Landscape Architects/Land Planners often see themselves as stewards and protectors of the aesthetic and ecological worth of the land.

However, the investor in a development project, or a developer risking a large share of his assets, or his reputation, wants to know that a particular development project will not be a failure.

In the appraisal business, land use determines value and value often determines use.

The citizens of a City, Town, or County have often invested their lives where they live, and do not want to jeopardize that investment. Nor do the Boards or Agencies that represent them.

The Landscape Architect/Land Planner can act as the objective entity in a design project. The developer sees the project from the standpoint of a return on his risked investment, and as the Client entity, his viewpoint is very subjective. Citizens, and the agencies that represent them, see the project from the impact it will have on the community as a whole. This is the Public entity, and although a political entity that should view and review objectively, its viewpoint is often subjective also. Anyone who has ever attended a heated public meeting over an unpopular project proposal knows what I mean. The LA/LP is the liaison officer between the Client and Public entities, the interpreter between the often differing languages of the two entities, and since he usually does not have a subjective stake in the project (except maybe the realization of the product of his imagination), he can act as its objective voice.

At YLD everyone's concerns are skillfully addressed in the evolution of a project from initial design to final development.