Practical, people-focused solutions in planning, land development, and landscape architecture, with a focus on rural communities across Alberta and British Columbia. We help you explore your land’s potential, shape your vision, and navigate the path from concept to approval.
Founded by Harry Harker, whose planning experience spans more than five decades, 1st Principles Planning brings practical expertise and a people-focused approach to urban and rural planning. We work with landowners, developers, municipalities, and communities to create thoughtful plans grounded in local conditions and environmental and social responsibility. Our services range from site-specific proposals to community master plans and policy development, including:
Land assessments and due diligence: Combining boots-on-the-ground site visits with drone photography and policy research to assess development and subdivision potential, identify opportunities and constraints, and provide practical advice on your next steps. Subdivision and land use redesignation: Preparing and managing applications to divide land or change how it can be used. Concept and community planning: Shaping plans that connect your vision with site conditions, community needs, and municipal requirements. Policy development: Preparing clear, practical policies that guide growth and support community goals. Stakeholder engagement and municipal approvals: Bringing people together, building understanding, and working through the requirements of the approval process.
We believe good planning starts with being on the ground understanding the land, listening to people, and asking the right questions. Every project receives a tailored approach informed by its physical setting, policy context, and your goals. Whether you’re exploring an idea or ready to move forward, we start with the fundamentals: your goals, your land, and a practical path ahead.
Comprehensive planning and design services from development permits to landscape architecture, tailored to your project.
We put boots in the dirt to understand your land firsthand. By walking the site and using drone photography, we examine its terrain, access, and surroundings from the ground and above, identifying opportunities and constraints that maps alone can miss. We combine these insights with policy research and municipal requirements to give you clear, practical advice on what’s possible.
Whether you’re creating a new parcel or proposing a different use, we prepare and manage applications, coordinate supporting studies, and guide you through the municipal review process.
We guide you through the municipal approval process with clear advice and experienced support. From preparing submissions and coordinating technical studies to responding to municipal comments, we manage the details that move your application forward. We work with you, municipal staff, and technical specialists to address requirements, resolve issues, and keep you informed at each stage.
Large-scale community planning that balances growth objectives with livability, infrastructure, and environmental considerations.
We create clear, practical frameworks to guide growth and change. Through area structure plans, local plans, and policy development, we bring together community priorities, municipal objectives, and the realities of the land. Our approach combines research, analysis, and meaningful engagement to develop policies that help people make informed decisions and translate a shared vision into action.
Meaningful engagement is more than a box to check. We create opportunities for people to share their knowledge, voice concerns, and help shape projects. By listening early and showing how feedback informs decisions, we build understanding and develop proposals that better reflect the communities they affect.
We design outdoor spaces that connect people with their surroundings and support everyday use. By considering how people move, gather, and experience a place, we bring landscape and site design into the broader planning vision. Our approach responds to terrain, vegetation, and local character to create welcoming, functional spaces that balance community needs with environmental considerations.
A selection demonstrating our breadth across planning, design, and community engagement.
Experienced urban planners and a landscape architect united by a commitment to better communities.
50+ years
5+ years
5+ years
A genuine commitment to getting the fundamentals right — for our clients, their communities, and the land.
We consider every dimension — environmental, social, economic, and regulatory — to deliver integrated solutions.
Authentic public engagement that gives residents and municipalities a genuine voice in planning outcomes.
From a single development permit to an entire neighbourhood, the same depth at every scale.
Deep experience within municipalities means we understand the processes, policies, and people that drive decisions.
Whether you're in the early stages of a development concept or need support navigating municipal approvals, we'd like to hear from you.
Trusted by municipalities across Alberta