Welcome to the Eaton Planning web site
Eaton Planning is an urban planning firm specializing in smart
development codes, growth management, and public policy advice.
Eaton Planning was founded in late 2004 by Chris Kluchman, a founding
principal of Angelo Eaton & Associates in Portland, Oregon.
Chris Kluchman, AICP
Chris has 22 years of planning and development experience in a wide variety of settings. As
Principal of Eaton Planning, she offers clients experience in smart development zoning codes;
comprehensive planning and growth management, natural resource protection and green
infrastructure, development permitting for complex projects, and excellent project
management and group facilitation skills. From 1999 to 2005, Chris led Angelo Eaton &
Associates 5 www.angeloeaton.com.
At Eaton Planning, she continues to work with multi-disciplinary teams on policy development
and implementation for land use, growth management, transportation, natural resources, and
development projects. She is an articulate and energetic representative for clients in private,
public, and non-profit sectors and specializes in resolving complex policy issues. Chris is able
to explain technical issues to a variety of audiences.
Recent Project Experience and Clients
Belmont Master Plan, Town of Belmont, Massachusetts
Chris is part of a team with Larry Koff & Associates www.lkoffassociates.com updating the
Town's Master Plan. Chris' role on the team is to create "out of the box" public engagement
and education opportunities. She created an on-line survey taken by over 500 participants.
This tool allowed people to provide opinions into the process from their own living rooms -
without having to attend a public meeting or workshop. The Master Plan received Town
Meeting approval for the second and third phases, and continues with a "bottom up" process
relying on community led working groups.
State Street Area Master Plan, Town of Wellesley, Massachusetts
Chris and urban designer Lawrence Bluestone created a specific area plan for this five acre area
in the center of Wellesley. During a quick moving six-month period, the team worked with
Town planning staff to inform and get feedback from a representative steering committee.
The project offered two on-line surveys, one targeted at study area property owners,
commercial tenants, and residents. After getting feedback on alternative scenarios from that
group, the steering committee created a "hybrid" option presented to the general public
through an on-line survey and a public forum. The final plan lays out an action plan with short,
medium and long-term recommendations. The master plan will guide redevelopment of this
area over time.
Parking Facility Workshop, Town of Ayer, Massachusetts
Chris led a one day charrette to help the town of Ayer resolve a long-standing issue about the
size, location and design of a commuter rail park and ride facility. She worked closely with an
established Task Force, Town staff, committees and Board of Selectmen to plan the event.
Approximately 80 people attended the four hour event, to learn about different solutions, and
work together to come up with a solution that could be forwarded to the regional transit
authority. A Hybrid solution that mixes structured parking and small surface parking lots
emerged from the workshop as the preferred approach. Chris was invited back to facilitate a
workshop later in the year to review parking garage designs.
Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw Revision. Springfield, Massachusetts.
Chris managed the overhaul of the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Known as the “City of Homes”
Springfield is Massachusetts’ third largest city with 152,000 people. As recommended by an
Urban Land Institute (ULI) study, the City sought to modernize zoning regulations to increase
economic development opportunities, add approval standards, revise its outdated
organization, provide for sensitive redevelopment and strengthen its neighborhood centers.
Chris facilitated a diverse Citizen Advisory Committee to review and comment on draft
ordinance language.
By-Law Revisions, Devens, Massachusetts. Working for MassDevelopment,
Chris wrote an innovative residential zoning framework for Devens, MA, a 4,400 acre
decommissioned army base. The new regulations promote transect-based zoning, with a
mixture of densities, neighborhood commercial uses, and require human-scaled pedestrian
environments. The process included facilitating large and small stakeholder committee
meetings and public presentations on the By-Law changes.
Grant Writing, MassDevelopment. As a consultant to the state agency
MassDevelopment, Chris coordinated with local governments and state agencies to match
program funds and projects. Specific assignments included:
- Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Green Affordable Housing Initiative grant to
develop a $6 million program within MassDevelopment; - Public Works Economic Development (PWED) successful grant application for $1.4
million infrastructure for City of Springfield, MA, from Massachusetts Executive Office
of Transportation (EOTC)
Recent Research and Speaking Engagements
"Comprehensive Planning: Massachusetts and Oregon," lecture at Antioch University New
England, Keene, NH, February 2009.
"Agritourism in Massachusetts: It's Role in Economic Development," Southern New England
American Planning Association Conference, September 2008.
"Climbing the Career Ladder, a facilitated workshop" American Planning Association National
Conference, Las Vegas, NV, April 2008.
“2B or Not 2B: Planning for Devens, MA a Decommissioned Army Base,” American Planning
Association National Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 2007.
“Commercial Development Regulations and Design Standards for Large Format Retail – a
Smart Development Approach", Vermont Law School and Vermont Law Journal Symposium,
South Royalton, VT, March 2005.
“Zoning for Home Based Businesses”, New England American Planning Association Annual
Conference, Springfield, MA September, 2004.
Low Impact Development, Green Street Designs” Sustainability Forum, Los Angeles, CA,
August 2004.
“So You Want to Improve Your Development Code?” Oregon American Planning Association
Workshop, Portland, OR, April, 2003.
| Eaton Planning |
| Expertise Land Use Planning Growth Management and Comprehensive Planning Zoning Code Revisions Natural Resource and Environmental Planning Public Involvement Programs Facilitation Grant Writing Member American Planning Association American Institute of Certified Planners Congress of New Urbanism Education B.A. Growth and Structure of Cities, Haverford College |
| www.eatonplanning.com ckluchman(at) eatonplanning(dot)com Office: 781-210-0982 Fax: 781-658-2621 1984 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02421 |
controversial local issue, maintaining an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation among diverse interests. The event constituted a new paradigm for the Town of Ayer. Harry B. Zane, Chair Comprehensive Plan Committee |
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