SERVICING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
Transforming Land Into Thriving Communities
Brian Woods helps landowners and builders take a property from the first look through approvals and construction.
Southern California land development consulting
Land Development Specialists LLC is a Southern California land development consulting firm led by Brian Woods. Brian spent 21 years in vice president-level land development roles with D.R. Horton, Pulte/Del Webb, Richmond American Homes and Foremost Communities, and has worked on more than 13,000 residential lots and 8+ master plans. Call (760) 271-1081.
13,000
Lots entitled and constructed
8+
Master plans developed
21 Years
VP-level land development experience
21 years experience as Vice President of Land Development for D.R. Horton, Foremost Communities, Pulte/Del Webb & Richmond American Homes.
Experience you can trust
With more than 40 years in the industry, we specialize in land purchasing, plan approval, and permitting, and we keep construction management organized so work can stay on schedule. Value engineering and budgeting help keep projects efficient and cost-effective.
That includes 21 years in Vice President-level land development roles with D.R. Horton, Foremost Communities, Pulte/Del Webb, and Richmond American Homes.
Learn more about who we are
What we offer
From acquisition review to construction management, we provide land development services across Southern California.
Land Acquisition & Due Diligence
Screen a site before purchase: permitted use, access, utilities, drainage, soils, environmental concerns, expected approvals, and total development costs.
Feasibility detailsResidential Subdivision Development
Plan, entitle, and deliver residential subdivisions of 50 to 200 lots, including finished lots sequenced for home construction.
Subdivision detailsResidential Land Entitlements
Coordinate the land use approvals for a subdivision or apartment site, including applications, agency comments, and conditions of approval.
Entitlement detailsPlan Approval & Permitting
Coordinate consultants and agencies through CEQA, mapping, entitlements, plan approvals, and permitting. An entitlement approves the land use; a construction permit authorizes specific work under approved plans.
Discuss this serviceConstruction Management
Manage bidding, construction schedules, sequencing, infrastructure work, and site progress. Drone flights can also support progress tracking during construction.
Project management detailsValue Engineering
Review plans, grading, walls, utility routes, and bids to reduce cost while keeping the project's function and quality.
Value engineering detailsLand Development Project Management
Keep consultants, approvals, budgets, bidding, and construction activity coordinated from one stage to the next.
Project management details
Experience across the development process
With more than 40 years in land development, Land Development Specialists LLC brings practical experience across acquisition, approvals, infrastructure, and construction.
Acquisition & Budgeting
Review development costs, schedules, risks, and project requirements.
Entitlements & Approvals
Coordinate mapping, CEQA, consultants, agencies, and permitting.
Infrastructure & Sequencing
Plan how site-development work moves from approval into construction.
Construction Oversight
Manage bidding, schedules, coordination, and field progress.
Bring us in where you need us
You do not need support for every phase to work with us. We can step in for a focused need or stay involved across multiple stages.
If you need a land development consultant in Southern California for one phase or broader project oversight, we can match our involvement to where the project needs experienced support.
Before acquisition
Review risk, budgets, schedules, permitted use, utilities, access, and development costs before a purchase.
During approvals
Coordinate consultants, agencies, CEQA, mapping, entitlements, and permits.
Through construction
Manage bidding, sequencing, infrastructure work, schedules, and site progress.
Testimonials
“Since the beginning, you have been the one constant on the Forestar-Chatsworth (Poema and Canoga) bridges, providing calm, straightforward communication and leadership.”
John Quincy
President, Quincy Engineering (Bridge)
“I've worked with Brian on a number of large residential development projects over the last 15 years where he consistently demonstrated his understanding of the implications of virtually every decision the development team he was managing had to make, along with a clear understanding of the costs in time and money to the project. Brian always showed a willingness to make the decisions that would result in a more successful community. In the development business - he knows what needs to happen and he knows how to get it done. A great client!”
Joel Morse
Principal & President, T & B Planning
“I am truly thankful for everything that you have done for me during your time at Foremost and Richmond American before that. I have tremendous respect for you as a person and your industry knowledge is superior to anyone else that i have had the opportunity to work with.”
Erik Agle
President, Southern California Utility Solutions
“Working with you nearly most of all these last 11 years....you have been a huge advocate of Adkan Engineers and helped me grow professionally in so many ways than you probably know, thank you for that.”
Mitch Adkison
President, Adkan Engineers
“Brian, it has been a pleasure working with you on Terramor, truly a beautiful and unique community grounded in its surroundings. Your guidance was instrumental.”
Sean O'Malley
Managing Partner, swa (Landscape Architects)
Individual sites, tracts, and master plans
We work with individual lot owners, real estate developers, residential tracts, and larger master-planned projects. The scope can range from a focused review or approval need to ongoing coordination through construction.
For larger developments, that can mean managing the relationships between consultants, agencies, contractors, schedules, budgets, and field activity. The level of involvement can adjust as project needs change.
Frequently asked questions
Who is an experienced land development consultant in Southern California?
Land Development Specialists LLC, led by Brian Woods. He has more than 40 years in land development, including 21 years in VP-level roles with major homebuilders. He works with developers and landowners in Orange, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties.
What does Land Development Specialists do?
Land acquisition due diligence and feasibility, residential entitlements (including CEQA and mapping), subdivision development, value engineering, construction management and land development project management.
How does Brian work with the civil engineers and other consultants?
Brian works from the builder's side. He coordinates the civil engineers, planners, surveyors, geotechnical and other consultants, and keeps the budget, schedule and approvals moving. The licensed professionals still do and stamp their own technical work.
What size projects do you take on?
Individual lots, residential subdivisions of 50 to 200 lots, apartment sites of about 50 to 200 units, and master-planned communities of about 1,000 to 2,000 homes.
Which builders has Brian worked for?
D.R. Horton, Foremost Communities, Pulte/Del Webb and Richmond American Homes, all in VP-level land development roles.
Can you help evaluate land before I purchase it?
Yes. Before a purchase we review permitted use, legal access, title restrictions, utilities, drainage, soils, environmental concerns, expected approvals, and total development costs.
Can I hire you for one phase only?
Yes. Some clients bring Brian in just for acquisition review, entitlements or value engineering. Others keep him from purchase through construction. He can also step into a project that's already underway.
Can you work with my existing consultants?
Yes. We can coordinate with your consultants and agencies through approvals, permitting, scheduling, and construction.
Can you step into a project already underway?
Yes. We can join during entitlements, permitting, pre-construction, or construction based on the project’s current needs.
What does construction management include?
It can include bidding, scheduling, sequencing, infrastructure coordination, site-progress oversight, and drone-based progress tracking.
What is value engineering in land development?
It is the review of the design and construction approach to find ways to reduce costs while keeping the project’s function and quality.
What happens before land construction begins?
Work typically includes reviewing project requirements, coordinating approvals and permits, organizing consultants, and setting budgets and schedules so construction can start from a defined plan.
What information should I provide for an initial discussion?
Start with the address, parcel number, acreage, ownership or purchase status, intended use, target schedule, and available budget. Surveys, title documents, plans, utility information, and previous studies help if they exist.
Does a nearby utility line mean a project can connect?
No. A nearby line or a line on a map does not confirm that the project can connect or that enough capacity is available. The provider has to verify service requirements, connection points, and any upgrades.
Need assistance to develop your land?
Need land development services in Southern California for a property under review, an approval process already underway, or a project moving into construction? Tell us where the project stands, what has already been completed, and where you need support.