Chelsey Norton Payne, AICP

I’m a planner who’s passionate about building relationships, leading long-range planning projects, and crafting policy solutions to complex problems. I’m always learning and keeping up with the latest planning practices, which has earned me a reputation as a trusted leader in the planning community. Throughout my career, I have gained experience on a breadth of planning projects, from general plans and housing elements to specific plans and zoning ordinances. I’ve dabbled in sustainable community strategies, regional housing needs plans, airport land use compatibility plans, and hazard mitigation plans. However, my bread and butter has always been general plans. I spent the first decade of my career working under the mentorship of General Plan expert Larry Mintier. Overseeing more than a dozen general plan updates and 70 housing elements for cities and counties across the state has given me a wealth of knowledge about California planning and housing laws.

Outside of work, I spend most of my time chasing two active kids, traveling around the beautiful state of California, and baking elaborate birthday cakes.