When I stepped back from Council, I did so with clarity and optimism — not just about where our cities were headed, but about the role planning could play in shaping our future. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of planning, politics, and community, as a mayor, consultant, and researcher. I’ve seen the power of good planning to create liveable, inclusive, future-ready places. I’ve also seen how easily it can be derailed by short-term thinking — and how costly that can be for clients, communities, and councils alike. Greiss Planning exists to bring clarity, rigour, and steady leadership to the approvals process, so good projects can move forward with confidence.
Change what the planning controls allow
Sometimes the right project for a site is not permissible under the current planning controls. A planning proposal — often called a rezoning — seeks to amend the Local Environmental Plan itself, changing the zoning, height, floor space ratio, minimum lot size or other development standards that apply to the land.
Greiss Planning provides advice and documentation for planning proposals, helping landowners, developers and project teams understand whether a rezoning has merit, what it involves and how to progress it.
Why strategic merit matters
A planning proposal is assessed differently to a development application. The question is not whether a particular design is acceptable, but whether changing the planning controls has strategic and site-specific merit — and whether it aligns with the state, regional and local strategies that guide how an area is intended to grow.
This service is especially useful when you need to:
- pursue a land use the current zoning does not permit;
- test the rezoning potential of a site before purchase;
- seek a change to a development standard such as height, FSR or minimum lot size;
- make a submission on a council LEP review or strategy exhibition;
- respond to a Gateway determination or council requirements; or
- understand the realistic prospects, costs and timeframes before committing.
What Greiss Planning reviews
Depending on the site and the change sought, Greiss Planning may consider:
- the current planning controls and their intent;
- the strategic planning framework, including regional and district plans, the council's local strategic planning statement and housing strategy;
- site opportunities and constraints;
- strategic and site-specific merit;
- consistency with ministerial directions and state planning policies;
- the technical studies likely to be required;
- council's LEP program and priorities; and
- the pathway, prospects and likely timeframes for the proposal.
The advice is tailored to the site, the change sought and the strategic context in which the proposal would be assessed.
Clear advice before you commit
Planning proposals are long-term undertakings, and not every site is a rezoning candidate. Honest, early advice on strategic merit can save significant time and cost — and where a proposal does have merit, a well-prepared justification gives it the strongest possible foundation.
Outcome
You receive clear, site-specific advice on whether a planning proposal is viable, what it would involve and how best to progress it — supported by well-structured strategic justification where the proposal proceeds.
Discuss a rezoning opportunity
Considering a planning proposal or wondering what a site could support under different controls?