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The City of Beaufort is a 300-year-old municipality with rich history, iconic architecture, and a unique cultural identity.  In 2017, the City adopted a form-based “Beaufort Code” to retain its identity as development pressures increased.  The need to grow responsibly was a widely understood goal of the community.

With the departure of the City’s Community Development Director, MRB Group is assisting the City by staffing the Director position and performing as the Administrator of the Beaufort Code. MRB Group’s Senior Planner Riccardo Giani is the former Director of Planning for Natchez, Mississippi. He understands local government and the planning needs expereienced there.

Giani is working closely with City staff to fully support critical initiatives, reviewing the Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan, and Civic Master Plan to ensure their effective implementation. His support includes an assessment of departmental processes in order to improve  development review for ongoing and incoming projects.

Services provided by Giani included serving as the City’s representative to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA) and Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC); reviewing applications, and preparing staff reports to the ZBOA and MPC; issuance of administrative approvals; coordination with departmental staff and City leadership regarding ongoing projects; and ensuring that all projects conform with City standards.

MRB Group is concurrently conducting a regional search for a new Director and Senior Planner while providing this interim service.