About Walter

As a graduate of the University of Illinois's prestigious Urban and Regional Planning program, Walter brings 36 years of Florida Land Planning experience. Further, his MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University provides a better understanding of the business side of land development. Having worked as a City Planner for highly regarded cities such as Boca Raton and Plantation, his understanding of the impact that high-quality development has on a community is unique.  As a Project Manager for the City of Fort Lauderdale's Downtown Development Authority, he has a proven track record of redevelopment planning and future visioning, including Fort Lauderdale's internationally recognized Riverwalk. The diversity of his experience includes a tenure as a Planner for Highlands County, wherein he developed a deep sense of commitment to growth issues facing rural communities.

Walter brings a philosophy of success in project management, which is supported by his track record. Key to his philosophy is a core belief in the critical nature that community/neighborhood consensus building has played in the success of all of his past projects. His experience with large-scale mixed-use projects, such as Mizner Park in Boca Raton, has led him to believe in the importance of creating sense of place and destination in the community.

During Walter's recent tenure at Lennar he filled two mission critical roles, first as Land Department Purchasing Director for 7 years and then as Director of Amenity Planning for the past 3 years. His time at Lennar is exemplary of his entire career, dedication to designing, entitling and developing large and complex master-planned communities. Walter's experience in large community planning is so extensive, his fingerprints are statewide, including Ocala, Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona, Mount Dora, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Parkland, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch, Naples and Miami. As demonstrated in all of Walter's Civic Affiliations, he is of the firm belief, in order for land planners to be effective, they must be deeply rooted in the community through public service. 

During Walter's tenure as Community Development Director for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, he reinvented the land development processes and turned around the permitting process, single-family building permits went from an average review time of 6 months down to 2 weeks. Also, he personally wrote the COP on the Beach Ordinance, which has become a model ordinance for communities looking to allow and regulate the sale and service of alcohol for establishments located on beachfronts.