Highest & Best Use Land Analysis


Pacific Land Group specializes in highest and best land use assessments for private land owners, property appraisers, municipal governments, senior government agencies, financial institutions, and lawyers. Our highest and best land use analyses are used to determine the optimal development potential for unique and/or challenging properties. The highest and best land use analyses are often used to establish development and financial impacts of a partial land taking for public right-of-ways. Property purchases/dispositions, right-of-way acquisitions, development feasibility analyses, explorations, and litigation matters can also be supported by our land use evaluation methods.

Pacific Land Group also specializes in preparing Development Assessments, which identify the land use potential, physical site characteristics, environmental features, and the anticipated development application process. Development Assessments are essential to determine development potential (or loss of potential) of a property in relation to local government and provincial legislation.

Study Process


In determining the highest and best use of a subject property, we typically prepare one or more conceptual site plans to determine a property's optimal development potential (i.e., confirmation of net developable site areas, floor area/unit yields, etc.). Our land use analyses are supported by a detailed planning rational and research to consider all pertinent factors, including:

  • Property size and location
  • Surrounding land use context
  • Physical site characteristics (e.g., steep slopes)
  • Applicable Provincial and/or Federal legislation
  • Official Community Plan designation(s)
  • Existing and proposed/potential zoning
  • Municipal planning and land use policies
  • Required environmental setbacks, dedications, and/or protection areas
  • Market supply/demand conditions
  • Feasibility and cost of servicing the land
  • Site access opportunities
  • Local development activity
  • Conclusions on reasonable probability of land use
Oleg Verbenkov
Talk to us

Talk to us about best & highest land use analysis. Please contact Oleg a senior planner and senior project manager with over 30 years of combined public and private sector experience in land planning, engineering, environmental, urban design, landscape architecture, survey, appraisal and land economics.

Key Benefits


Our highest and best land use analyses:

  • Clearly identify a property's highest and best land use
  • Enable property appraisers to establish a more precise and supportable market value
  • Help simplify the negotiation process
  • Allow settlements to be reached in a more timely manner

Our Clients


  • Altus Group
  • Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
  • British Pacific Properties Ltd.
  • City of Surrey
  • District of West Vancouver
  • Eyford Macaulay Shaw & Padmanabhan LLP
  • Mountain Equipment Co-operative
  • Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP
  • Peterson Stark Scott Barristers and Solicitors
  • Robertson, Downe, & Mullally LLP
  • Township of Langley

Our Successful Projects


Delsom Estates (Sunstone Community)


PLG acted as the lead consultant for a 107 acre master-planned community which included park, commercial, multi-family and single family uses at 84 Avenue and Nordel Way, Delta. Learn more

Bear Creek Plaza


PLG was the coordinating consultant for converting 7 low density residential lots (3 acres) into a neighborhood commercial centre at 88 Avenue and King George Highway, Surrey. Learn more

Campbell Heights North Business Park


PLG was the planning consultant for the 305 acre multiphase industrial subdivision and rezoning approval at 32 Avenue and 192 Street, Surrey. Learn more

64th Avenue / Mufford Crescent Overpass


PLG was commissioned to manage the Transportation Corridor Use approval from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). The Township of Langley Highway Corridor alignment involved impacts to agricultural lands and complex land acquisition issues. Learn more

168th Street and 12th Avenue, Surrey


PLG was the lead consultant responsible for establishing the developable potential of a 40 acre property consolidation within a very challenging environmentally constrained site area. Learn more

PacificLink Business Park


PLG was the coordinating consultant for this 80 acre multi-use site at Scott Road and 103A Avenue Surrey. We drafted a Comprehensive Development Zoning Bylaw to permit mixed-use development and minimize road requirements. Learn more