Our Process
A Clear Process from Vision to Approval
Our six-step approach brings clarity to complexity, aligns stakeholders, and keeps project decisions moving.
A Structured Six-Step Approach
The framework establishes a current project definition, named responsibilities, visible dependencies, a decision record, and an agreed communication rhythm. The sequence is tailored to the project, jurisdiction, stage, and scope; it does not predetermine agency timing or outcomes.
- 1
Discovery & Due Diligence
Clarify project objectives, the decision ahead, known site and jurisdiction context, assumptions, constraints, information gaps, and professional input needs.
- 2
Strategy & Planning
Develop the advisory roadmap, decision criteria, responsibilities, agency touchpoints, specialist dependencies, and working sequence.
- 3
Entitlements & Approvals
Coordinate applications, plans, studies, team inputs, agency meetings, comments, hearings, revisions, and decisions without substituting for agency authority.
- 4
Design Coordination & Project Refinement
Keep the project definition current as architects, engineers, surveyors, environmental specialists, counsel, sponsors, and agencies contribute within their roles.
- 5
Final Approvals & Public Reports
Track agency decisions, conditions, public-report workstreams, legal and specialist inputs, remaining dependencies, and responsibility handoffs.
- 6
Implementation & Beyond
Support scoped condition tracking, permits, final documents, phase transitions, professional-team coordination, and implementation handoffs.
What Clients Can Expect
Clarity
Key decisions, assumptions, dependencies, agency authority, and open questions remain visible.
Coordination
Responsibilities, professional roles, communication, review cycles, and next actions stay connected.
Momentum
The team maintains a current workplan and decision record without promising timing or an agency outcome.
What the Framework Organizes
A disciplined process does not guarantee a result; it gives the project team a reliable way to see current facts, authority, responsibilities, and next decisions.
Clarity
Separate verified facts, sponsor direction, professional advice, agency direction, assumptions, and open questions.
Coordination
Name responsible contributors, professional boundaries, dependencies, communication channels, and decision owners.
Current Status
Maintain an accessible record of work completed, review status, comments, conditions, and unresolved decisions.
Practical Next Steps
Assign focused actions to CDA, the sponsor, public agencies, counsel, or the appropriate licensed or qualified specialist.
Example Scope-Dependent Deliverables
Feasibility Memorandum
A decision-focused summary of assumptions, known context, information gaps, specialist needs, and options.
Entitlement Roadmap
An anticipated path showing applications, professional inputs, agency touchpoints, dependencies, and decision gates.
Submission Tracker
A current record of package components, responsible contributors, review status, comments, revisions, and next actions.
Public-Report Workplan
A project-specific coordination plan for documents, counsel and specialist inputs, submissions, review cycles, and agency status.
Hearing Preparation Plan
A scope-specific plan for factual materials, team roles, decision questions, public process, and follow-through.
Implementation Tracker
A record of adopted direction, conditions, responsibilities, dependencies, phase transitions, and handoffs.
Build a Clear Path Forward
Tell CDA where the project stands and which decision or coordination challenge is ahead. CDA will arrange a conversation if the engagement appears to fit.
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