Karen Martin is an urban planner with extensive knowledge of development regulations and land use policy. In 1997, Karen formed Pacific Planning Group, Inc., a California based real estate and development consulting firm which assisted clients in the areas of acquisition, disposition and redevelopment. The firm also provided project management and permitting services.

Karen has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Analysis and Design and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of California in Irvine. Her broad knowledge of city planning and real estate development comes from fifteen years of experience working with cities, non-profit organizations and private businesses, negotiating, problem solving and expediting permits and approvals across the country.

Karen Martin has successfully worked with numerous politicians and jurisdictions on a variety of high profile projects typically involving multiple agencies and controversial community involvement.

Examples of experience:

• Corporate Real Estate support for Fuel Stations, Big Box, Restaurant and Auto related uses.
• Provided Project Management for land portfolios and multiple real estate holdings including highest and best use analysis through to property development. Reviewed all of Southern California Edison real estate holdings in California for potential development.
• Land Swaps with developer owned, public utility owned and city owned properties.
• Site Acquisitions properties/ Economic Development:
  • Assistance provided to an International tenant in a nationwide search for a large scale assembly facility. Site selection based on the offset costs available in Enterprise/Empowerment and/or local incentives. Analysis of locally employed residents requirements and availability, utility discounts for power usage, equipment tax credits and business expense reductions through accelerated depreciation;
  • Tenant and Owner in determination of Enterprise Zone boundaries and recycling of industrial land to wholesale/retail facility;
  • Land Owner representation with the Los Angeles East Side State Enterprise Zone incentives to attract tenants.
• Remodel and expansion of a Southern California Car dealership to determine the amount and use of city general and redevelopment funds.
• Responsible for entitlement for new construction and upgrades of existing self-storage facilities across the United States. Over 100 projects.
• Several shopping centers to determine the availability of funds for upgrades and the use of those funds, shared parking, land condemnation and land swaps.
• Large scale office/industrial projects using alternative funding for site preparation and offsets of transportation fees.
• Performed acquisition due diligence for the Japanese Village Project in Los Angeles. Researched outstanding items in a series of development agreements and agency recorded restrictions on title.
• Land Owner Representation for monitoring town rezoning process.