About

Welcome to Barry Miller Consulting. I founded my practice in 1991 to provide urban planning services to local governments, guided by a simple mission: to produce planning documents that are clear and accessible, grounded in data and technical analysis, and shaped by meaningful community input. From the beginning, my work has been hands-on, responsive to client needs, and more affordable than what larger firms typically offer.

I’m a lifelong planner, having spent my childhood planning elaborate fictitious cities, complete with data books and histories. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. I’ve been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 1989 and was named an AICP Fellow in 2012.

My professional career began in Houston, Texas, where I worked for a land planning firm on master-planned communities. I then spent six years at Sedway Cooke Associates in San Francisco, advancing from Planner II to Senior Associate. I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside exceptional colleagues on extraordinary projects.

My first decade as a sole proprietor helped define my niche as a comprehensive plan practitioner. Working at the intersection of land use, transportation, housing, economics, public safety, and the environment proved to be a natural fit—and a great way to indulge my love of maps, data, and policy.

In 2002, I relocated to Washington, DC to serve as project manager for the Comprehensive Plan update for the nation’s capital. The assignment coincided with a pivotal moment in the profession, as equity and climate change moved to the forefront, and with a transformative period in Washington’s own resurgence and reinvention.

I returned to California in 2006 and reestablished Barry Miller Consulting. Over the past two decades, I’ve worked on 14 general plan updates, four specific plans, nine Housing Elements, and dozens of zoning ordinance amendments. I’ve also helped communities across the country tackle long-range planning challenges, resolve difficult land use issues, and bring long-delayed efforts across the finish line.

Although I operate as a sole proprietor, I rarely work alone. Successful projects are built on strong partnerships with local staff, community members, and peers in economics, transportation, engineering, environmental science, architecture, civic engagement—and, of course, other planners. After four decades in the field, I’ve developed a deep national network of collaborators. I’m also a strong believer in engaging volunteers, students, and artists in the planning process.

It’s been a good run—and I’m still at it!