EXPLORE ASSESS DEFINE
Phase EXPLORE ASSESS DEFINE
Primary Purpose Orientation Risk clarification Direction setting
Key question answered Is this worth exploring? What could prevent this from working? Which paths make sense?
Zoning interpretation High Level In Depth Integrated
Zoning Review High level review of applicable zoning Deeper analysis of zoning paths and requirements Confirmed zoning approach aligned with a preferred option
Due Diligence Limited Targeted Included
Concept Planning None Limited Included
Level of certainty gained Low - Moderate Moderate High
Design commitment required None None Conceptual only
Deliverables Summary and next step guidance Findings and recommendation paths Clear concept options suitable for next phase
Best For First time exploration or early screening Owners ready to validate assumptions Owners preparing for design & approvals
Possible Outcomes Pause, stop, or proceed to ASSESS Stop, refine goals, or proceed to DEFINE Proceed to Design & Approvals
Each area of work is a self-contained phase. Clients may pause, stop, or continue at the conclusion of any phase. Not every project needs to advance through all phases. Determining when not to proceed is often a successful outcome.