Resume

Jay W. McLeod

email:  jay.w.mcleod@gmail.com     |     cell:  (919) 747-4158     |     LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-mcleod-71546568/ 


OBJECTIVE
Research, analysis, creative solutions, and placemaking through public real enhancement and design, coordinated with urban and long-range planning, ordinance creation, and implementation, with a focus on progressive, best-practices outcomes.
 
EDUCATION 

Master's in Urban & Regional Planning     University of Florida, FL          May 2011

    +2 semesters Landscape Architecture                             

Master's in Biology (Urban Ecology)          University of Louisville, KY     December 2008

Bachelor's in Biological Science                Florida State University, FL     August 2002

WORK EXPERIENCE
 
Current planning and development review, special projects, site design and review    December 1, 2014 - present
Working as Senior Planner for the Town of Clayton, NC
* Current planning, development review, site plans, rezonings, and presentation to elected boards including Town Council
* Special projects, including sidewalk installation, and right-of-way acquisition and certification for LAPP-funded greenway project
* Long-range planning, including coordination with regional and state agencies and planning efforts
* Ordinance amendments to the Unified Development Code, including creation of a Downtown Overlay District incorporating objective, design-based, neighborhood character regulation

Regional planning, grants-driven work, and developments of regional impact    6 months
Working as Planner III for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council
* Review of new and amendments to Developments of Regional Impact
* Presentation to Council; public information requests; coordination with developers and other agencies
* Special projects; GIS; grant-writing

Long-range, regional planning, visioning, and special projects    3 years
Working as Planner for the Central Florida Regional Planning Council
* Coordinated work products relating to a 50-year regional visioning effort (www.heartland2060.com), including alternative future scenario modeling, energy baseline and greenhouse gas inventory, affordable housing inventory, extensive GIS work (ArcGIS 10), and economic development strategies
* Downtown master planning and visioning (including graphics and conditions inventory) for several jurisdictions, focusing on enhancing local identity, economic competitiveness, and livability
* Part of the team that created the award-winning Lake Alfred Downtown Master Plan (http://www.cfrpc.org/documents/Lake_Alfred_Downtown_Master_Plan.pdf, FAPA 2013 Award of Merit in Neighborhood Planning)
* Created award-winning Affordable Parcel Inventory and regional Future Land Use map (NADO 2012 Innovation Award)
* Worked on the award-winning, statewide effort to update the Florida Energy Assurance Plan (http://florida-energy.org/, NADO 2013 Innovation Award)
* Wrote scope of work and coordinated the production of the award-winning Florida Heartland Energy Baseline and Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NADO 2013 Innovation Award)

GIS Modeling using ArcGIS and ModelBuilder     1 year project
Working for: St Johns River Water Management District and South Florida Water Management District and freelance
* Established methodology and created living models (in ArcGIS and ModelBuilder) to estimate and spatially allocate historic agricultural groundwater pumpage for five counties in Central Florida
* Assembled, compiled, and standardized Future Land Use Maps (in ArcGIS) for 85+ municipalities to be used for analyzing large-scale trends in future development, “hot spot” land use conflict detection, and population projection
* Analyzed tree canopy cover in metro Louisville, KY to determine socio-economic distribution (ArcGIS)
* Created wetland prioritization model (ArcGIS) by analyzing habitat, landscape and growth features

Planning and Design     1 year 3 months
Working for: Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and pro bono/freelance work
* Created a Low Impact Development (LID) Manual to accompany Alachua County land development regulations and address a community need for policy concerning ecological stormwater design
* Redesigned local riparian park for better pedestrian/cyclist movement and ecological stormwater treatment
* Facilitated and designed community garden for Kanapaha Middle School, Gainesville, FL

RELEVANT SKILLS

Data analysis and GIS software: ESRI ArcGIS, ArcInfo, incl. ModelBuilder and creation of GIS models, suitability analysis

Graphics: SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, some Illustrator), hand-drawn graphics and rendering, some AutoCAD

Office: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Communication: presentations at public meetings, report writing, grant writing, communication

WORK

AWARD WINNING

*  American Planning Association Florida Chapter (APA FL) 2013 Award of Merit in Neighborhood Planning for “The Lake Alfred Downtown Master Plan” (2013) – concept development, public outreach and visioning, graphics, report writing, presentation

*  APA FL, Heart of Florida Chapter, 2013 Award of Merit for “Affordable Housing Toolkit” (2013) – technical review and coordination

*  North American Development Organizations (NADO) 2013 Innovation Award for “Florida Heartland Energy Baseline and Greenhouse Gas Inventory” (2013) – technical review and data coordination

*  APA FL, Heart of Florida Chapter, 2012 Award of Merit for “The Lake Alfred Downtown Master Plan” (2013) – concept development, public outreach and visioning, graphics, report writing, presentation

*  NADO 2012 Innovation Award for “Preparing for the Future in the Heartland: Regional Land Use and Affordable Housing” (2012) – technical review and coordination

*  NADO 2011 Innovation Award for “Central Florida Economic Analysis and Disaster Resiliency Study” (2011) – economic impact modeling and chapter writing

NOTEWORTHY

*  Central Florida Regional Planning Council, as part of a U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant, “Heartland 2060 Resiliency Plan” and some associated documents (2014) – technical review and coordination, graphic coordination, report writing

*  Florida Regional Planning Councils Association, as part of a U.S. Department of Energy grant “Florida Energy Assurance Study: Interim Report” (2013) – technical contributor, economic modeling, report contributor

*  Saint Johns River Water Management District, Technical Publication SJ2012-2, “Methodology for Estimating Historical Agricultural Groundwater Use in the Central Florida Coordination Area (CFCA), 1957-2010” (2012) – lead author

REFERENCES
Current employment references available upon request.

GIS habitat prioritization

By creating an original model in ArcGIS 9.3 ModelBuilder, habitat, landscape, and wetland features were ranked in order to prioritize wetland land purchases in Alachua County, FL. Of particular interest were areas where wetlands will be in conflict with  predicted Florida population growth through the year 2060. This model can be updated and run again to project different priorities based on a shift in the base parameters.

Purchase priority:   9=highest,  1=lowest

Above: Alachua County, FL, priority wetland purchases.

Above: The ArcGIS 9.3 model and prioritization tree.

Duckpond Park Upgrade project

This project was initiated during my final semester of classes at UF, in a studio class. The purpose was to redesign a local area with attention to hydrological function and riparian health. I took it a step further, and redesigned for pedestrians, cyclists, stream wildlife, water quality, stormwater control, and plant life. I have since presented this work to the City of Gainesville Bike Ped Advisory Board, and the local Neighborhood Association.

Duckpond Upgrade

Watershed Design Intervention

Jay McLeod

April 2010

Justification for Intervention

Sweetwater Branch is one of Gainesville’s most urban streams, draining 3.3 square miles as it flows from Duckpond Park to Payne’s Prairie. Duckpond Park is located in Duckpond Historic Neighborhood, which is primarily single family residential with some historic buildings scattered throughout. The headwaters of Sweetwater Branch are located underneath a parking lot on Main Street and piped underground to the outfall at the beginning of the park. Historic storm water management practices have primarily used this creek as a drainage feature, although in the park it is flanked by a small amount of public land. There is little to no riparian buffer vegetation along Sweetwater Branch and the creek banks are incised deeply from a “flashy” urban hydrologic regime. Storm water drains directly from neighboring streets into the creek without treatment during rain events. The duck pond itself has steep vertical walls and no littoral area or banks for plants or park-user interaction.

Large amounts of impervious surface in the watershed have led to urban hydrologic drought, stream bank incision, poor water quality, dry riparian soils and reduced ecological function of the creek, making Sweetwater Branch the second most degraded stream in Gainesville. Being the headwaters of Sweetwater Branch makes Duckpond Park an ideal place to implement watershed design strategies to create a more natural ecologically functioning watershed with better water quality and stormwater storage abilities.

Regional Context

Putting the Duckpond Upgrade in a regional context illustrates the opportunities for city-wide pedestrian and cyclist connections, park connectivity, and the diversity of uses in the immediate area. The potential for exercise, recreation, and commuting are optimal due to the multiple nearby bicycle connections and proximity to shopping, business, entertainment, park, and work areas. The extension of the Duckpond Park  bike routes to the 6^th Street Rail-Trail to the west, and the 2^nd Ave Rail-Trail to the south, along with the future connection to the Depot Ave Rail-Trail further south, will create a figure-eight which will facilitate pedestrian and cyclist connectivity.

Duckpond S.W.O.T. Analysis

STRENGTHS

·       Gridiron street network provides high pedestrian connectivity.

·       Existence of active neighborhood association that values Duckpond Park.

·       Location in a historic neighborhood provides interesting context, and public and political concern.

• Headwaters location allows for maximum improvement in downstream water quality.

WEAKNESSES

·       Historic designation may restrict redesign of road system.

·       Watershed is already fully developed and there is no adjacent public open space to incorporate into Duckpond Park.

• Presence of pet walkers on the grass surrounding the creek and fowl in the pond contribute to water pollution.

OPPORTUNITIES

·       Large traffic lanes allow for easy integration of bike lanes.

·       Recent park projects such as Depot Park, the 6th Street Rail-Trail, and Sweetwater Park provide for city-wide connectivity.

·       Degraded stream status and headwater location means large opportunity for water quality improvement.

·       Historic structures and creek support creation of cultural identification projects.

THREATS

·       Primary pollution in this area is non-point source, which is more difficult to diminish and/or remediate.

• Proximity to downtown means potential for higher density redevelopment leading to increased impervious surface and accompanying storm water issues.

Goals of the Intervention

·       Prioritize a pedestrian and bicycle environment conducive to physical exercise, passive recreation, and interaction with nature for multiple user groups.

·       Restore a linear connection for park-goers, wildlife, and the creek.

·       Create a regional connection for pedestrians and cyclists that links to other greenspaces and provides opportunities for alternative commuting.

·       Enhance water quality at this headwaters park, and partially restore pre-development hydrologic regimes through the use of ecological restoration, new technologies, and reduced impervious surface area.

·       Keep the project achievable in the short term by having multiple levels of implementation and using combinations of low-tech and high-tech solutions.

Design Integration

The Duckpond Upgrade can be implemented as an integrated whole, or in separate parts that may have less function than the whole, but still improve upon present conditions. The design can be implemented in several distinct phases:

1. Delineation and addition of bike lanes surrounding the park, an internal, pervious pedestrian walking path, painted crosswalks with speed bumps as appropriate to facilitate pedestrian movement, and the addition of benches, trash cans, doggie-bag stands, and possibly pedestrian-oriented street lamps. The first step in creating a linear park is to make it accessible and useable for people. Strictly delineated areas for pedestrian movement are necessary to facilitate safety and park-usage.
2. Re-grading the riparian zone, planting a riparian buffer and additional tree cover, cooperation from maintenance crews to respect these areas. This will help restore the ecological function of the riparian area surrounding the headwaters of Sweetwater Branch. Re-grading the riparian area with a more gentle, undulating slope to the waters edge will provide better flow conditions during both low and high water conditions. Under high flow conditions, the stream velocity will be slower because the re-grading will provide for a floodplain-style spreading of the stream into a large volume area. Riparian vegetation will slow the water and filter pollutants out. Shade from trees will provide more natural conditions that are generally found in headwater streams, and allow for a more natural assemblage of aquatic organisms (mostly invertebrate shredders), as well as providing tree leaf nutrients more representative of a natural stream.
3. Closing the bridges to automobiles at 6^th, 7^th, and 9^th Avenues and creating nodes of pedestrian interaction, reorganizing the surrounding roads and intersections intersections, and adding bioretention/rain gardens to treat stormwater runoff from the surrounding areas before it enters the creek. The closing of these avenues and subsequent creation of 3 pedestrian nodes of activity (the playground, gazebo, and orchard) represent a fundamental shift in reclaiming the linear Duckpond Park for people. Tearing up the pavement at these bridges, and replanting with native plants or grass would be a significant step toward protecting the creek and the people who enjoy it. Any reorganizing of surrounding roads and intersections must maintain pedestrian and bicycle access, and the bioretention/rain gardens that are created should accept stormwater from the surrounding areas. These rain gardens will be lower than the surrounding areas, and will pond when it rains. They will have underdrain pipes (approx. 4’ under the surface) that will transmit directly to the creek. The rain gardens will treat the stormwater before it enters the creek, and will increase the time of concentration (relative to the existing storm water street drains) which will decrease creek velocity during storm events and maintain a more constant base flow. All storm water street drains in the area should be re-designed so that they drain to a bioretention/rain garden, creating a neighborhood-wide stormwater treatment system.
4. Repaving the road surrounding the Duckpond Park (NE Boulevard) with pervious pavement, plugging all surrounding stormwater street drains, and retrofitting the curbs so that they allow drainage into the riparian soils. The addition of 6” of pervious pavement on NE Blvd (enough to be flush with the current curb) will provide a small amount of stormwater storage because the pervious pavement is approximately 20% void space. Drilling weep holes in the existing curb surrounding the park will allow this ponded stormwater to infiltrate the riparian soils and be denitrified by the bacteria within. In the event that the stormwater overflows, it will be spread levelly as surface sheet flow, passing through the riparian buffer zone. Both of these actions will increase the time of concentration during storm events and help treat the storm water. Since the NE Blvd will now be flush with the internal park, traffic bumps or some kind of minimal-profile automobile separator must now be installed to protect pedestrians and cyclists from automobiles. These cannot interfere with the overland flow of stormwater during rain events.
5. Regional integration of Duckpond Park bike path with the 6^th Street Rail-Trail, the 2^nd Avenue Bike-Trail, and Depot Avenue Rail-Trail. By making NE 5^th Street a one-way street from University Avenue to Duckpond Park, and using the remaining space for a two-way bike lane, we can connect to the south with Sweetwater Park downtown, which will soon connect all the way to Depot Park and the Rail-Trail. By extending the Duckpond Park bike lane westward along NE 10^th Avenue, we can connect with the 6^th Street Rail-Trail, creating a city-wide bicycle commuting opportunity.

Park design

 This is some of the work that I completed during my 2 semesters as a Landscape Architecture grad student at University of Florida. It is a mix of hand drawn, computer-enhanced, and entirely digitally-derived graphics.

GIS tree cover analysis

While I was at grad school in Louisville, KY, I analyzed tree canopy cover for 26 council districts, each with approximately the same population. The results were then cross-analyzed against socio-economic data, to determine if there was preferential distribution or maintenance of trees.

I have also been trained in the valuation of ecosystem services provided by trees, according to the U.S. Forest Service protocol UFORE.

Regional Future Land Use Map

This is a project that was initiated while I was employed by the South Florida Water Management District. I am currently developing it as my thesis, which I will defend in mid-February.

Future Land Use Maps (FLUMs) are a manifestation of a community’s vision for the future development of an area, and are mandated by Chapter 163.3177, Florida Statutes. The South Florida Water Management District (District) has assembled and compiled the FLUMs for over 85 cities and all 16 counties from among the 154 local governments within its jurisdiction. The District has assembled this data to better coordinate with local governments and enhance their ability to integrate land use and water resource planning. The FLUMs have also been standardized to the District Generalized Future Land Use Categories methodology, which facilitates comparisons across political boundaries. This map will be used to identify large-scale trends in future land use that span municipal boundaries. It can also be used to identify potential “hot spots” or areas for further investigation where development may impact ecosystem restoration, water supply, water quality, flood control and natural systems.  These areas may benefit from future policy and planning assistance and can help focus utilization of limited resources.

Additionally, using data from each local government FLUM within a county, a population projection can be extrapolated using a full build-out scenario. Mixed use and residential future land use categories are projected by multiplying land use density maximums by acreage for each category, using people per dwelling unit as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is important because most population projections do not derive from or account for future land use. These FLUM population projections are then compared to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) population projections for each county.  BEBR population projections are an accepted standard that local governments use to develop their future land use demand when creating FLUMs.

Bike Ped Advisory Board handout re: Duckpond Park

This is a project that I have presented to the local Neighborhood Association and the City of Gainesville Bicycle & Pedestrian Board. It has been recommended that we continue to refine a set of improvements that all neighbors can agree upon, and then it can be recommended for funding. See http://historicduckpond.com/ for more information.

Duckpond Park Enhancement: pedestrian/cyclist focus
Jay McLeod
jay.w.mcleod@gmail.com

Duckpond Park Headwaters Vision (at NE 10^th Ave and NE 1^st St): A new water feature and increased pedestrian and cyclist facilities.

Justification

The historic Duckpond Park is a local gem. Many people enjoy it daily whether to feed the ducks, see the creek, or admire the historic architecture. Although there has been significant recent investment to upgrade the park, much work is still needed. The park is still very fragmented, and does not facilitate pedestrian, or cyclist enjoyment. Pedestrians have no internal walking path, and instead have to rely on an unconnected sidewalk that crosses many busy roads. Cyclists have no designated areas, and have to cross the same busy roads, which lack pedestrian-awareness signage. However, with a few minor enhancements, Duckpond Park is an ideal place to implement pedestrian/cyclist design strategies to create a more accessible linear pedestrian park with city-wide access and appeal.

Goals of the Enhancement

The Duckpond Park Enhancement can be implemented as an integrated whole, or in separate stages that may have less function than the whole, but will still improve upon present conditions.

· Prioritize a pedestrian and bicycle environment conducive to physical exercise, passive recreation, and interaction with nature.

· Restore a linear connection for the neighborhood, park-goers, cyclists, wildlife, and the creek.

· Create a regional connection for pedestrians and cyclists that links to other greenspaces and provides opportunities for alternative commuting.

· Keep the project achievable in the short term by having multiple levels of implementation and using combinations of low-tech and high-tech solutions, as well as low-cost and high-cost alternatives.

Design Integration

1. Internal, pervious pedestrian walking path, painted crosswalks (with speed bumps as appropriate to facilitate pedestrian crossings), and the addition of benches, trees, a riparian buffer, trash cans, doggie-bag stands, and pedestrian-oriented street lamps. The first step in creating a linear park is to make it accessible and useable for people. Strictly delineated areas for pedestrian movement are necessary to facilitate safety and park-usage.

a. Low-cost option: Add an internal, pervious pedestrian path, and maximize bench and garbage can location to provide for the majority of users. Add doggie-bag stands to prevent stream pollution.

b. High-cost option: Add an internal, pervious pedestrian path that can be used at night with low-energy, LED street lamps. Make benches, garbage cans, and doggie-bag stands available frequently. Provide painted pedestrian crossings, pedestrian priority, and speed bumps along NE 8^th Ave and NE 10^th Ave as necessary to facilitate pedestrian movement, especially across the busy roads. Explore the use of “crossing flags” (as in Salt Lake City) and motion-activated flashing lights to increase pedestrian visibility. Use tree plantings and riparian buffer plantings to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. Add signage detailing local features, history, and the historic architecture. Add a water feature at the headwaters of the park (near Main St; see graphic above) to provide an entry feature/anchor for the park. Address the need for increased sidewalk connectivity surrounding the park.

2. Addition of bike lanes surrounding the park. Provide a painted bike lane around Duckpond Park, flowing counter-clockwise along the inside of the traffic lane, abutting the park. Provide crossings and signage where appropriate to prevent collisions. Remove portions of speed bumps to facilitate unhindered bicycle movement.

a. Low-cost option: Stripe the bike lane on the inside of the road surrounding the park.

b. High-cost option: Stripe the bike lane on the inside of the road surrounding the park. Provide crossings and signage to prevent collisions, with flashing lights and cyclist priority. Physically separate the bike path from traffic at potentially dangerous areas. Raise some intersections as necessary. Remove portions of speed bumps to facilitate cyclist experience.

3. Closing or reducing traffic at the bridges on NE 6^th, 7^th, and 9^th Avenues, and instead create nodes of pedestrian interaction, potentially reorganizing the surrounding roads and intersections to facilitate pedestrian movement. The closing of these avenues and subsequent creation of 3 pedestrian nodes of activity (possibly a playground, gazebo, community garden, or orchard) represent a fundamental paradigm shift in reclaiming the linear Duckpond Park for people. The Duckpond would then balance pedestrian interests (at 6^th, 7^th, and 9^th Avenues) with automobile crossings (5^th, 8^th, 10^th Avenues, and 2^nd St). These intersections have been chosen because they have very low traffic volume and do not provide any significant local automobile connectivity. Tearing up the pavement at the aforementioned bridges, and replanting with native plants or grass would be a significant step toward protecting the creek and increasing storm water quality. Any reorganizing of surrounding roads and intersections must maintain pedestrian and bicycle access, and bioretention/rain gardens can be created in strategic locations to accept and treat storm water from the surrounding areas. This is the lynch pin to creating a pedestrian-centric park.

a. Low-cost option: Reduce the traffic lanes on the bridges to greatly slow traffic, effectively eliminating non-local traffic. Traffic could also be discouraged by placing cumbersome speed bumps on the bridges. Or place bollards or large concrete planters where NE 6^th, 7^th, and 9^th Avenues cross Duckpond Park. These obstructions will prevent automobile traffic, but will maintain pedestrian and cyclist access. Bridges can be temporarily closed as a trial.

b. High-cost option: Tear up the pavement on the NE 6^th, 7^th, and 9^th Avenue bridges and create pedestrian nodes of activity: a large, event gazebo on 6^th Ave (overlooking the duck pond), a children’s playground at 7^th Ave, and a community orchard at 9^th Ave. Reorganize the road intersections surrounding these areas to maintain pedestrian and cyclist connectivity, and re-route automobile traffic around the park. This will create a promenade around the park that will allow automobiles to circulate, but will not prioritize them. Add strategic rain gardens.

4. City-wide integration of Duckpond Park bike path with the 6^th Street Rail-Trail (to the west, via NE 10^th ave), the 2^nd Avenue Bike-Trail (to the south, via NE 5^th St), and eventually to Depot Avenue Rail-Trail (further south, via the GRU downtown property purchase along Sweetwater Branch). By extending the Duckpond Park bike lane westward along NE 10^th Avenue, a connection can be made with the 6^th Street Rail-Trail, creating a city-wide bicycle recreation and commuting opportunity. By making NE 5^th Street a north-running, one-way street from University Ave to Duckpond Park, and using the remaining space for a two-way bike lane, a connection can be made with Sweetwater Park downtown, which will soon connect all the way to Depot Park and the Rail-Trail. A one-way street is recommended because of the low-volume of traffic on NE 5^th Street, as well as the necessity to maintain a cyclist prioritized trail. This regional connectivity will create the opportunity and allure to safely use bicycles for work-commuting, recreational, family-oriented, and shopping-related cycling. Between these four bike trails, a user can grocery shop, patronize downtown businesses, experience local parks and historic venues, visit the library, and visit friends or family.

a. Low-cost option: Use signage and striping on NE 5^th St and NE 10^th Ave to indicate bicycle presence and priority, without changing the flow of traffic.

b. High-cost option: Use signage and striping on NE 10^th Ave to indicate bicycle presence and priority, without changing the flow of traffic. Make NE 5^th St a northern-only, one-way road, and convert the decommissioned lane into a two-way bike path, possibly with pedestrian area also. Remove portions of the speed bumps to facilitate bike traffic. Create a pedestrian crossing, median refuge, “Yield to Pedestrian” signs, and flashing light on University Ave to alert drivers to pedestrian/cyclist presence.

Gainesville’s climate and demography make it ripe for the creation of a substantial park system focused on ecosystem services, and connected by a cohesive pedestrian/cyclist network.