Master of planning

An industry-wide reputation for quality work keeps Haworth Development Consulting busy

Richard Haworth is owner of Haworth Development Consulting Ltd. in Invermere, B.C. — Photo courtesy Richard Haworth

Richard Haworth of Haworth Development Consulting knows the language of development. He knows who the players are in this field, which approvals are necessary for the large projects that are his forte, and which agencies need to grant those approvals. Haworth specializes in land-use planning and land-use approvals for resort and residential development in mountain communities.

“What I do,” said Haworth, “is the site planning for new developments, especially in areas of challenging topography: the layout of all the roads, the building lots and the buildings. I also get the approvals that are necessary—zoning, subdivision, official community plan approval or other approvals—to build the client’s vision.”

Heading west

Haworth grew up in Ontario and moved to Vancouver, B.C., in 1994, after graduating from the University of Guelph. Haworth has worked on projects in Alberta’s Bow Valley, B.C.’s Columbia Valley and Elk Valley, and resorts in Colorado, New Jersey and Vermont, among others. As well as many other noteworthy projects, Haworth was involved in obtaining the land-use approvals for Panorama Mountain Village resort near Invermere, B.C.

“I’ve done something for most of the resorts in this area, in one way or another,” Haworth said. “In 2007 I assisted with the due diligence when Fairmont Hot Springs Resort was purchased, and shortly after that I left private consulting to become the VP of development for Fairmont resort. In May 2012, I left that job and went back to private consulting.”

Haworth and his family live in Invermere and—though he’s essentially a one-man-show—he maintains a downtown office.

A who's who of projects

 Haworth is currently involved in a number of projects, including the following:

• Land-use planning and approvals for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort;
• Project management for the construction (by New Dawn Developments) of a new clubhouse for Greywolf Golf Course for Totem Golf, to be opened for the  2014 golf season;
• Site planning for Marysville Views, consisting of 14 lots in Phase 1 of a 20-acre residential development by Kevin Amy in Marysville, B.C.;
• Site planning and approvals for the first 28 lots in a new subdivision in Fernie, B.C., called The Cedars; this will eventually consist of more than 200 residential units on 113 acres, 40 per cent of which will be retained as green space;
• Creation and administration of residential design guidelines for Panorama Mountain Village, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, Sweetwater Lake Village and other residential and resort communities.

“I have been fortunate that I have been kept quite busy simply through word of mouth,” said Haworth. “The real estate and resort world is a pretty small one, where everybody knows everybody and we know who we like to work with.”