne, after recognizing a growing need to serve property owner and developer clients in addressing the challenges of California’s expanding Planning and Environmental regulations. Lou saw a need for property owners and developers to have a member on their team who understood the new regulations and spoke the language of the Planning Departments. The firm grew quickly while serving clients throughout Southern California. Soon, TLPG established itself as a diverse team of talented, professional individuals, knowledgeable in all aspects of development design and entitlement, with a reputation for achieving regulatory compliance and approval for the most complex projects - traits the Firm prides itself on today. Lou set the highest standards for professionalism, integrity, and customer service, and those standards continue to serve as the Firm’s core values. His participation on the company Executive Committee and availability for strategic consultation continue to provide guidance as TLPG moves forward under its current leadership.