News-Planning Archives

Bridgeport Transportation and Land Use Study Receives Planning Award

HRG was part of a team that was honored this week at the Places 2040 Planning Leadership Awards. Our project, the Bridgeport Transportation and Land Use Study, was recognized in the Thinking Beyond Borders category. Thinking Beyond Borders is one of five “Big Ideas” in Lancaster County’s comprehensive plan (otherwise known as places2040). It promotes cooperation across traditional boundaries to achieve regional goals, and the Bridgeport Transportation and Land Use Study exemplifies this approach.

Bridgeport began as a historic village and gateway for travel between Lancaster’s city neighborhoods and its rural landscapes, dating as far back as the 1800s. Today, it encompasses portions of four municipalities: the City of Lancaster and East Lampeter, West Lampeter, and Lancaster Townships. These four municipalities worked together on a shared vision for the area’s transportation infrastructure, trails, and land use policies in order to enhance walkability, reduce congestion, and create vibrant spaces for the community to enjoy.

HRG provided transportation planning services and cost estimates for the creation of this study. Derck & Edson led public engagement and provided streetscape and land planning services. Town Planning Partnership, LLC, assisted with land planning and public engagement. All municipalities and the Lancaster County Planning Department provided representatives for the steering committee. Over 800 local community members provided essential input/feedback as part of the planning effort.

We’re humbled to be recognized among so many great projects at the Places 2040 award ceremony, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this project team.

Bridgeport Transportationa and Land Use Study team accepts the Places2040 planning leadership award

(L-R) Bob Shenk, Steve Hackett (Derck & Edson), Ryan Hostetter (HRG), Cindy McCormick (City of Lancaster), Tara Hitchens (East Lampeter Township), Mark Evans (Derck & Edson, Town Planning Partners), Terry Martin (Lancaster County Planning Commission), Ben Bamford (Lancaster County Planning Commission)

 

 

Planning & Design Group Brings Many Talents into One Unified Team for a Holistic Approach to Placemaking & Community Development

Ginny Loaney & Nichole Mendinsky collaborate on a projectThe HRG team has two primary focuses: One is helping people create safe, healthy, resilient, and desirable communities. The other is providing the highest level of service to our clients. Our newly named Planning & Design Group helps us do both in an enhanced way.

We’ve always had broad-ranging talent to create desirable spaces for living, working, shopping, learning, and gathering with family and friends. Our team includes planners, engineers, landscape architects, funding strategists, and construction specialists with creative ideas and extensive experience across many sectors.  Now we’re bringing these diverse perspectives into one unified team: the Planning & Design Group.

We know that every planning and design decision impacts other decisions in a multitude of ways, so we’re fostering collaboration throughout the project life-cycle.  This helps us be nimble and responsive, saving you time and money while ensuring a carefully considered and well-executed end product.

The group is lead by Nichole Mendinsky as practice area leader. As a certified planner, parks and recreation professional, and registered landscape architect, Nichole embodies the vision of this team to bring many disciplines together for a holistic approach to community development.

She is supported by a group of more than two dozen talented practitioners, including our newly promoted group manager, Laura Ludwig, and newly promoted team leader, Scott Bert.

Laura has a deep understanding of the duties and challenges municipal planners face due to her prior experience as community development director for North Fayette Township.  She’s a certified planner and the southwestern Pennsylvania section chair of the American Planning Association.

Laura LudwigScott BertScott is a licensed professional engineer with 29 years of experience. He provides land development and site design services for warehouses and distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, retail, healthcare, educational facilities, and residential communities.

Nikki Mendinsky Recognized Among Women Making a Difference

Nikki MendinskyCongratulations to our land development practice area leader Nikki Mendinsky, who has been recognized by PA Business Central as a Woman Making a Difference. Anyone who works with Nikki knows her drive to make a positive impact with her work as a planner, landscape architect, and certified parks and recreation professional. She believes strongly in the power of place to improve people’s lives, and you believe it, too, once you’ve had the chance to talk with her or work alongside her.  We’re so happy to see her recognized with a very talented and influential group of leaders in Central Pennsylvania. (Read Nikki’s full bio here.)

HRG Names Land Development Practice Area Leader: Nichole Mendinsky

Nichole Mendinsky Earns Planning Certification

Nichole MendinskyNichole Mendinsky has become a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. This organization is the only nationwide association to verify planners’ qualifications. In order to be recognized as an AICP, planners must meet education and experience requirements and pass a rigorous exam.

Mendinsky has 12 years of experience planning and designing community spaces such as parks and recreation facilities, plazas, courtyard, and institutional campuses. She is passionate about bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to support a common vision for the betterment of a community, and she is particularly skilled at public engagement, facilitation, sustainable design, and revitalization initiatives.

Mendinsky is also passionate about continually expanding her skillset to provide the best possible service to her clients. In addition to her membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners, she is a registered landscape architect, certified parks and recreation professional, and LEED accredited professional.

HRG’s assistant vice president Erin Threet says:

“Nikki’s work ethic and commitment to planning and design are unsurpassed. She fully embodies HRG’s dedication to the highest levels of professionalism, and we are glad to have her on our team to support our clients.”

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 200 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

Nichole Mendinsky Honored Among Foremost Under 40

Nichole MendinskyNichole Mendinsky was recently honored by Pennsylvania Business Central as one of the area’s Foremost under 40.  This annual ranking recognizes young professionals with an exceptional work ethic and inspiring stories who editors expect will be the next generation of business leaders and innovators. This year’s honorees are featured in the November 22, 2019 edition of the newspaper.

Mendinsky is a registered landscape architect and team leader at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc (HRG). She has 12 years of experience planning and designing community spaces such as parks and recreation facilities, plazas and courtyards, as well as institutional campuses. Her passion is bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to support a common vision for the betterment of a community, and she is particularly skilled at public engagement, facilitation, sustainable design, and revitalization initiatives.  In her spare time, she volunteers for the Nittany Valley Joint Recreation Authority in Bellefonte Borough.

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 200 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.

 

ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA BUSINESS CENTRAL

Pennsylvania Business Central is a monthly publication covering business news in a 20-county area across Central Pennsylvania.  The publication was first issued in 1991 and has a circulation of more than 10,000 people.

Laura Ludwig Joins HRG as a Community Planner

Laura Ludwig portraitLaura Ludwig has joined the Pittsburgh office of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) as a community planner.  She will assist HRG’s municipal clients with zoning, ordinance amendments, and requests for land development plan approvals and permits.  She will also act as a liaison between community groups, government agencies, developers and other stakeholders in developing neighborhood plans.

She has extensive experience as a community organizer, municipal government employee, and consultant.  Prior to joining HRG, she served as the director of community development for North Fayette Township.  Her responsibilities included guiding residents and businesses through the subdivision and land development review process, ensuring local construction project comply with codes and ordinances, and implementing the community’s comprehensive land use plan.  She also worked as a private consultant, drafting a comprehensive plan for South Beaver Township and assisting dozens of municipalities with their zoning and land use programs.

Ms. Ludwig earned her master’s degree in urban and regional affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners

 

ABOUT HRG

Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) is a nationally ranked design firm providing civil engineering, surveying, and environmental services. The firm was founded in Harrisburg in 1962 and has grown to employ more than 200 people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit the website at www.hrg-inc.com.