Karl Schoettler

Principal, Collins & Schoettler

Mr. Schoettler is the Principal of Collins & Schoettler. He joined the firm in 1991 after working as a Planner for the City of Atascadero, near the Central California coast. Collins & Schoettler is a small, award-winning city planning firm based in Visalia, with an emphasis on quality over quantity. The company is known for advocating well-designed, environmentally responsible and pedestrian-oriented development in the cities that it serves.

Currently Mr. Schoettler serves as the contract City Planner for several valley communities, including Farmersville and Firebaugh. He also provides assistant planning services to Kerman, Kingsburg, Exeter, Woodlake and Livingston.

At Collins and Schoettler he has prepared numerous planning documents, including General Plans and elements, design guidelines, environmental studies, community and specific plans and zoning ordinances, among others.

Mr. Schoettler recently completed planning studies for over a dozen cities in Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties related to the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint. These studies contain recommendations these cities can undertake to implement policies of the Blueprint, such as standards to promote walkable neighborhoods, design guidelines, mixed use development strategies and zoning ordinance updates, among others.

Prior to that, Mr. Schoettler completed a General Plan update for the City of Farmersville. After winning local and state planning awards, the Farmersville General Plan was recognized in Washington DC with the first-place national planning award – the first time any City in the San Joaquin Valley received such a high honor.

Previously Mr. Schoettler prepared a smart-growth oriented Specific Plan for the City of Reedley. This plan won a local award and a state award from the Local Government Commission for its innovative neo-traditional development and design policies. Mr. Schoettler facilitated numerous community meetings in the preparation of the specific plan.

Currently Mr. Schoettler is preparing comprehensive updates of the Zoning Ordinances for the cities of Firebaugh and Arvin. These codes will reflect the latest philosophy in zoning and design practice, including elements of form based zoning (to create pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods) and user-friendly zoning standards (including generous use of illustrations and flow charts).

Education:

B.A. Geography (Environmental studies emphasis) California State University,

Fresno. Core program completed in master’s program of city planning, City and Regional Planning Program, California State University, Fresno.

Awards:

APA National Award, California and Central Cal chapter - Farmersville General Plan

APA Central California Chapter – 2030 Firebaugh General Plan

APA Central California Chapter – Sanger Design Guidelines

APA Central Section - Reedley Specific Plan

Local Government Commission Ahwahnee Award - Reedley Specific Plan

APA Central California Section - Special Award for Zoning Brochure project.

Affiliations:

• Retreat Coordinator-Central California Section, American Planning Association

• Member, Visalia County Center Rotary Club

• Member, Board of Directors of the Visalia Community Players

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