Horizon Community Planning - About Us

David M. Jirousek, MCP, AICP Owner and Principal Planner

David M. Jirousek, MCP, AICP, is the Principal Planner and owner of Horizon Community Planning. David is an experienced community planning consultant and a former planning director, working in several capacities in the private and public sectors over a 21-year career. Currently, David’s responsibilities cover a broad spectrum of the planning profession: comprehensive planning, zoning ordinance preparation, development review, and zoning administration.

Master of Community Planning University of Cincinnati

B.A., Environmental Studies Allegheny College

Zoning and Development Codes

David has served as project manager for development code projects in eight states. This vast experience brings a diverse perspective and creative and tested solutions to local zoning issues. David has worked with Gaines Charter Township (MI), City of Saugatuck (MI), City of Port Wentworth (GA), Saugatuck Township (MI), Byron Township (MI), LaGrange Township (MI), Almena Township (MI), Holland Charter Township (MI), Coldwater Township (MI), and Marshall Township (MI) on full zoning code updates and with Village of Suttons Bay (MI), City of Fayetteville (GA), and City of Kennedale (TX) on full development code rewrites with form- based districts. Many of these projects were preceded by detailed technical audits and recommendations for overall code structure and content. David has also assisted with zoning and land development codes in the Town of Hilton Head Island (SC), Cedar Rapids (IA), Wilmington (NC), Bargersville (IN), Bluffton (SC), North Olmsted (OH), Richmond Hill (GA), and Fort Mill (SC).

Community Planning

David brings expertise and experience with steering committee and stakeholder collaboration, effective planning strategies, and best practices. His primary role in master planning projects is to establish an overall project vision and structure, and he places a special focus on outcomes and achievable implementation strategies. David’s master planning project management experience includes the the Town of Hilton Head Island (SC), Paw Paw Township (MI), Village of Fruitport (MI), Marshall Township (MI), City of Ferrysburg (MI), Spring Lake Village (MI), City of Hart (MI), Bertrand Township (MI), Coldwater Township (MI), Gaines Township (MI), Byron Township (MI), Robinson Township (MI), City of Plainwell (MI), and Town of Bluffton (SC). Additionally, David has also assisted the Cities of Hart (MI) and Plainwell (MI) with their efforts to qualify as Redevelopment Ready Communities® and Sullivan Township (MI) on a Parks and Recreation Plan.

Development Review, Zoning Administration, and Code Enforcement

While serving as a planner of record for over 40 jurisdictions, David has provided extensive site plan review, zoning administration, and general planning consultation.

Public Engagement

To set a solid base for planning and zoning efforts, David has developed detailed community and visual preference surveys and has facilitated open houses, round table discussions, mobile tours, and stakeholder interviews to provide essential context to community needs and the regulatory environment.