Education:

• M.U.R.P., University of New Orleans, College of Urban Planning and Affairs
• B.S., Architectual Studies, Minor in American History, University of Arkansas, Fay Jones School of Architecture (Magna Cum Laude)  

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Dara Sanders

Senior Planner

Dara Sanders has over 16 years of experience in long-range planning, land use planning, GIS analysis, and community outreach in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, and Tennessee. She brings creative solutions specific to each project to ensure success, balances the needs of communities and applicants, and strives to help cities achieve their vision, goals and regulations.

She has managed interdisciplinary teams to produce corridor plans, neighborhood redevelopment master plans, and general plans. She has implemented the plans through zoning amendments, design regulations, capital improvement plans, and private development requests.
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Ms. Sanders has authored form-based zoning districts and design regulations to respond to local development trends and community needs, as well as several neighborhood, community, corridor, and general plans. She led long-range planning activities in Nashville and established the first planning department in a Nashville suburb during a time of its unprecedented growth.

Dara values building community relationships through the planning process, and she has successfully implemented tools and programs that have improved community trust, involvement, and buy-in.